Select Board:

The Select Board has scheduled a Special Town Meeting for March 29, 2006 at 7:00 PM at the Undermountain Elementary Cafeteria to vote on the zoning bylaw reformatting, an amendment to the retail establishment/consumer services zoning bylaw, and to adopt a new wireless telecommunications overlay district and zoning bylaw. Read this newsletter for more details.

The Board and the Finance Committee are diligently putting together a FY 2007 budget which townspeople will vote on at the Annual Town Meeting on May 2. We are all seeing increases in energy costs which will be reflected in the upcoming budget.

The Board is planning to have a selective timber harvesting done in portions of French Park in order to increase the recreational trails in the park and make the area affected by the 1995 Tornado accessible.

The Board welcomes Joseph Lewis as the town's most recent School Crossing Guard. We are hopeful that Mr. Lewis will stay with the Town in this position.

The Conservation Commission is seeking at least one new member and possibly two. This Commission oversees wetlands in Egremont. If you might be interested please contact Town Hall.

May 9 is the Annual Town Election. Nomination papers are available at Town Hall. Papers must be filed in the Town Clerk office by 5pm on March 21. The last day to register to vote for Town Meeting and Town Election is April 12.

The following seats will be on the ballot this year;

Moderator for one year;

Town Clerk for one year;

Tree Warden for one year;

Selectman for three years,

Assessor for three years;

Water Commissioner for three years;

Library Trustee for three years;

Cemetery Commissioner for three years;

Planning Board for five years; and

Associate Planning Board member for two years.

The town has recently received a check in the amount of $3,488.39 in payment for its recyclables shipped to the Material Springfield Recycling center for a half a year. Thank you to the townspeople who did such a great job recycling.

Veteran's Memorial:

Attention Veterans (living in Egremont at the time of service) in a conflict (war) from end of WWII to present time.

We are working to update the service memorial on the South Egremont green.

Please contact Tom Gage - 528-0076 or

Barbara Wright - 528-0158.

Town Clerk:

Dog Licenses are due March 31. A rabies clinic has been scheduled, sponsored by the Egremont Civic Association, for Saturday March 18 from 10am to 12noon at the North Egremont Fire Station. Rabies shots will be given at a discounted rate and licenses will be available.

Census Form:

If you have not returned your Census Form please do so to ensure that you will not be dropped from our voters list.

North Egremont and South Egremont are villages which together make up the Town of Egremont. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts identifies residents by the Town in which they live not the village.

If you live in North Egremont we are aware that your mailing zip code is 01252. However, for voting and residency purposes you live in the Town of Egremont - zip code 01258. Please do not cross out the 01258 zip code and write us angry notes. We know you live in North Egremont, but must identify you by the Town in which you live, Egremont. You will note your mailing address will have the 01252 zip code.

We are required by law to use the State Computer System for recording residency and voting information. This program recognizes only one head of household per residence. We realize some households would like to designate two heads of house. However, the computer program will not accept this. We would be happy to supply you with the number of the Secretary of State's Office if you would like to discuss this with them.

We hope this information will assist you in understanding the Census process. Please contact the Town Clerk's office if you have any other questions.

Affordable Housing:

Thanks to everyone who submitted an affordable housing questionnaire! But we want 100% participation. If you haven't submitted a questionnaire, please do so. A copy is attached to this newsletter, and copies are available at town hall, the North Egremont Post Office and the South Egremont general store.

We've received about 100 responses to date, and we're accumulating the results. The results so far indicate that there is substantial support for providing some affordable housing in Egremont. Not surprisingly, there are many different viewpoints on the details.

