 Egremont News |
|
Issue 38 |
March , 2008 |
Rules & Regulations of this Newsletter:
The purpose of this newsletter is to keep residents informed of what is going on in their community. It is printed on a bi-monthly basis by the Selectmen’s Office Staff. Articles submitted by Town Boards are not edited by the Select Board or Office Administrator. Outside organizations are allowed to submit articles of no longer than one column length. These articles are to be factual and will not be printed if they contain any political format, forum, or communication. We welcome reader input and hope you enjoy reading the Newsletter.
Reminder: July 27, 2008 11am to 4pm Egremont on Parade at French Park
Selectmen:
Please be aware that if we have your email address on file at Town Hall it is public record, and, just like your mailing address, if we get a request for this information we have to give it out. We greatly appreciate all the residents who get this email via email but if you don’t want your email address being public record please let us now and we will put you back on the mailing list.
We are pleased to note that once again Egremont received an award for Pedestrian Safety - not having had a pedestrian fatality for more than 25 years.
Annual Town Meeting (May 6) and Annual Town Election (May 13) time is fast approaching. Special Articles for the Annual Town Meeting Warrant must be given to the Select Board by March 14, 2008.
At the annual election voters will be asked to reaffirm their May, 2007 vote to make the office of the Assessors an appointed Board.
Reminder: No ashes are to be tossed in to any of the containers at the Transfer Station.
In the interest of saving tax payer dollars, we are no longer including the Town calendar with this newsletter. The calendar is posted at the Post Offices. Or you can view on our web site at www.egremont-ma.gov If you wish a copy you may get one at Town Hall. We will also not be including poetry, pictures or history tidbits.
The Town is looking for estimates on painting the Town Hall and the Library. If you are a local painter who be willing to stop by and give us a quote, please call Nick Ball at 528-0182.
The Town will begin to collect mercury thermostats, not including thermometers, in mid-March. You may bring your mercury thermostat to town hall.
Our winter mail box policy - we will fix your mail box if our plow truck took it down only if your mail box was installed property to begin with. If your box is on a rotting post or if your box is too close to the road the town will not fix it if it is knocked down as a result of our plowing the snow by it.
Town Clerk:
This is just a reminder about Census Forms. Believe it or not it’s that time again. You should have received your Census Form shortly after Jan 1, 08. Please understand that everyone lives in the Town of Egremont so your Zip Code for this is 01258. You receive mail in the villages of North (01252) and South (01258) Egremont. It is not necessary for you to cross out the 01258 zip if you live in North Egremont.
It is also very important that you return these Census Forms as soon as possible. Under the “Help America Vote Act” (HAVA) failure to return Census Forms results in your voter status changing to “inactive voter”.
As you are all aware ’08 is a big election year. We will have four elections: Presidential Preference Primary was in February, Town Elections in May, State Primary in September, and Presidential Election in November. Requests for Absentee Ballots can be requested anytime after 1/1/08. You can also request an Absentee Ballot for all elections in ’08. If you think you will need an Absentee Ballot, the earlier your request is submitted, the easier life will be for all!
Dog licenses will be issued starting around March 1! You will be able to purchase licenses at the Rabies clinic on March 15.
2008 Election Calendar:
Tuesday, March 25: Last day to file nomination papers by 5:00pm.
Saturday, March 29: Last day to post notices of partisan caucuses.
Saturday, April 5: Last day to hold caucuses
Tuesday, April 8: Last day to file certified nomination papers and certificates of nomination by caucuses by 5:00pm.
Thursday, April 10: Last day to withdraw as a candidate.
Wednesday, April 16: Last day to register to vote.
Tuesday, May 6: Town Meeting 7pm in Sheffield
Tuesday, May 13: Town Election 10am to7pm North Egremont Fire Station.
The following offices will be elected in May: Moderator, one year; Town Clerk, one year; Tree Warden, one year; Selectman, three years; Library Trustee, three years; Cemetery Commission, three years; Planning Board, five years; Associate member of the Planning Board, three years; Assessor, one year; Assessor, three years; Water Commissioner, three years.
The following questions will also be on the ballot:
Shall the Town vote to have its elected of Assessors become an appointed Board of Assessors of the Town?
Shall the Town of Egremont be allowed to exempt from the provisions of Proposition two and one-half, so called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to purchase the fire truck?
Nomination papers may be picked up at the Town Hall during regular business hours. You must obtain a minimum of 20 signatures. Please be sure all signatures are legible.
For further info please contact Town Clerk Margaret Muskrat.
