Page 10 - BusinessWest September 15, 2021

Community Spotlight
Hadley Continues to Move Forward
By Mark Morris
In just one year, Carolyn Brennan has learned a great deal about Hadley.
As town administrator, Brennan joined
the staff last fall and transitioned into the job for three months as longtime administrator David Nixon was winding down his role before retiring at the end of 2020.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better transition,” she said. “David was a huge help during that time.”
Flying solo since January, Brennan said the demands pour in like a firehose some days, but that’s where she thrives.
“Hadley is where I want to be,” she said. “Despite the challenges, I have a great staff who are supportive and helpful in any areas where I’m not yet completely familiar.”
In the meantime, projects are getting done. Hadley has completed construction on three new buildings, a Fire Department substation, a library, and a new senior center.
The next big infrastructure project involves a 2.6-mile rewidening of Route 9 through Hadley. Brennan said the state estimates that construc- tion will start by late winter or early spring of 2022. Because it’s a state road, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation will pay for the widening and paving. Hadley is working with
the state to replace aging water and sewer lines under Route 9 while the road is under construc- tion. By replacing the lines during construction, Brennan said, the town will see significant sav- ings of nearly $1 million.
“Basically, we will open up the road and fix the pipes while the state will close it up and pave over the work,” she explained.
With COVID-19 rates increasing due to the Delta variant, the Hadley Board of Health has mandated mask wearing for all indoor locations in town. Brennan said moves like this are neces- sary because communities are still in transition mode with the virus.
“We want to restart and open up like before COVID, but at the same time, we also want to keep everyone safe,” Brennan said.
Despite the mask mandate, people are still going out to locations like Hampshire Mall. Lynn Gray, general manager for the mall, said she has not yet heard any negative feedback about the return to wearing masks.
“We speak of the new normal, and I think wearing a mask is just part of the new normal,” she noted. “Even when masks weren’t required, we saw people wearing them anyway because it gave them more of a comfort level.”
She added that most businesses are happy to
Friday-Saturday Oct. 1–2, 2021, Northampton, MA northamptonjazzfest.org
Jazz Strut, Fri. Oct. 1, 5–10pm
Live jazz at downtown Northampton restaurants, breweries, and bars
No cover, no minimum.
Masks required when not eating or drinking.
Jazz Fest Day, Sat. Oct. 2
Free live music all around town 11:30 am –6:30 pm
Masks must be worn at all inside and outside venues.
JAZZ ABOUNDS DOWNTOWN
Sullivan Fortner
11:30 am– 1:30 pm CLICK Workspace
Alex Hamburger Quartet
11:30 am–1:30 pm Center for
the Arts
Manduca Sexta 2–3pm Pulaski Park
Lioness
3–5 pm First Churches
Cocomama
5–6:30 pm Pulaski Park
ZT Amplifiers Artists Showcase
2:30–4:30 pm Center for the Arts
The Art Blakey Centennial Celebration
Sat. Oct. 2, 7:30 pm Academy of Music Tickets: aomtheatre.com
A multi-generational ensemble of musicians led by members of Blakey’s Jazz Messengers
COMMUNICATIONS DESIGN
10 SEPTEMBER 15, 2021
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Hadley
at a glance
YEAR INCORPORATED: 1661
POPULATION: 5,250
AREA: 24.6 square miles
COUNTY: Hampshire
RESIDENTIAL TAX RATE: $12.00
COMMERCIAL TAX RATE: $12.00
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME: $51,851
MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME: $61,897
TYPE OF GOVERNMENT: Open Town Meeting, Board of Selectmen
LARGEST EMPLOYERS: Super Stop & Shop; Evaluation Systems Group Pearson; Elaine Center at Hadley; Home Depot; Lowe’s Home Improvement
* Latest information available
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