Around the Hamptons: Easthampton family seeks help after car crashes into home

The Vanasse family, left shaken and without a place to live after a speeding car crashed into their home last month, is  raising funds to get back on their feet.

The Vanasse family, left shaken and without a place to live after a speeding car crashed into their home last month, is raising funds to get back on their feet. gazette FILE PHOTO

By ALEXA LEWIS

Staff Writer

Published: 11-03-2024 12:00 PM

EASTHAMPTON — The Vanasse family, left shaken and without a place to live after a speeding car crashed into their home last month, is raising funds to get back on their feet.

Jason Vanasse was washing the windows of his work vehicle at night on Oct. 11 when a car sped down the street, hopped the curb and missed hitting him by a few inches before crashing into his vehicle and the family home. The collision compromised the house’s electricity and a load-bearing wall.

Luckily, his wife Kimberly Vanasse, his 71-year-old mother and his 19-year-old daughter who live in the house were safe.

But Jason Vanasse’s work vehicle was compromised, and he was traumatized from the event, leading him to need time off work through November. Kimberly Vanasse is fighting to get back to work, but cannot return yet due to an injury she sustained earlier in the year.

It will be months before the family is able to return home, and moving into another rental will require the first and last months’ rent payments as well as a security deposit.

For the first few nights following the incident, they were able to stay with Jason Vanasse’s aunt or in a camper in the front yard, but fueling the generator is expensive for the family, as is paying hotel fees. The family also has several pets, making it more difficult to find somewhere to stay.

The Vanasses have started a GoFundMe campaign to help support themselves during this time. The goal of the campaign is $10,000, and at the time of writing, $1,215 has been raised through 25 donations.

Donations in support of the Vanasse family can be contributed at gofund.me/13e4a25e.

Public hearing for Ferry Street Mills remediation

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EASTHAMPTON — Westmass Area Development Corporation is applying for a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield grant for the cleanup of asbestos and other hazardous materials at three sites at the Ferry Street Mills. A public meeting will be held via Zoom at 4 p.m. on Nov. 7 to accept input on the cleanup project.

Any individual who wishes to participate should contact Sean O’Donnell, community development and planning coordinator, at 413-374-0378 or by email at s.odonnell@westmassdevelopment.com to receive a link to the meeting.

The draft grant application and a draft Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives for each site will be available upon request for review and comment.

Westmass will accept commentary on the grant application and proposed cleanup project until their submission on Nov. 14. All comments should be submitted in writing to Sean O’Donnell, Westmass Area Development Corporation, One Monarch Place, Suite 1120, Springfield, MA 01144 or via email by that date.

Easthampton municipal aggregation hearing

EASTHAMPTON — The city filed a request with the Department of Public Utilities on Oct. 4 for approval of a municipal aggregation plan that would allow the city to procure electricity on behalf of its residents. The DPU will hold a public hearing to gather input from the public on this filing on Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. via Zoom.

Eligible electricity consumers would automatically be enrolled in the municipal aggregation program, with an the option to opt out, in which case they would continue to receive basic service from Eversource. Good Energy, L.P. has been retained by the city to assist with the implementation of the program.

To comment at the meeting, contact Lauren.Morris@mass.gov with name, email address and mailing address by 5 p.m. on Nov. 19.

Anyone wishing to provide written comments may do so by 5 p.m. on Nov. 20. In the interest of transparency, all commentary will be posted online as received and without redacting personal information. If a member of the public is unable to send commentary via email, comments can be sent by mail to DPU Secretary Mark D. Marini, One South Station, Boston, MA 02110.

The Zoom meeting can be accessed at the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88511694648.

Southampton to hold hazard mitigation meeting

SOUTHAMPTON — The town will hold a public meeting regarding its Hazard Mitigation Plan at the Town Hall on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m., during the Select Board meeting. All members of the public concerned about the impacts of natural hazards and climate change on their community are welcome to attend.

At the meeting, residents will have the chance to learn how the town is preparing to address these threats and share any concerns and suggestions they may have.

Virtual access to the meeting will also be available via Zoom.

Surveying for water leaks

EASTHAMPTON — The city will conduct a citywide water leak detection survey through the month of November through a contract with Prowler Leak Detection Company. Members of the Prowler team may be spotted during this time on bicycles working on fire hydrants throughout the city.

The leak detection survey began on Wednesday, Oct. 30, and is expected to last through this month, though no disruptions to service is expected.

The Water Department may be contacted with questions at 413-529-1422.

Alexa Lewis can be reached at alewis@gazettenet.com.