September, 2026

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​​Welcome back as we resume services on September 13. During our summer break, the Council was busy doing maintenance on the church grounds.

 

Major work. First, we had the Dixon House painted and minor woodwork repaired by Collings Legacy Painting of Springfield. Before doing that, we had a local landscaper (WeLandscape) remove some branches overhanging the back of the Dixon House as well as the stand of dead trees in the northwest corner of the King Lot. We had the landscaper give us some designs for sprucing up the garden along the front of the Dixon House and for creating a garden on the corner of Putney and Montague Roads. The latter would serve as a beautiful gateway to the King Lot and likewise add to the beauty of the center of town. It’s the area that Tom Hankinson and Steve Woodard partly cleared a couple of years ago but has since regrown with shrubs and other species. In consulting a map of our property, we found that the latter is mostly if not wholly part of the “town common,” I worked with Eva Gibavic to locate the boundaries of the church’s King Lot, and we now know exactly the limits...the area nearest Montague Road is part of the town common, as is the lawn in front of the church and the land the church sits on. While we have been maintaining the area directly in front of the church forever, I went to the Selectboard to talk about our plan to construct a garden around the crabapple tree across from town hall. They agreed that this work would be an asset to the town and suggested we put the agreement in writing for the record. With approval from the council, I drafted and signed a letter of agreement on behalf of the church with the town that says we will construct and maintain a garden on the corner and will also improve the area along the stone wall and Montague Road (remove the woody understory), and the town will mow the area along the road to the stone wall. The local landscaper (WeLandscape) completed the new boundary garden in late August, and Eva was able to have Bob Sieruta brushhog the area along Montague Road (special thanks to Eva and Bob for this work!). This project is a major contribution we — the church — have made to beautifying the town common.

 

Other landscaping work. Barbara Tiner and I removed the tall grasses and mulched the area on the right side of the entry into the church. Jeff Field removed the pile of grasses and also worked with Tracey Field and her fiancé Tom Gottweis to embellish plantings in front of the church. WeLandscape will refresh the Emerson garden on the King Lot for the fall, in time for Tracey’s wedding. We are also working out plans to have the gardens maintained by a local landscaper on an annual basis. Special thanks to the above for their efforts to enhance the beauty of our church grounds.

 

And other work. The church will be power washed before our services resume. The right front door has been repainted.

Dixon House interior. While we dealt with the house's exterior and garden, we have also begun refreshing the interior. Charlie Paulin has taken the lead on that. New carpeting has been installed in the living room and plans are underway to purchase new furniture. A better television has been donated. Erick Fu will be cleaning the living room's walls and windows. Thanks to Charlie, Nancy, and son Bill Paulin, and Erick for their efforts.

 

We look forward to seeing all of you in church on September 13. Ralph Tiner, Chair Church Council

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Respectfully for the Council, 
Ralph Tiner, Council Chair 
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