Finance Committee:

The Finance Committee has had thirteen meetings since the start of the fiscal year, and will probably have at least another six meetings before town meeting in May,06. We have put in at least 2 ½ hours per meeting, and all the members have spent from one to six hours each week on budget evaluation, budget analysis, and budget planning. We are very close to having a budget together to recommend at town meeting. At the May 05 town meeting there was very little interest in the budget, and how the people's tax money was spent. We were concerned about that lack of interest, since there were quite a few discussion points at the May 04 town meeting we expected follow-up questions from the audience. Since the total Town of Egremont budget will be close to $3,000,000. this year, we hope that the voters take an active interest in the budget at the May, 2006 town meeting. While the tax rate is down from last year, the re-evaluation of property has caused some tax payers bills to go up. We are concerned about this.

We meet at 7:00pm Wednesdays, and as long as it is all right with the Town administration, we will meet in the Planning Board meeting room where there is plenty of room on the tables to spread out our work. Of course, we can meet on the first floor at any time, if necessary, in order to accommodate any members of the public for whom the stairs might be a problem. We post our meeting notices on the outside bulletin board at the Town Hall at least 48 hours before we expect to hold a meeting, and will post a cancellation of a meeting on the same board by the time of the meeting.

Your Finance Committee members are Craig Elliott, Laura Allen, Bob Warner, Bill Wilson, Debbie Heath, and Richard Burdsall. We all want the public to feel a part of the budget process.

Alford/Egremont Cultural Council:

Get your appointment calendar handy! The Alford/Egremont Cultural Council is very pleased to announce two upcoming free events made possible by Cultural Council state funding which are sure to educate and entertain the child within us all.

On Saturday March 18^th at the Alford Children's Library starting at 10:00 am. Lynne VonHaggin of the Flag Acres Zoo will host a wildlife talk on bears. As party of the one-hour talk. Ms. VonHaggin will feature two very special guests - two new-born black bear cubs. If you've always wanted to learn more about these special backyard neighbors and the role they play in nature and see a real live bear cub at a supervised safe viewing distance then please attend what is sure to be an engaging event.

Also at the Alford Children's Library but this time to be held on Saturday April 1^st from 1pm to 3pm please join local radio personality and resident Jeanne Basis for the fun-filled "First Annual April Fools Day" Celebration. At this "playshop" children of all ages will be encouraged to relax, unwind and rediscover the playful nature within. Jeanne will blend imagination, creative movement, games and music to create a happy environment where a multitude of smiles and laughter are certainly guaranteed.

Do you have an idea for a future Cultural Council sponsored event? Are you interested in serving on the Alford/Egremont Cultural Council? Please give committee chair Juliette Haas a call at 528-2028.

Library Building Committee:

The Egremont Board of Library Trustees signed a contract with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners November 1, 2006, the committee requested and received $18,000 (90%) of the total state grant awarded. The state grant money must be spent before the committee can start using the Egremont matching funds ($20,000) already approved at a previous Town Meeting to complete the Planning and Design Program.

The first meeting of the Committee following the signing of the contract was held November 17, 2005. Subcommittees were formed to undertake the following responsibilities: Publicity, Fund Raising, Library History, Consultant Selection, Long Range Plan Revision, Architect Selectmen, Population Study and Projection.

A subcommittee was also formed to create a questionnaire to be distributed to all tax payers. The purpose of the survey is to define community opinion as to what services our Library should provide. This survey will be finished and circulated after a consultant has been chosen. During December the Committee for Population Study created a preliminary draft.

At the January 21^st meeting of the Library Building Committee members met with Anne Larsen form the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. At that time each subcommittee made a report of their activities. Ms. Larsen made comments and suggestions along with guidance for moving forward. In the opinion of Ms. Larsen, the committee is on track for accomplishments to date.

The subcommittee to choose a consultant has written letters to a wide list of possible candidates. Our goals is to complete the selection of a consultant in March.

Planning Board:

Don't Forget The Public Hearing On Bylaw Proposals March 2, 2006 7:00PM North Egremont Fire Station.

Proposals for changes to the Egremont Zoning Bylaw are ready and are available at the town hall and library. Please pick up a copy before the Public Hearing on March 2.