Pet Rabies Clinic:
The annual rabies clinic for dogs and cats is to be held on Saturday, March 15, 2008 from 10am to 12pm at the North Egremont Fire Station. Please remember to bring your pet on a leash or in a carry case. You may obtain your annual dog license at the same time. The fee for the rabies inoculation is $10 per pet. The fee for a license is $4 for a spayed or neutered dog and $10 for a non-spayed or neutered dog.
Egremont On Parade:
Plans are underway for the first (hopefully annual) Egremont on Parade Day, scheduled for Sunday, July 27 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p,m. at French Park. Egremont on Parade provides a great opportunity for Egremont residents to show off their community pride and come together for a day of family fun.
Plans for the day include a "Taste of Egremont" tent, at which our favorite Egremont restaurants will be serving up tasty treats; a barbeque lunch prepared by the Egremont Fire Department; children's games & activities, from a petting zoo to pony rides and other special surprises; Egremont artisans and crafters selling and showing their wares; music; an exhibit on Egremont's history; and some friendly north vs. south competition.
A dedicated group of residents have formed a Planning Committee and welcome the support of anyone looking to get more involved. If you would like to take out a booth, volunteer your time, make a donation to the effort, help underwrite some of the items on our wish list, or just share your ideas, call Bonnie at 528-5637 for more information and the date of our next planning meeting.
Historical Commission:
Members of the Historical Commission have been working throughout the year. On the first Saturday morning of the month, and the afternoon of the third Monday, volunteers keep the Archive Room open on the top floor of the Egremont Academy Building on Buttonball Lane.
We have been heartened by the number of visitors from far away, England, for instance, and Arizona, as well as new residents in town, businesses and young people, who have come seeking information on town history, and help with learning about buildings and past inhabitants.
The Academy Building was constructed in 1829 to serve as a High School, then became Town Offices, and housed the Grange. Since then it has been a library, meeting place and home for historical records. It is one of the most architecturally distinguished buildings in town. In need of restoration, there are plans to apply for a matching grant from the Massachusetts Historic Commission, providing for a historic structures report first, then the follow up renovation. When the Library’s occupation of the first floor of the building ends, there will be space for better display of the Archives objects, and safer keeping of Town records.
Commission members have long wanted space to introduce small school groups, other children or those from community organizations to this repository of town history and industry.
In the past year donations to the Archives have included a collection of material (books, maps, tape narration) about the Knox Trail from Craig Elliott and a guide and history of Petworth House from Lord Egremont. A viewing table made by Bud Candee will assist researchers.
The Commission welcomes suggestions and information about town history, its structures and landscapes. The Archives Room is also open by appointment. Please call Betty Duryea, Chairman, at 413/528-4136.
Celebrating the Noble Train:
Celebrating the Knox Trail on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 9:30 am at the monument in Alford - located at Alford/Hillsdale NY state line on Route 71. Join the Lexington Minutemen as they travel from Alford to Roxbury to celebrate the new monument being installed in the Roxbury Heritage State Park.
Water Department:
The Egremont Water Commissioners and the employees of the Water Department have been working hard to keep our expenses under control as we are well aware of how they effect our water rates.
We get competitive bids before purchasing many supplies, propane, chemicals and other items to be sure we are purchasing them at the lowest possible price. The Water Department utilizes the many free services of the Massachusetts Rural Water Association and other organizations for leak detection, grant writing and other projects. We have now started to look into using solar and or hydro power to supplement our electrical needs as the cost of electricity has doubled in the past eight years. The Water Department continually searches for grant money from state and federal sources for water main replacement, source water protection, and repair projects.
There are, however, many expenses which are out of our control and these have also risen sharply over the past years. Also, new federal and state testing and water sampling requirements have sharply increased our lab fees over the past several years. Listed below are some of our expenses showing what they were in 2000 and what they will be for 2008-2009:
2000-2001 2008-2009
Insurance $4,500.00 $22,000.00
Testing & Lab Tests $3,000.00 $ 7,000.00
Chemicals $1,000.00 $ 2,000.00
Electricity $6,000.00 $12,000.00
Propane $1,400.00 $ 2,500.00
Repairs $1,000.00 $ 5,000.00
We are committed to keeping all of our expenses at their lowest possible level without jeopardizing the quality of water we provide to our customers.
Please feel free to contact the Water Department with any question or concerns you may have.
