By Beth David, Editor
The Millicent Library and the Unitarian Church have teamed up to present StoryWalk on the lawn of the UU Church at the corner of William and Center Streets in Fairhaven. Wheelchair access is from Center Street.
The 18 panels each feature a page or pages of a children’s book. Two activity panels will feature educational information and activities tied to the season, which now is all about the leaves.
In keeping with the fall season, the book featured in the Storywalk is “Leaf Man” by Lois Ehlert.
The project was funded by a grant from the Montigny Children’s Fund, and built by the Wood Working Group at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Fairhaven. Sen. Mark Montigny’s fund provided the money, and the UUSF members built the stands to hold the pages of the books.
Allie Thiel, Assistant Director and Head of Youth Services at the Millicent, said there are very specific requirements for the StoryWalk.
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- Sen. Mark Montigny cuts the ribbon on the new StoryWalk on 10/21/25 at the Unitarian Church Lawn in Fairhaven, which was funded by the Montigny Children’s Fund, and built by the Wood Working Group at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Fairhaven. L-R: Fairhaven Selectboard member Natalie Mello; Fairhaven resident Karen Isherwood; Gary Johnson and Don Colassius of the UU Wood Working Group; Sen. Montigny; Allie Thiel, Assistant Director and Head of Youth Services at the Millicent Library. Photo by Beth David.
At the ribbon cutting on 10/21/25, Sen. Montigny said he had just returned from Afghanistan, where women and girls are not allowed to get an education. He said his fund is always looking for ideas to get kids to read.
After the official proceedings he walked along the path following Leaf Man’s journey.
Sen. Montigny said he takes the spending of taxpayer money very seriously, and was happy to see the project and how well it was done.
“It was done with love,” he said, adding it was much more fun because the story hour was being held at the same time under the big tree on the UU lawn, and those parents and children joined with the crowd and followed the StoryWalk.
The StoryWalk is open to the public anytime.
“We are encouraging families to get out and read,” said Ms. Thiel.
Gary Johnson and Don Collasius of the UUSF Wood Working Group did all the carpentry. Mr. Johnson made the stands, and Mr. Collasius built the picnic tables.
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