The proposals concern the telcommunications sections of the bylaw and the retail business and consumer service establishment section of the bylaw.

Under Section 4.7 of the bylaw, the Wireless Telecommunications Overlay District, four sites are proposes as possible cell tower locations. Three of these are twon-owned sites: the town hall/highway garage on Route 71 in North Egremont, the old highway garage on Town House Hill, and the water plant on Mt. Washington Road in South Egremont. The fourth site is the Catamount Ski Area property, which is the only allowable site under our present bylaw. The town-owned sites are being proposed as other possible sites which will provide coverage, with the possibility of the town receiving lease revenue form the cellular companies. Under current technology, no single site will cover the whole town; a combination of at least two sites appears necessary for adequate coverage. Voters will have the opportunity to discuss and vote on desired sites at special town meeting. These sites are all shown on the proposed Zoning Map which is included in the bylaw. Engineering maps, called radial plots or propagation maps, which show the coverage possible from each site are available for viewing at the town hall and library.

Proposed Section 4.8, Personal Wireless Service Facilities and Towers, governs the telecommunications equipment itself, stating among other things the application process, review, emissions evaluation, enforcement of compliance and eventual removal of the cellular equipment when no longer used. The application process provides for a special permit from the planning board for the initial installation of a tower and initial antenna on a tower; for subsequent installation of additional antennas on an existing tower the application process has been simplified from our present bylaw, requiring only a building permit. The bylaw provides for an ongoing evaluation process to assure compliance with federal emission standards.

The Planning Board is also proposing a revision of bylaw section 4.3.1.2. on retail businesses and consumer service establishments so that future businesses will be in scale with those presently existing in the town. Each lot could have up to 5,000 square feet of such commercial use, with each individual business on that lot up to 2,500 square feet. For comparison sake, the town hall has a footprint of approximately 2,500 square feet, with the two stories having 5,000 square feet total. Our present bylaw allows retail businesses and consumer service establishments anywhere in town by special permit and does not specify any size limitation for such uses. The Planning Board looks forward to your input on these numbers at the Public Hearing. There are also changes proposed to this section to simplify the review of parking for businesses and to clarify what sideline setback is required for commercial uses and how it may be waived.

The Selectman are planning a Special Town Meeting on these proposed bylaws the end of March. Also on the warrant will be a reformatting of the present zoning bylaw to make it clearer to read and more user-friendly. A Public Hearing was held on the reformatting proposal on October 19, 2005. Copies comparing the present and proposed format are available at town hall. The Planning Board will be available after the Public Hearing on March 2 to answer any questions on the proposed reformatting.

Please try to attend the Public Hearing and Special Town Meeting. Remember, the Zoning Bylaw is your expression of what you want for Egremont. The Planning Board has worked hard to present proposals which it feels meets the needs and desires of the town and looks forward to your input.

Egremont Technology Committee:

There are a number of open projects for which either a report is due, testing results are being compiled, or we are just waiting to hear from.

Wi-Spring, a small wireless internet company that is very interested in providing service in Egremont, is currently beta testing its network in selected homes and businesses throughout the town. Results to date appear quite promising. We will additional information on their efforts as it becomes available.

Recent discussions with Nextel indicate there is a possibility they may wish to offer some form of service within the town. Nothing is definate here, but the feedback the committee chair has received to date is encouraging. Again, we will continue to pursue this opportunity and attempt to establish inroads with other telecommunications/cell vendors.

The consultants working with Berkshire Connect under The Underserved Communities grant has completed their report. Working with the Select Board, we are trying to arrange a meeting in March where the report can be presented. Currently we are trying to schedule it in conjunction with a regularly scheduled Select Board meeting either on the 14^th or the 21^st. Again, as soon as something definite is known we will pass it on.

