CHESHIRE, Mass. — Solitude Lake Management will return to Cheshire Reservoir and resume weed clean up this week.
Department of Public Works Director Peter LeFebvre told the Selectmen on Tuesday that the water management company will use its harvester to continue clearing the problematic tape weed from the lake.
"They are going to come back tomorrow with the harvester sometime mid-morning," LeFebvre said. "They are planning on being here until Friday at noontime so we will have several guys down there for loading and hauling of weeds."
Last week Fire Chief Thomas Francesconi said he was concerned with the weeds because they were clogging the department's portable pumps, making them unable to pump water from the lake to put out fires.
Solitude has been present at the lake since July cleaning the weeds that have clogged boat ramps, however, it had another obligation and had to leave Cheshire.
The Selectmen asked Ray Fisher, chairman of the Hoosac Lake District Preservation, to inform Solitude of the fire hazard last week.
Planning Board member Peter Traub said the company has asked for a meeting with the lake district and the Selectmen in the near future to go over the history of the weed and what to do to prevent an outbreak going forward.
In other business, the Selectmen voted to purchase a 2017 Dodge truck for $113,333 from Modern Dodge in Thomaston, Conn., for the Department of Public Works.
The town received two bids last week from a Ford dealer and a Dodge dealer.
LeFebvre said there are minor differences between the two, but he would prefer the Dodge.
"They both basically meet all of the specs they are both diesel automatic six speeds," he said. "Most of the differences are minor but going on the past histories of the Fords, I am recommending the Dodge for a little more money."
The Ford truck from Place Motors in Worcester was priced at $109,000.
Modern provided two options: the 2017 model and a 2016 with extra features for $116,869. He said the extra features are nice but the DPW really has no need for them.
"The other one had a lot of bells and whistles but ... we want a work truck not a pleasure vehicle," LeFebvre said.
The town voted to borrow $125,000 for the new truck this past spring.
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Hoosac Valley High School to Stage 'Suessical'
CHESHIRE, Mass. — Hoosac Valley High School will showcase their rendition of "Suessical," a musical based on the tales of Dr. Seuss by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.
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Directed by Rebecca Koczela and Amanda Watroba, the production features around 50 students participating as actors, pit band musicians, and backstage and tech crews. Notably, this year's cast includes several middle school students who have joined the high school production, marking their first experience performing on stage.
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