State Sen. Jo Comerford at Forbes Library
State Sen. Jo Comerford of Northampton will meet with constituents from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday July 13 at the Forbes Library as part of her library tour that started in 2019 but was interrupted by the pandemic.

By September, she plans to complete her visits to every library in the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester District, highlighting the important role that libraries play in the community.

Comerford will offer an update on her legislative work and answer questions about issues and concerns raised by residents.

Winter Street
The Conservation Commission hearing on infrastructure improvements to Winter Street has been rescheduled to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 14. The hearing was postponed when the June 23 meeting of the Conservation Commission was canceled.

The City Council in June unanimously approved the acquisition of easements over the property at the dead end of Winter Street so the Department of Public Works may proceed with drainage improvements, including disconnecting storm drains from the sewer system and installing a gravel stormwater spreader.

The Department of Public Works expects to receive bids for the work later this month. The project follows damage caused by two water main breaks in recent years, and the process includes working with neighbors abutting the approximately 70-foot long and 33-foot wide parcel at the dead end of the street, each of whom will be paid $1,000 for the easement.

Here is the link to the agenda for the July 14 virtual meeting of the Conservation Commission:
https://northamptonma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07142022-6565

Northampton Rehabilitation and Nursing Center redevelopment
Laura Baker, real estate development director for Valley Community Development Corp. of Northampton, which proposes to redevelop the former nursing home at 737 Bridge Road into 60 units of affordable housing, offers the following update:

* The landscaping crew has been hard at work on the grounds, gradually addressing deferred maintenance. Vegetative overgrowth from the site onto Prospect Avenue is being cleared.
* Due to a last-minute and fortuitous availability of funds through PVTA, the city was able to install a concrete pad along the frontage of 737 Bridge Road that will accommodate a bus shelter (coming shortly) and a Valley Bike Share station (coming in a year or two). Valley CDC is very pleased to have these alternative transit options available to future tenants of this property, as well as others in the neighborhood.
*The design team will meet in mid-July with city staff for a “tech review” of the proposed project. Discussions about the best location for driveways are ongoing.
* Valley CDC expects to request a zoning permit for this redevelopment project in early fall.

Condolences to family of Mario L. Mazza
Former Ward 1 City Councilor Mario L. Mazza died June 26 at age 95. He served on the City Council from 1974 to 1983.

Mario and his wife Mary, who died last August, for many years owned the Heights Grocery Store on Bridge Road.

The Ahearn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Services will be scheduled at a later date.