Egremont Garden Club:

Maybe it is the spring like weather we have been having, or all the seed catalogs arriving in the mail. Whatever the reason, the Garden club members have already begun to plan for their annual spring Plant sale. Every year, rain or shine, this sale has provided many of us with the plants that start our growing season in the Berkshires. A large selection of plants are available, including many flowering plants, hanging baskets, geraniums, vegetables and herbs. Members also pot plants from their own garden and flower beds such as beautiful hostas, rudbeckias, sedums, and herbs. Many members also provide from their collection of house plants.

A tag sale area is also a great feature of this sale. The items are beautifully displayed in the church social hall. You are sure to find an item that you desperately need. And, if you are in search of some delicious baked goods, you will find many choices. Club members bake breads, cakes, pies, cookies and muffins. You can even indulge in a cup of fresh brewed coffee to go along with a cookie to sustain you while you shop.

All the money from this sale is used to support the club's projects. Funds are provided for school children to visit the Berkshire Botanical Garden, and a scholarship is offered to any high school student interested in botanical studies. In December, the tree on the green is lighted, and wreaths are made for all the public buildings in both North and South Egremont. The Garden Club also provides the flowers, and maintains plantings, at the Library, the town green, Hillside Cemetery, and the baskets on two bridges.

Why don't you mark Saturday, May 27^th on your calendar. Plan to visit the Plant, Tag, and Bake sale at the South Egremont Congregational Church, and help support all the above projects. Hope to see you there.

Board of Health:

Emergency Planning for the Future begins in the Present

Massachusetts has a unique system of local town Boards of Health. Most other sates have county Health Departments because small town cannot afford the professional level of expertise and 24/7 coverage required of a Local Board of Health today. Public Health Emergency Planning and Response is one of the Local Board of Health's responsibilities that requires an enormous amount of time and training to bring each Local Board of Health up to basic emergency preparedness standards. Then after all the plans are done, they need to be updated and exercised on a regular basis.

It is not just Local Boards of Health that are being asked to meet higher standards in emergency preparedness and response. Every Public Safety Agency now recognizes that emergency planning needs to be broader, deeper and continuous. Since all these agencies, many of them staffed with volunteers as well, are already working at capacity just to maintain their normal levels of service, we need to work smarter, hire additional people and re-adjust our work priorities.

Public Safety agencies are also beginning to realize that no one can plan alone. Disasters rarely stop at town boarders and the resources that other towns and departments have are often needed. We need to plan regionally, drill regionally and respond regionally. All this takes time, someone's attention and money. This is a full time job for someone. Few have enough extra time in a day to do emergency planning consistently to a high standard for his/her own town let alone for the region. Public Health and Public Safety emergency planning and response need to be done regionally and professionally.

What are we doing to plan for Public Health emergencies? A grant from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has made it possible for the Berkshire County Boards of Health Association to hire a part-time Public Health Emergency Coordinator and a Public Health Emergency Planner. Member Towns of the Berkshire County Boards of Health emergency plan are working together with the Planners to develop basic Public Health emergency plans, including plans to immunize the entire county within 48 hours; Continuity of Operations Plans in the event of a pandemic flu; 24/7 emergency notification and response protocols so that Public Health can be contacted in an emergency; training so the Public Health knows how to interact with other emergency responders and who to call for various emergencies; planning with hospitals, VNAs, fire police, EMS, emergency management, Local Emergency Planning Committees and others; updating local Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan to include Public Health all hazards plans: training plans for Local Board of Health; etc. The creation of these major planning documents will take years and thousand of hours of somebody's time.

What is the future of Public Health emergency planning? Eventually, the grant money for Public Health planning will no longer be there. Each town would again be responsible for its own emergency planning. Individual towns don't have the resources to do Public Health planning or respond to major Public Health emergencies. Better and less expensive is regional emergency planning and response. If each town in Berkshire County would annually commit $500 to $2500, then a Public Health Emergency Planner/Responder could be hired and planning could continue. Working together and speaking with one voice makes us stronger and better able to request needed support from the State.

