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Date: 3/17/2020
HILLTOWNS – Jacob’s Ladder Business Association President Mike Ross convened a virtual meeting via Zoom on March 15 to continue plans despite COVID-19 disruptions.
Discussed were upcoming events with JLBA presence, including Chester on Track on May 16, which will celebrate the first wave of immigrants to America who built the longest, highest, first wilderness and cross-mountain railroad through Chester in 1840.
Also still scheduled at Gateway Regional High School is Gator Tank (formerly Shark Tank) on May 13, a contest for young entrepreneurs held by Hilltown Economic Development Director Jeanne LeClair. JLBA members voted to approve a $250 scholarship for the winning business idea. JLBA members will serve as judges.
A new edition of the Hilltown Destinations Business Locator and Hiking Trailhead map is being planned. Advertising space is available, and mailing details and distribution were discussed at the meeting. The map is designed to bring people into the hilltowns, and highlight places to visit and hike.
Ross asked those gathered how COVID-19 is affecting businesses. JLBA Treasurer Elizabeth S. Massa of Chester, said the phones have stopped ringing at her plumbing business, A1 Sewer and Drain in East Longmeadow. She said the majority of calls they are receiving are emergency calls from regular commercial customers.
“I have not received one service call since March 10,” Massa said. She said regular customers are not allowing people into their homes.
By contrast, Massa said she is getting calls, emails and messages for the Western Mass. Hilltown Hikers, a nonprofit organization that she co-founded. “More people than ever want to go out and hike,” she said, but added that as of March 14, they are not doing any group hikes bigger than five people.
Massa said she is telling people who contact her to go to the online website at westernmasshilltownhikers.com which has maps and trail reviews, to plan their own hikes. Information on planned groups hikes is also available on the website. She said she hadn’t canceled any to date.
Michele Kenney, economic development director for the Hilltown Community Development Corporation, said AARP has shut down tax aide on a national level, and all future appointments at the Village Enterprise Center in Chester have been canceled.
The next meeting of JLBA has been scheduled April 9 at Countryside Woodcraft in Russell.