Hub offers activities center

NORTH CANAAN — Enthusiastic about the recent opening of a hub in their town, the North Canaan selectmen discussed features of the project at their meeting on Monday, June 3.

The official opening was on Friday, May 31, and drew nearly 40 people to the newly refurbished space at the Colonial Theatre.

Describing it as “an evolving project” in the works since February, First Selectmen Charles Perotti reported that the  Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation awarded a grant making it possible for three area towns to create community pop-up hubs. 

The North Canaan grant request was written by Selectman Christian Allyn. The other two towns benefiting from the hub-creation grant are Cornwall and Warren, Perotti said. There is already a successful hub in Norfolk (see story, Page A6).

“It’s amazing how it all worked out,” Perotti added, noting that theater owner Ben Wohlfert offered the town a prime space measuring 20 by 45 feet with a 12-foot ceiling. Soon after, furnishings and equipment valued at $20,000 were donated and the space was deemed ready to serve the community.

Anticipating many positive events in the hub space, Allyn announced a North Canaan Power Hour, when volunteers will gather for an hour each week to “clean up the streets” by sweeping and picking up litter.

“It’s just a beginning,” Allyn said. “We are looking to get up and going and to continue longer than the initial three-month period envisioned by the grant.”

He said in an email after the meeting , “There will be an email list starting this week with hub activities and our Facebook page and Instagram are live and will be continuously updated. Anyone looking to hold a hub event can reach out to northcanaanhub@gmail.com.”

Other projects were updated by the selectmen. Perotti announced that the solar energy installation at the town’s transfer station is progressing as the town negotiates a land lease with power company Eversource. 

The town is also awaiting action from the state Legislature to approve new metering.

A new five-year tax incentive program to attract new businesses is  being drafted by Selectman Craig Whiting, who said that he will soon have a draft version that can be reviewed by the town’s attorney.

Perotti noted that new ordinances are also being drafted concerning blight and food trucks. All three should be ready at the same time for introduction to residents at public hearing.

The next meeting of the selectmen will deviate from their usual schedule and be held on Tuesday, July 9.

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