After representing Greenfield on the ConVal School Board for eight years,  Katherine Heck, who is arguably one of Greenfield’s busiest human beings, stepped down just after the elections in March. She had already announced that she was not running for another term, but she still received enough write-in votes to be re-elected! Heck graciously stayed on as our  School Board representative for a few weeks until Curtis Hamilton volunteered to take her place.

"It has been an honor and privilege to serve Greenfield for the last eight years. We are very fortunate to have Curtis Hamilton as our new representative. He is thoughtful, engaged and dedicated  and I know he is going to go a great job," Heck said. 

According to the Select Board, three Greenfield residents came forward to discuss the responsibilities of serving on the ConVal School Board. The other two residents withdrew due to scheduling conflicts, but Hamilton, a GES dad, volunteered, and is now Greenfield’s new representative to the ConVal School Board.

“It’s been very exciting  to get started on the School Board because there is so much to learn,” Hamilton said. “Having to learn so much new information at this pace is really good for my brain. I’m happy to fill the seat and serve the community.”

Hamilton and his wife, Katharine, who have been in Greenfield for about two years, live near the center of town with their 4-year- old son and one-year-old daughter. Curtis, who has graduate degrees in art and photography, runs an e-commerce site selling printed artwork, prints and posters out of his home office. Katharine is a library director at Manchester Community College. Curtis also coaches a Greenfield T-ball team. 

“Coaching T-ball really gives me respect for teachers,” Curtis said with a laugh. “I can keep the attention of maybe three kids at a time, after that, I am begging the parents to help! T-Ball is great, and there a is a lot parent involvement.” 

The Hamiltons moved to Greenfield from California, but both are originally from the East Coast. Curtis is originally from Pennsylvania, and Katharine grew up in the Boston area. 

“We really moved back to New England because of COVID, and to be close to our families,” Curtis said. “We  are really loving the town of Greenfield. We couldn’t be happier.” 

Katharine’s parents live in Peterborough, and “one of them drops by every day,” Curtis said. 

Curtis notes that coming onto the School Board right after the failed reconfiguration warrant article is “an interesting time for me  to start on the board.”

“I’m just learning the ropes and reading a ton, especially on the feasibility studies,” Curtis said. 

As Greenfield’s only School Board representative, Curtis is also required to serve on the Feasibility Study Committee along with Select Board Chair Mike Borden

Curtis encourages Greenfield residents to reach out to him at at chamilton@conval.edu. 

Upcoming events

In other Greenfield news, the townwide yard sale is Saturday, May 25, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Maps will be available from the Greenfield Recreation Department at greenfieldrecdept@gmail.com starting on May 22. Greenfield’s Memorial Day celebration will start May 26 at noon in the library parking lot and process to the memorial on the Meetinghouse lawn. 

On June 1, Stephenson Memorial Library will host Puzzle-Palooza, a family puzzle tournament! Please contact ellac@stephensonlibrary.org or stop by the library for a full schedule of summer events. 

The Greenfield Fire Department annual pancake breakfast is 8 to 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 9, at the Fire Department. The Greenfield Farmers and Crafters Market will start up again in the end of May; please contact the Oak Park Committee at oakparknh@gmail.com if you would like to take part as a vendor or musician.

Finally, a group of people in town is trying to organize Greenfield’s July 4 celebration! Please contact oakparknh@gmail.com, greenfieldmeetinghouse@gmail.com or talk to Ella at the library if you are able to volunteer.