A professional, paid Public Health Emergency Planner/Responder would be responsible for:

1. Completing and maintaining all of the emergency plans required of Public Health.

2. Improving Local Board of Health capacity by being an available resource for Local Boards of Health who want assistance with Local Board of Health protocols and responses.

3. Assisting Local Boards of Health in emergency planning and response.

4. Facilitating Local Boards of Health in setting up communications and interactions with other First Responders.

5. Responding to requests by Local Boards of Health for assistance during emergencies either under Mutual Aid Agreements or by being appointed as an agent for the Town.

6. Assisting other Public Safety Agencies to improve and exercise their emergency plans.

7. Becoming a major emergency resource for Berkshire County.

Residents are encouraged to prepare themselves and their families for emergencies; begin the conversation about our expectations for emergency planning and preparedness; and let our town leaders know what our priorities are for our scarce resources. Being prepared for the big emergencies makes us better prepared for the little ones.

We can choose to do nothing and hope for the best. We can choose to do some basic planning and hope all our emergencies are little ones. We can choose to take responsibility for our own health and safety and commit the time and resources necessary to make our emergency planning and response ready for All Hazards.

Council on Aging:

The members of your Council wish to remind you that April 15^th is not far away! Have you taken care of your income tax forms? Are you informed about the Circuit Breaker tax break for seniors? If not, please get some information so you can access any funds due you under this law. If your real estate taxes, or rent if you are not a home owner, amount to more than 10% of your annual income, you should contact some one about this. Circuit Breaker refunds are available if you are eligible even though you might not have had to pay state income tax. This could be important to your pocketbook! Educate yourself by making a phone call to a member of the Council, or the person who prepares your tax form.

Our Egremont Police Department works with the Council on Aging making short regular visits to seniors who are shut in, or live alone. If you, or a member of your family, would feel more secure getting acquainted with our local officers and having them drop in occasionally to see you, please call a Council member, or Chief Bucknell.

If your physician has once again suggested that you need to exercise....and especially need some WATER EXERCISE, please get in touch with Rachel Shaw at 528-3488. The Council had great success with the program at Simon's Rock last Spring....and we have plans for another 3 month session. The participants are very enthusiastic about this program and reap great benefits. Please let us know if you are interested.

Mark your calendars, seniors! June 15^th is the day chosen for the annual senior picnic. It is our turn to have the event in Egremont.....so.....please mark your calendar and expect some additional publicity in a couple of months.

Friends of Prospect Lake:

A number of residents in North Egremont have formed an organization named "Friends of Prospect Lake" whose mission is to evaluate, monitor and maintain the condition of the lake. Prospect Lake is an important asset of the town, providing recreational opportunities such as swimming, boating and fishing for residents and nonresidents. The condition of the lake has been slowly deteriorating, and there is recent evidence that invasive species may have found their way into the lake. Friends of Prospect Lake will work with the town and with state agencies and other experts to insure preservation of the lake and of its enjoyment by townspeople. The next meeting is Saturday March 25 at 10am at the North Egremont Fire Station. For further information, contact Frank Frecentese, Lakeside Side, No. Egremont MA 01252.

Southern Berkshire Regional School:

"Mt. Everett Students Attend Russell Sage Theatre Honors Weekend"

Two Mount Everett seniors, Mandy O'Connor and Alice Maggio, were selected to attend the Annual Russell Sage College Theatre Honors Weekend in Troy New York on January 13 - 15.

This exciting recognition program was for students who may possibly pursue a career in the arts. Candidates must be a social leader, a powerful communicator, be involved in the school theatre community and serve and inspire others. Academically, she should maintain a B+ average or better and rank in the top 25% of the class.

As part of the weekend long intensive workshop, both students were expected to perform a prepared musical theatre song from standard musical theatre literature and a monologue piece from 20^th century theatre literature. They also attended workshops given by theatre professionals from the New York State Theatre Institute on musical threatre, audition techniques, and stage combat. Additionally, the selected students attended a musical theatre performance at Capital Repertory Theatre. The weekend ended with a combined performance piece given by the thirty students selected to participate in the Theatre Honors Weekend.

