Straight Talk: Spring Cleaning

  • Published
  • By Col. Stacy L. Yike
  • 66th Air Base Group commander
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  We made it another week without a major snow storm! When I was told that New England weather was unpredictable, I did not fully appreciate what that really means. With such beautiful, sunny weather, a few of you may be inspired to start your spring cleaning or redecorating. If so, I want to share a few great resources with you.

As you know, the Hanscom Spouses Club operates the Minuteman Thrift Shop on the corner of Barksdale and Grenier streets, which is open every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the first and third Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They offer a wide range of items for sale and proceeds support scholarships for our youth, as well as many other base activities supported by the HSC.

If you're looking to do a bit of spring cleaning, or if you are planning a PCS, the thrift shop is a great place to take your donations. They also do consignments on Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, if you want them to sell your goods for you. Check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MinutemanThriftShop for more information and some fantastic deals.

In addition, you may be tired of driving miles upon miles for something you found on Craigslist, only to have the person not show up. Now, stay local with our great new website, www.hanscom.baseforsale.com.  

I know that many of you wanted an easier way to exchange goods and services, so we have set up a website to help you do so. The site is great for advertising services such as babysitting, pet sitting, lawn mowing and, if the weather changes, snow shoveling. If you need to find a good home for your pet, you can do that, too.

This site is perfect if you are looking for a great way to advertise your upcoming yard sale, or if you just need to sell that foosball table collecting dust in the basement. Feeling charitable? You can list items to give away, as well.

The site is free to use, and open to all who want to do business or share information with the Hanscom community. It's a superb way for Hanscom to take care of other Hansconians! Read more about it here.

The Hanscom Family Housing Facebook page also gives residents a place to post all kinds of information, so don't forget to check this site, too: www.facebook.com/HanscomFamilyHousing.  

Finally, I would like to give a big shout out to the 66th Air Base Group annual award winners. We celebrated the achievements of all the nominees this week with several events around the area and we will announce the winners Friday night at the awards banquet at the Minuteman Commons. Stay tuned next week to read about the final results.

I hope you have a wonderful and safe weekend.