Board of Health:
I don’t know about you dear reader, but every time it snows I crave either homemade chocolate chip cookies or hot greasy french fries. Not exactly the healthiest food choices and my bet is these cravings probably have something to do with our long Massachusetts winters and spending more time indoors. Couple poor eating habits with lack of normal exercise and a real problem could be developing.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) this dilemma is not limited to mere cravings and long winters – the rates of overweight and obese Americans have increased dramatically nationwide over the past 35 years and studies show alarming weight increases in our young children and teens too. Face it, we are becoming a fat unfit nation and in doing so there is great concern as to what the many associated implications of this growing trend is having on the nation’s health and well being.
Being overweight or obese increases your risk of the following diseases and health conditions: hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, respiratory problems and some cancers. Interestingly enough type 2 diabetes, or what used to called “adult on-set diabetes”, had to be renamed because more and more children nationwide now suffer from the disease.
What is alarming is that the pain and suffering resulting from these diseases can be reduced with a proper balance of good nutrition and healthy physical activity. Keep an eye on your weight. Extra pounds have a way of sneaking up on you and as we all know as we age it gets harder and harder to take them off. So instead of junk food with empty calories reach for and be aware of the healthy food alternatives. If the cold weather is keeping you inside and away from normal exercise why not get a 3 month membership to one of the many health clubs in the area or better yet attend the free Wednesday morning exercise classes at the Congregational Church (call Rachel Shaw, Council on Aging, 528-3488 if you’d like more information).
Yes our Massachusetts winters can be long and it can sometimes seem like an eternity until we are back in the splendor of warmer temperatures. In the meantime, let’s reverse the unhealthy growth in number of cases of overweight and obese Americans by examining our own lifestyles and make adjustments where necessary. You will feel better when you do.
Egremont Free Library:
Book Club
The Book Club meets at noon on the last Tuesday of each month. The next meeting will be on March 25, and the book under discussion will be:
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS By Sara Gruen
This has been a real favorite with readers all over the country for the past year or so. We would love to increase our numbers for more people bring more ideas. We try to read all different types of books so all will find something of interest. Come, bring a sandwich; the coffee pot will be on. More information: call Sally at 528-1474.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Do you have any extra time? Do you like to be in a quiet, friendly atmosphere? Come help Sally keep the library up to snuff by giving a few hours a week of your time. We need help in shelving, weeding, cataloging books… visiting with our neighbors and keeping up to date on what’s going on in the villages.
PASSES AVAILABLE
The library currently has free passes to the Norman Rockwell Museum (for four) and the Berkshire Botanical Garden (for two when it reopens). We also have just received two passes to the Mystic Aquarium which gives one $4 off an adult ticket and $3 off a child’s. We hope to again have passes to the Mount and to the Clark this summer. Just call to reserve a time.
In the meantime, if you want to just listen to or read a good book, see a good movie or listen to good music, come see us at the library.
Council on Aging:
News Flash! The Selectboard recently appointed Bruce Bernstsin to serve on the Council on Aging! Bruce is a senior resident of Blunt Road, with some time to help us. We welcome him heartily and look forward to working with him.
EMERGENCY FUEL ASSISTANCE - We have been informed that Elder Services has funds available to assist Berkshire seniors with urgent/essential fuel needs not covered by any other funding source. These funds are available to people age 60 or over on a one-time only basis. - Funding requests will be capped at a maximum of $250, with the understanding that recipients will pay back these funds if possible. Requests for applications will be answered by Lisa Lungo at 413-442-6443. Help IS available if you have an emergency!
TRIAD?.....TRIAD?......TRIAD?....... YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT WORD! Mark your calendar for Wednesday, March 12, at 2:00pm. Come to the Gt. Barrington Senior Center and see what this is all about.
The towns of Egremont, Alford and Gt. Barrington are joining tegether to establish TRIAD, a cooperative initiative between seniors, law enforcement and humans service providers to increase safety and confidence for older citizens through education and crime prevention. Law enforcement officers from the various towns will be there as well as representatives of the local Councils on Aging together with Bob McDonough form the County Sheriff’s office and Mary Shogry-Hayer from the County District Attorney’s office. Bruce Bernstein will chair the meeting. YOU ARE INVITED!!!!
Conservation Commission:
The Egremont Conservation Commission has received a CD-ROM from the Commonwealth entitled “The Second Edition of the Massachusetts Smart Growth/Smart Energy Toolkit.” It’s a wonderful collection of resources that addresses many questions regarding sustainable development, land-use planing, “green” building, water resources, wind power, agriculture preservation and many, many other topics of interest to anyone in town planning, builders, developers or land owners interested in practical applications involving appropriate and forward thinking methods of land use.