Robert Law, Director of the Performing Arts Department for the Southern Berkshire Regional School District, who nominated the two young women said, "I'm delighted that both of them were selected. They are both role models for other students in our school and assets to our music and theatre departments. Mandy and Alice are both high achieving students that will go far with their chosen career paths. I'm very proud of both of them."

Alice is the daughter of Peter and Ellen Maggio of Egremont, and Mandy is the daughter of Wendy O'Connor of Egremont and Denis O'Connor of Great Barrington.

"Abbie Reardon Selected For Superintendent's Award For Excellence"

Abbie Reardon, a senior at Mount Everett High School has been awarded the Mass. Asso. Of School Superintendent's Award. Miss Reardon was presented the award by Superintendent Valerie Spriggs at a recent School Committee Meeting. Miss Reardon was selected in 2004 for the Western District All State Chorus in 2004. She was the recipient of the Williams College Book Award, and she was named a National Merit Commended Scholar. In 2004, she was selected to attend the World Affairs Seminar at the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, and also attended the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Seminar at Babson College. She was also just recently named a John and Abigail Adam's Scholar and will receive a full scholarship to the University of Massachusetts if she desires. Abbie has been in numerous plays and musicals throughout her high school career. She is a member of SADD, the High School Chorus, The Madrigal Singers and the National Honor Society.

Upon completion of high school Abbie plans on atending either Williams College or Amherst College to study Comparative Literature, and minoring in Philosophy.

Superintendent Valerie Spriggs said, "I'm delighted for Abbie, she has been a shining star at Mount Everett for a number of years. She is focused, and methodical about the direction of her life and her future. She will make Southern Berkshire Regional very proud."

Abbie is the daugther of Colleen Reardon of Ashley Falls and Paul Reardon of Great Barrington.

"13 Mt. Everett Students Awarded John & Abigail Adams Scholarships"

Thirteen Mount Everett Regional School students were recently awarded John & Abigail Adams Scholarships from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Recipients must have scored in the top 25% on the MCAS. They will all be eligible for four years of free tuition at any state public institution of higher learning in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The winners are Trevor Cobb, Sam Crawford, Jessica Cross, Jesse Johnston, Alice Maggio, Katherine McSpiritt, Kayla Morehouse, Amanda O'Connor, Alyssa Palmer, Abigail Reardon, Cailin Rocco, Rebecca Weinstein, and Michelle Winseck.

"Schools Received Kindergarten Accreditation"

The SBRSD kindergarten programs at Undermountain Elementary and New Marlborough Central Schools have just received notification of accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Over the past two years the kindergarten teachers have voluntarily undergone a comprehensive process of internal self-study, invited external professional review to verify compliance with the Criteria for High Quality Early Childhood Programs, and been found to be in substantial compliance with the Criteria. The Criteria can be found on NAEYC's Web Site at www.neayc.org/accreditation.

Erma Lampma, Sharon Milukas and Sofia Hughes, the coordinators of the Quality Full Day Kindergarten Grant and kindergarten teachers at SBRSD spearheaded the process. The outcome of this lengthy process ensures that we have a high-quality early childhood program. The program provides a safe and nurturing environment while promoting the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of our kindergarten children.

"Mount Everett to Perform Altar Egos"

The Performing Arts Department of the SBRSD will present ALTAR EGOS, the I Do's and Don'ts of An American Wedding on Friday and Saturday April 7 & 8 at 7pm and again on Sunday April 9 at 2pm.

