GRANVILLE – Working at her in-law’s family-run business, the popular Gran-Val Scoop, Nicole Berndt has developed a sense of familiarity and comfort in Granville. After growing up in Holyoke and then attending the University of Vermont, she started to work at a few dairy farms in Vermont.
With an interest in dairy farming, Berndt was informed about a dairy farm in Granville, called Rockwood Farms where she spent eight years prior to her current position.
As a candidate for the town’s Select Board, Berndt will be going up against incumbent Richard Woodger, her former boss at Rockwood Farms, and someone she strongly admires.
Berndt has grown to love this community and has made a decision that she wants more involvement in what happens in Granville on a daily basis.
“I saw this as a good opportunity, I have a vested interest in the success of this town,” said Berndt. “I love this place and I want it to continue as a vibrant town in the future.”
Granville Select Board challenger Nicole Berndt. (Photo courtesy of Greg Fitzpatrick)
Quite similar to her opponent, Berndt’s main concern is about the future of the building that once was the Granville Village School.
“We have to figure out what to do with that building,” said Berndt.
Although she’d love to see the building remain as a school, Berndt has been looking at other potential opportunities. A member on the town’s future-use committee for the building, Berndt says they’ve looked at the building being a multi-purpose center or part community center with some town offices or rented out space.
Regardless of which possibilities are realistic or not, Berndt wants to continually see progress made.
“I think we really need to get on this before it winds right back to where we are,” said Berndt.
If elected, Berndt also wants to focus her energy on the many small businesses that reside in town.
In Granville, there isn’t just a high quantity of small businesses, Berndt pointed out that there’s a unique variety of products that are offered to consumers and she wants to form a way to highlight and promote that.
“I think a wonderful thing for this town would be to form a small chamber of commerce,” said Berndt.
Going further into the idea, Berndt noted that the chamber of commerce would include giving people extensive information on all the small businesses in Granville and what they offer.
“There’s so many brilliant entrepreneurs right here that have found a way to carve out their little niche,” said Berndt.
Knowing that she is the lesser known in town of the two individuals running for the one open seat on the Select Board, Berndt has been working on a number of ways to spread the word about her campaign. Currently working on creating signs and making postcards to send to residents, Berndt has also developed a Facebook page to reach more of the community on social media.
For someone that was new to the town less than 10 years ago, Berndt feels that her perspective on how to improve the community of Granville would be a benefit to the Select Board.
“I think I can bring some new ideas,” said Berndt. “It’s just about a fresh set of eyes and a new outlook.”