According to the accompanying letter from Secretary Ian Bowles, the Toolkit is designed to aid communities in the implementation of the Patrick-Murry Administration’s Sustainable Development Principles (which can be viewed at http://www.mass.gov/Agov3/docs/smart_growth/patrick-principles/pdf).
This CD-ROM has a seemingly limitless supply of information and anyone interested in obtaining a copy is encouraged to do so by contacting Jane Pfister at the address below:
MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
100 Cambridge Street, 9th Floor
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-626-1154
Fax: 617-626-1181
There is a copy at Town Hall that can be viewed on the Town’s public access computer.
Technology Committee:
The Technology Committee thanks all who have responded to the technology survey sponsored by Berkshire Connect and Pioneer Valley Connect. If you have not responded, please do so. On February 14th Charles Flynn and John Wells traveled to the statehouse in Boston to the Berkshire County delegation’s efforts to move Governor Patrick’s $25M Broadband Bond Initiative forward. It was clear that this bill is earmarked for Berkshire County and Pioneer Valley, and the support there was overwhelmingly in our favor. However, powerful lobbies want to piggyback efforts of other regions of the state onto this bill. If this happens, the final bill could either be delayed or significantly different from its current form.
Consequently, Egremont residents must complete the survey, whether you have broadband or not. This survey serves two purposes:
1. It allows the Connects to gather data and map the areas of the county that still remain un-served, and it demonstrates the increased costs incurred by businesses and residents who are able to get broadband.{Charlie -- “unable to get”? or “who have to get it in more expensive ways”?}
2. It will serve as a market analysis to show legislators the level of interest and need to bring broadband to the region.
To complete the survey on line, go to www.bconnect.org. Click on the block “Complete Regional Broadband Survey Here” and you will be taken to the survey. It take about 5 minutes to complete. The deadline for response is April 30.
The majority of the efforts of the committee recently have been in support of the Governor’s broadband legislation. We are in contact with the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce and with other town technology committees so that we can focus our efforts as a unified region. We will keep you apprised of developments!
WiSpring, a wireless broadband provider in Great Barrington, has erected small towers in Alford to provide better coverage there. This might possibly have a positive impact to residents in North Egremont. If you need broadband and want to explore this possibility further, call WiSpring at 528-5008.
Planning Board:
In a January 15, 2008, ruling the Massachusetts Land Court upheld a 2005 decision of the Egremont Planning Board denying approval for certain divisions of land on White’s Hill Road. A February 2005 application to the Planning Board by Cajun Acres Ltd. requested approval for 15 new lots, five of them having 150 foot frontage and ten of them having 50 foot frontage with a corridor extending to the major portion of the lot which was more than 250 feet from the road. The board denied approval of the plan because all lots did not have the required 150 foot frontage. The applicant appealed to court, arguing that Section 5.2.4 of the bylaw (now amended and renumbered as Section 4.1.2.2.d) allowed for new lots to have only 50 foot frontage when other requirements were met.
It was the Planning Board’s position that Section 5.2.4 did not set an alternate frontage requirement but merely allowed access for building purposes to certain rear lands that would otherwise be non-buildable because the parcel of land did not have frontage at the time that the town first adopted a frontage requirement. The court agreed that Section 5.2.4 dealt with adequate access to the building portion of the lot and not with establishing an alternate 50 foot frontage requirement.
Because decisions had not always been consistent with regard to this section of the bylaw, the Planning Board proposed two bylaw amendments at the May 2005 Annual Town Meeting to let townspeople decide whether Section 5.2.4 applied only to certain limited situations or generally created an alternate 50 foot frontage requirement. The board’s first proposed amendment to Section 5.2.4 would clarify that the 50 foot corridor applied only to landlocked parcels that existed at the time of adoption of the first zoning bylaw and not to the creation of new lots. The second proposed amendment gave townspeople the opportunity to adopt a new 50 foot frontage requirement for rear lots. While the Planning Board supported the first amendment, it did not support the second but wanted to give voters the opportunity to decide about an alternative frontage requirement. By a vote of 131 to 18, the town adopted the first amendment, clarifying that the 50 foot access applied only to certain preexisting parcels. By a vote of 16 to 119 the town defeated the idea of establishing an alternative 50 foot frontage requirement for rear lots.
The recent ruling by the Land Court is consistent with the interpretation of our frontage requirement supported by the town at the May 2005 town meeting, allowing 50 foot access in very specific situations but not allowing an alternative to the town’s 150 foot frontage requirement. The Planning Board is pleased that this Land Court decision follows the board’s interpretation at the time it denied the Cajun Acres plan. And the board appreciates the 2005 vote of the town which clarified the bylaw to reflect that and to prevent any future misunderstandings about the frontage requirement of the town.