"All we want is a simple wedding," agree Mark and Colleen as they get engaged. And their simple wedding stays simple...for about two minutes when the families get involved. There's the McMasters, who think the Frobishers are a bunch of snooty dudes, and the Frobishers, who picture the McMasters as a crowd of hillbillies. The bride's father keeps offering the soon-to-be-wed couple thousands of dollars to elope, "No questions asked!" The bride's mother decides to call in her sister, who is a sweet, lovely woman... until she becomes the Coordinator-a drill sergeant! The groom needs a best man so he enlists his Uncle Josh, who's an old hippie. The brides kid sister can't wait for the wedding, either, since she gets the bride's old room...if she can talk Dad out of it, who wants it for a den...if he can talk Mom out of it, who wants it for a quilting room. The two mothers are literally dueling over the rehearsal dinner seating chart while the bride and groom wonder where it all went wrong. Throw into this mix football referees, tailors, circus ringmasters, caterers and even an interpreter and you get just some of the ALTER EGOS.

ALTAR EGOS is being directed by Bob Law and Charles Coughlin, with Student Assistant Director Mandy O'Connor.

Tickets are $8.00 for general admission and $6.00 for students and seniors. For more information or reservations please call the Performing Arts Department Office at 413-229-8252.

New Marlborough Cultural Council:

Opportunities for Crafters at New Marlborough's Elihu Burritt Day:

Summer's a long way off - right? Not for those stalwart souls who follow the crafts fair circuit each year. Now, in the cold of winter, is the time that weavers, potters, jewelry makers, needle workers, woodworkers, ironmongers and crafters of numerous other persuasions are preparing for their prime selling season. For them, June, July and August are right around the corner.

One of the pleasurers of southern Berkshire County each year is New Marlborough's community festival that honors Elihu Burritt, the Town's nineteenth century hero - the "Learned Blacksmith". This year's thirty-second Burritt Day is August 12 on the New Marlborough Village Green. Crafters and Vendors at Burritt Days past have found a receptive crowd eager to browse their wares, as well as enjoy great food, entertain their kids with fun games and pick up a good book for a bargain price at the Library's table.

If you or a friend are a crafter or vendor of interested articles - or services - Burritt Day is a pleasant way to get your business out in front of customers who look for and buy beautiful, original and carefully prepared items. The New Marlborough Cultural Council is presently accepting reservations for a 10' x 10' exhibition space where you can sell at Burritt Day on August 12 from 10am to 3pm. The cost is only $30 per space. You can rent a table for just $10 more.

Contact Owen Hoberman of the New Marlborough Cultural Council at 413-229-1118 or owenH22@aol.com to reserve your space at the friendly community summer event.

Board meeting schedule:

Archives Room - First Saturday 9-noon

Assessors - Wednesdays 9am to 11am & Tuesdays 7pm to 9pm

Board of Health - Monday by appointment, Tuesday 10am to 2pm, Wednesday 10am to 12noon, Thursday 10am to 12noon

Board of Selectmen - Meetings Tuesday evenings 7pm. Office 7:30am to 3pm. (Every other Tuesday during July and August)

Building Inspector - Tuesday 12:30pm to 3:30pm.

Conservation Commission - Second and Fourth Thursdays 7:00pm

Finance Committee - Wednesday 7pm as needed.

Library - Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 2-6pm &

Saturday 9-12noon

Planning Board - Second & Fourth Monday 7:30pm

Town Clerk - Tuesday evenings 7pm - 9pm

Water Department - Third Thursday 4:30pm

Zoning Board of Appeals - as needed

SBRSD Calendar Highlights:

March 2 - School Committee, Library 7pm

March 3 - SADD Breakfast High School Cafeteria 6:45am to 8:00am

March 3 - Grade 5 & 6 Dance - 6:30-8:30pm

March 7 - ½ day of school

March 10 & 11 - Earth Angels 7:25pm

March 16 - School Committee, Library, 7pm

March 30 - School Committee, Library 7pm

March 30 - Title I Parents Night 6:30pm

April 7 & 8 - Comedy "Altar Egos", Performing Arts Center 7pm

April 92 Comedy "Altar Egos" 2pm

April 6 - ½ day of school

April 7 - SADD Breakfast 6:45am to 8am

April 12 - Middle School EXPO night 6-8pm

April 13 - School Committee, Library 7pm

April 14 - Spring Vacation through April 23

April 27 - School Committee, Library 7pm

Community Notes:

