February 2009 Edition 

THE PELHAM SLATE

PHONE: (413) 253-7129   FAX: (413) 256-1061   EMAIL: TownofPelham@comcast.net

Welcome to the Pelham Slate

Governor Deval Patrick has announced cuts in Local Aid to the Cities and Towns of Massachusetts to offset reduced income to the State. For FY09, which ends on June 30, 2009, Pelham’s Aid will be cut by slightly less than $20,000 from the original budget request. In expectation of this cut, the Selectmen froze that amount of funding from various Town accounts back in November.

Patrick has presented his proposed budget for 2010, which would allocate approximately $50,000 less than the reduced amount we are now expecting for the remainder of FY09. Next year’s budget, FY10, is still very much in flux. Governor Patrick has included many new fees and taxes to balance his budget. Patrick’s budget proposal will need House and Senate approval; also, the House and Senate will be developing their own budgets and these can be quite different from the Governor’s.

The next few years will be very difficult as Pelham tries to reduce its operating costs while providing necessary services to residents. Updates on the State’s budget as it affects Pelham will be posted on the website to help keep residents informed. The Selectmen are acutely aware of the economic difficulties that we all, personally and as a community, are facing. We applaud efforts by townspeople such as those involved in the “Pelham Possibilities” group. Perhaps, if we all try to “think outside the box”, we will not only weather the storms but strengthen our community in the process.

Phone Numbers

The Rhodes Building is staffed Monday – Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Please call ahead to confirm that the person you need is available.

From the Town Clerk:

2009 Dog Licenses NOW Available
2009 dog licenses are now available. Licenses may be obtained from Town Clerk Andy Lichtenberg. In order to get a license, Pelham residents must supply a current rabies certificate; fees for dog licenses are $3.00 for spayed or neutered dogs and $6.00 for non-spayed and non-neutered dogs.

Andy can be found at Lichtenberg Veternary Hospital Mon - Thurs 9am – Noon and Monday and Tuesday from 2pm - 5pm. Andy has office hours at the Rhodes Building on Wednesdays from 1:30pm - 4pm.

You can also send a self-addressed, stamped envelope, a copy of a rabies certificate and the appropriate fee to Town Clerk, 351 Amherst Road, Pelham, MA 01002.

All dogs are required to be licensed by March 31, 2009.

Rabies & Licensing Clinic

April 25, 2009, 11 a.m. to Noon
  at the Pelham Firehouse

$15 per animal for rabies shots

All dogs in Pelham must have their
2009 registration by May 31st. 
After that date, significant fines will be charged

The Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture requires the Animal Inspector to report annually on the animals listed below. If you keep any of the following animals, please return this form to Dr. Deb Lichtenberg at 2 Belchertown Road, Pelham, MA 01002. Also, please note that sheep, horses, and cattle should be vaccinated at 3 months and yearly thereafter.

Please place the number in your possession next to each listed animal.

Timely return of the Census allows us to put the Street List together. We are hoping to print the Street List before Town Meeting on May 2, 2009 so that they can be sold there for $5 each.

Vernal Pool Natural History Workshop

Sponsored by: Town of Pelham Library and Conservation Commission

Spring will be here soon so visit one of Pelham’s vernal pools and explore the mysteries of salamanders, wood frogs, fairy shrimp, and other aquatic life.  Vernal pools are small ponds common to our Town that support some of Pelham’s most interesting and rare organisms as well as great places to encounter many additional animals throughout the year.

Where: 59 S. Valley Rd., Pelham
(Home of Dana MacDonald and Patricia McGirr)
When: 2:00-4:00 PM Saturday, April 4, 2009
What to bring: Warm “outside” clothes and some rubber boots or waders
An adult should accompany children and workshop is limited to approximately 30

For information call: Dana MacDonald at 413 253-936

Classical pianist Klaus Becker returns to the concert stage at the Pelham Library with a program of works by Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. Dr. Becker is a molecular biologist at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Prior to his education in science, Klaus Becker studied piano and organ and gave concerts throughout Germany. The Library is pleased to host his return to piano performance.

The Pelham Conservation Commission invites you to become a Friend of one or more of the Conservation Areas owned by the town. Pelham’s Conservation Areas include: Buffam Falls Conservation Area, Hearthstone Brook Conservation Area, Partridge Meadow, Whitney Conservation Area, Butter Hill Wildlife Sanctuary and Butter Hill Extension, Harkness conservation Area and Moose Trail Conservation Area.

As a Friend you can help maintain and preserve your favorite town Conservation Area(s). The following are just a few ways in which you could make a difference as a Friend: maintain existing trails, develop new trails as appropriate, post signs, survey the flora and fauna, and develop trail maps. Your participation as a Friend will ensure that you help preserve and determine the future of the town’s Conservation Areas. To learn more about the town’s existing Conservation Areas and the “FRIEND” program, please come to a meeting at the Pelham Library on April 9th at 7:30 p.m. or contact Cynthia Weigel at 413-256-4606 or any other member of the Pelham Conservation Commission.

The Pelham Library has received an “On the Same Page” grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners to fund a year of programming inspired by Barbara Kingsolver’s book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.  We will have an entire year’s worth of events where you can learn about local foods, the environment and how you can save money, reduce your carbon footprint and live better.

We are also getting books, videos and audio books with an ecological bent to help you save energy, garden and green up!  If you can weather-strip it, compost it or grow it, we can help you do it better!

Animal Vegetable Miracle Programming

Honeybees: what’s up with the Colony Collapse? Why it matters and what you can do about it.
A talk with Warm Colors Apiary’s Dan Conlon, Tuesday January 27th at 7PM

Cooking the Winter Harvest, a talk and demonstration with Chef Leslie Cerier, Tuesday February 3rd at 7PM

Local Farms; Love ‘m or Loose ‘m. Kestrel Trust.  A talk February 19th at 7PM

Keeping Backyard Chickens A presentation by Meg Taylor of the Pioneer Valley Backyard Chicken Association, Tuesday February 24th at 7PM 

The Art of Patrick Zephyr, all March in the community room. Landscape photography from around Pelham and the Quabbin. Check out his website: www.patrickzephyrphoto.com

Mozzarella at Home, a make your own mozzarella cheese workshop! With Pelham’s own Heidi Dollard, Saturday April 11th at 1PM.

That Log’s Got Potential, A grow-your-own shitake mushroom log workshop! Saturday April 18th at 1 PM. Pre-registration required.

Composting, the Ecology of Compost, Tuesday May 5th with Pelham’s own Dr. Daniel Dindal.

The Art of Dr. Dindal. All May in the community room. Part Science, part 70s and 100% awesome.

We’ll also be having presentations on how you can improve the efficiency of your home from the Center for Ecological Technology! Check back as we’ll be adding programming throughout the year.

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2009 Recycling Dates
Saturdays/9 a.m. to Noon

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The following Town offices are up for Election at the Annual Town Meeting on May 2, 2009.

Nomination papers are available at the Town Offices; Town Caucus will take place on March 24th.