Welcome to Leverett
WELCOME to Leverett's new website.
We expect that changes still need to be made.
Please contact Terry Allen concerning errors or problems.
Leverett, Massachusetts
The only town in the United States of that name!
Situated in western Massachusetts, Leverett is neighbor to the Five College area of Amherst, Hampshire, Smith, Mt. Holyoke and the University of Massachusetts.
Its diverse population of 2,000 is a rich mixture of teachers, students, farmers, lumbermen, gardeners, artists, professionals in the areas of medicine, law, and telecommunications.
Leverett is unusually rich in scenic beauty. Rattlesnake Gutter Road, in the heart of the town, is a two mile road through a glacial ravine, bordered by Brushy Mountain. The Sawmill River cascades over rocks in Moore’s Corner, before coming to the North Leverett millpond, and its picturesque historic mill. Leverett Pond, in the center of town, is a place of quiet beauty. The first Peace Pagoda in the U.S. sits majestically at the top of Cave Hill. Road names, such as Juggler Meadow, Teawaddle Hill, Cider Mill, Number Six, Rat Hollow, intrigue the traveler.
What's New
Next Select Board meeting August 31, 2010, 7:00pm, 2nd floor of the Town Hall. Agenda items: Click here.
Next Conservation meeting Tuesday September 7, 7:30pm, 1st floor of the Town Hall. Agenda items: Click here.
Broadband Update
The Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) and WesternMA Connect
cordially invite you to attend a regional meeting about the
MassBroadband 123 fiber-optic network
coming to western and north central Massachusetts.
We encourage you to attend one of three informational meetings to learn about the next steps in the project.
Please RSVP
by Sept. 1 and direct any questions to Erin O’Connor
broadband@masstech.org or 508-870-0312 ext. 1630
Please specify which meeting you will attend.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Northampton High School
Auditorium
380 Elm Street
Northampton, MA 01060
7:00pm – 9:00pm
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Nessacus Regional Middle School
Auditorium
35 Fox Road
Dalton, MA 01226
7:00pm – 9:00pm
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Mount Wachusett Community College
North Cafeteria
444 Green Street
Gardner, MA 01440
7:00pm – 9:00pm
For more information about MassBroadband 123, please visit www.massbroadband.org.
MBI Application Successful!
On July 2, 2010, Governor Deval Patrick and members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation announced that the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) had been awarded $45.4 million of federal ARRA funds. These funds will be used to construct over 1,100 miles of fiber-optic middle-mile infrastructure in western and north central Massachusetts. The award was formally announced at a ceremony held on July 8 at Greenfield Community College. Event attendees included U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, U.S. Senator John Kerry, Governor Patrick, and Congressmen Richard Neal and John Olver. Both Senator Kerry and Congressman Olver recognized Connect for its decade-long support for the creation of an advanced telecommunications landscape throughout the region. All speakers made reference to the many letters received in support of the application. Your compelling stories definitely impacted the application outcome. Thank you to everyone who submitted letters and congratulations to the MBI!
What Does This Mean For You?
In 2008, Governor Patrick and the Massachusetts Legislature established the MBI with the mission to extend affordable high-speed Internet access to ALL residential, commercial and public places across the Commonwealth. This new federal award will be combined with the $26 million of state funding already in place to make this a reality. Internet service providers have stated that once the MBI's network is complete, it will become more cost effective for them to bring high-speed Internet access to those who currently have none.
What's Next?
In the coming months, the MBI will continue to be very busy designing and engineering the network, negotiating access to state-owned assets, forming partnerships to support network deployment, and encouraging the telecommunications industry to be prepared to provide services and invest in the region. Meanwhile, the MBI has contracted with Connect to work collaboratively with regional planning agencies, local municipalities, and other organizations to ensure that this network is constructed as quickly, cost-effectively and efficiently as possible. Under the terms of the federal grant, two-thirds of the project must be built by 2012 and the network completed in 2013. This is a huge undertaking. Although you may not visually see progress right away, be assured that the MBI and many others are working diligently to meet the federal timeline and requirements set.
How Can You Help?
If you have not already done so, please visit http://www.massbroadband.org/mapping/survey.html and complete the online survey. Encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same. This information will assist the MBI in its effort to more accurately map where broadband does and does not exist.
If you are an elected official or local department head, please respond to outreach conducted by the MBI and Connect. This network cannot succeed without your participation!
