SOUTHWICK – Save North Pond supporters want to remind the community about the fundraiser and information night that is taking place on Saturday March 2.
The fundraiser is being offered at two different restaurants between 4-8pm. From 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Nora’s Restaurant there will be a pasta dinner for $10 with music provided by Sam Chevalier along with a 50/50 raffle available.
Following that, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., another pasta dinner will take place at the Southwick Inn. A 50/50 raffle will also be offered.
According to Michelle Pratt, a supporter of North Pond and organizer of the event, at least 60 people have made reservations for the dinner at either location.
The Save North Pond Fundraiser and Information night is on Saturday at both Nora’s and the Southwick Inn. (WNG File Photo)
When speaking to the Westfield News on Thursday, Pratt was surprised to have read emails from people saying they’ve made reservations.
“They were pouring in last night (on Wednesday),” said Pratt.
Even though the deadline for dinner reservations is now over, both restaurants will be accepting walk-ins.
To preserve the 146 acres of open space land adjacent to Congamond’s North Pond, $5 million needs to be raised by June 30, 2019. However, the state of Massachusetts has set a deadline of March 31st to determine if any additional state funds will be used. As of this writing, $3.3 million has been generated in funds.
Pratt and other advocates of North Pond delivered a petition to the Select Board this past week with the goal of creating a warrant article for a March 19 town meeting to vote on bonding for additional funds to meet the $5 million goal.
The Community Preservation Committee has voted in favor of taking $500,000 out of their account to put towards the fundraising goal. This proposal will also be a warrant article at the special town meeting on March 19. If this passes then the warrant article for bonding will be for $1.2. If not the bond vote will be for $1.7 million.
The special town meeting will take place on March 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the gymnasium at the Southwick Regional School.
For those unable to attend the fundraiser and information night on Saturday but want to donate to the project, visit the Save North Pond page in order to donate.