The Weathervane Inn will be hosting the second annual guitar lover's weekend March 31 through April 2 from 8pm to 11pm, sponsored by Taylor Guitars. There will be a concert performance and open mike featuring Grammy Award winning artist & performer Wayne Johnson of the Manhattan Transfer. For more information call 800 (413) 528-9580 or log onto www.weathervaneinn.com. Space is limited and free gifts will be offered.

Potluck Dinner at the South Egremont Congregational Church the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 October through May. Bring a dish to share and your place settings.

This is a fabulous way for new residents to meet their neighbors. Children welcome and enjoyed. March 16 & April 20.

Do you have something noteworthy you would like the community to know about - please pass it on.

Business listings:

In an effort to promote local small businesses, the following businesses/services located in Egremont have agreed to be listed here. If we missed asking you and you wish to be included, please send your information to the Town Hall.

Baldwin Hill Farm B&B - Lodging and breakfast

413-528-4892 / 888-528-4092

www.baldwinhillfarm.com

The Silo B&B - guest accommodations

413-528-5195

The Weathervane Inn - Lodging

413/800-528-9580

John Andrews' Restaurant - Restaurant

413-528-3469

Elm Court Inn - Restaurant

413-528-0325

Swiss Hutte Country Inn and Restaurant-

Restaurant & Lodging

413-528-6200

Howard's Antiques - Antique Lighting & Restoration

413-528-1232

www.howardsantiquelighting.com

Red Barn Antiques - Antique lighting & fine metal polishing

413-528-3230

Blue Rider Stables - Therapeutic Riding Center

413-528-5299

Green River Arabians & Pintos - Horse back riding, training, lessons, breeding

413-528-2367 arabpinto13@yahoo.com

www.thearabianexperts.com/greenriver

Odyssey II Kennels - All breed boarding for Dogs

413-528-2816

www.weigln9x@berkshire.net

Indian Line Farm - Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) & Farmers Markets

413-528-8301

www.indianlinefarm.com

House to House Hauling & Recycling-

Rubbish removal

413-528-0943

G&S Gventer "Books - Buy & Sell Books

413-528-2327

Cosmic Resonance (Elfie Six) Shiatsu/Acutonics®, Soundhealing,

413-644-9979

Peter Goldberg, Dipl. Ac - Acupuncture, Pain

Management 413-528-5055

Divine Automotive - Automotive repair

413-528-8007

Old Egremont Store - groceries, beer, wine, liquor, newspapers, lottery, & much more

413-528-4796

Blueberry Lane Home Design - Interior decorating

413-528-9633

Closet Collection - clothing & household

consignment shop

413-528-6236

Berkshire Veneer Company - wholesale/retail

wood veneer sales

413-644-9696

L and L Construction - Home repairs, additions,

new home building

413-528-5548

Catamount Ski Area - Skiing

413-528-1262

www.catamountski.com

Anita Schilling - Real Estate Listing & Sales

Century 21 Franklin Street

413-528-8118 x12

anitacentury21@aol.com

Florence F. Browner Real Estate - Full Service

90 Creamery Road

413-528-3266

flobro@berkshire.net

Linda Warner - Realtor Associate

Lance Vermeulen Real Estate

413-528-1428

FrogEstate@aol.com

Kenver Ltd - Ski equipment and apparel

39 Main Street

413-528-2330

Maple Leaf Art Gallery - Joan Mentzinger

154 Hillsdale Road, Route 23

The Agency Without Walls - Helen Krancer

Advertising, sales promotion, direct marketing. 413-644-9700

helen@agencywithoutwalls.com

Printed, on recycled paper, Selectmen's Office Staff

as submitted by Town Department.