Reporter’s Notebook: Just a question, is there anything that ISN’T happening this week?
June is busting out all over and, just for fun, there will be several Very Big Things that will be happening this week.
For the record, I firmly believe the town of Grafton is trying to kill me this week, so much so that I am resorting to the first person. But don’t worry! All these are very good things! I think.
At the top of the week, we have the Grafton Public Library reopening in its temporary home at 53 North Main Street on June 1 for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yes. You can actually visit the library in (masked) person, browse the shelves to your heart’s content, and leave with a stack of books. Hours will be: Monday and Tuesday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday 2 -8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The first hour of each day (10-11 a.m. or 2-3 p.m.) is designated for high-risk populations. No appointment is required.
Wednesday, there’s a chance of teenagers in formal wear strolling around Grafton Common — likely around 5 p.m. — as Grafton High seniors prepare for Prom Voyage, the event that technically isn’t a prom (it’s not sponsored by the school, there is no dancing or dress code) but will, judging by Facebook, feature a rainbow of sparkly gowns. Tradition calls for photos at the bandstand before actual prom — will the senior celebrants try to grab their one shot at this milestone?
The Class of 2021, of course, has their biggest milestone of all on Friday: graduation, on the Grafton High School football field. This is the second year graduation will be held on the turf due to Covid, and while it’s not quite as fancy as the Hanover Theatre, there’s a certain charm to the home field advantage. Both graduates and guests will be socially distanced for the 6 p.m. ceremony.
Finally, on Saturday at 11 a.m., Graftonites will return to the football field for the annual Town Meeting, featuring new Town Moderator Dawn Anderson. Fun fact: Both town meetings in 2020 featured different town administrators (Tim McInerney in June, temporary TA Carter Terenzini in the fall) and Evan Brassard, of course, is new to town for this outing. I’ll be highlighting everything on the warrant in another story but hey, this is basically prom for the political, and don’t you want to see all the arguing in person?
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Friday was the Class of 2021’s last day of school and, if you happened to drive by, you may have noticed the seniors did a little redecorating to their future alma mater (photo above courtesy of Colleen Roy). The teachers documented the aftermath on Twitter:
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Finally, a state of the website report:
Back when I started Grafton Common in the fall of 2019, I had an actual business plan. I would build up readership over six months and introduce advertising in March 2020.
As we all know, Covid basically canceled everyone’s plans last March. Among them was any thought at all to asking Grafton businesses going through tough times to support my still-developing small business. Multiple readers have used my donation tip jar to keep me in coffee, and I’m terribly grateful (and caffeinated, always a good thing).
Starting this week, you will likely start seeing a few ads. Thank you, as always, for your support.
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