Southern Berkshire Regional School District:
“Mt. Everett Regional School In Sheffield MA Welcomes KIDmocracy Students From Eqypt Again.”
Sheffield MA: Monday January 28, 2008: Once again this year, due to a specific and unique relationship between Mount Everett Regional School staff and the Afro-Egyptian Human Rights Organization (AEHRO) the Southern Berkshire Regional School District continued its unique educational exchange program , KiDmocracy 2008. KiDmocracy 2008, begun in 2007, is a one-way exchange program funded by the State Department . In it Mt Everett 8th grade families host a delegation of 13 middle school students, and 3 of their teachers, from 12 participating schools in Cairo, and Alexandria, Egypt. This year’s visit took place during the period of January 31th, to February 14th, 2008. The goals of KiDmocracy 2008 are;
· 1.) To provide a “hands across the water”, ambassadorial education & life experience to students and teachers of both cultures.
· 2.) To promote democracy as a political system which is the best guarantor of basic human rights for all peoples.
· 3.) To provide a high quality field trip experience to 13 Mount Everett 8th grade students, along with their Egyptian visitors. Students visit key democracy sites in Washington DC, and New York City-learning/relearning about our democracy in the US.
KiDmocracy 2008 began with an essay competition in which there were over 200 applicants from all over Egypt, (see www.KiDmocracy.org) hoping to win one of the 13 places on the KiDmocracy 2008 Tour.
The KiDmocracy program was developed with the active support and involvement of many people at Mount Everett, from AEHRO in Egypt and from several government agencies. Activities at Mount Everett have been coordinated by Mike Farmer and John Hammill middle school social studies teachers. The school district has been at the forefront of the KiDmocracy vision. Businesses and others in the community have also been outstanding supporters of KiDmocracy, recognizing its value as a remarkable educational experience for students and the broader community in South County. This year many of the special events that took place were sponsored locally by Berkshire Bank, Catherine’s Chocolates, Jane Iredale Cosmetics, Michelle’s Salon and Day Spa, Kenvers, Berkshire South Community Center and the Triplex. The Railroad Street Youth Project hosted an evening with the students where some representatives from each party met with the students collectively and talked about democracy issues, followed by a pizza party.
The program also carries the support of Senator John Kerry, Representative “Smitty” Pignatelli, the State Department and the US Embassy in Cairo. Mount Everett has received letters of acceptance and appreciation from participating schools and the Ministry of Education in Egypt.
Michael Farmer project director from Mount Everett Regional School said, “It’s wonderful to see the support that KiDmocracy is receiving here in South County, from Washington DC and in Egypt. Mount Everett has built a unique, high quality educational experience whose success has lead to the establishment of a similar local-based program in Egypt, funded by USAID with a grant of almost $1mm, which touches some 6,000 students there using curriculum developed in conjunction with Mt. Everett. This year the local business community also threw its support behind KiDmocracy with sponsorships of various kinds from wonderful organizations. It’s rewarding to see that Mount Everett Regional School is at the center of a cutting edge educational program like this. ”
Emergency Management:
The Town is required to maintain a list of persons in Egremont who may need special help or special care during an emergency event. If you are such a person, please contact Town Hall with your needs and contact information.
Mass. Emergency Management (MEMA) and the Council of Mass United Ways (COMUS) have agreed to utilize Mass2-1-1 as the Commonwealth’s primary telephone information call center during times of emergency. This offers citizens the opportunity to get vital up-to-date disaster information and find out about post-disaster programs simply by dialing 211. You may also access information at www.mass211.org.
Pet Safety Tips for the Winter Months:
● Do not leave your pet outdoors when temperatures drop below freezing.
● Wind-chill is a threat to pets, even those protected by shelters. Provide adequate shelter.
● Pets who spend a greater amount of time outdoors in winter need more food to keep energy levels up. Make sure there is always unfrozen water available.
● Be leery of frozen bodies of water that may not be sturdy enough to hold your pet.
● Antifreeze and de-icing chemicals are hazardous to pets.
● Warm automobile engines are dangerous for cats and small wildlife looking for a warm place to curl up in.
For more information about keeping your pets safe, go to the State of Mass Animal Response Team (SMART) website at www.smart-mass.org.
Protect your family during an influenza epidemic. A new website launches with common-sense and time-efficient tips and information that families can use to minimize risks and be prepared for a pandemic flue epidemic. Visit www.GetPandemicReady.org.
Egremont Garden Club:
Members of the Egremont Garden Club are
looking forward to Spring. Our active gardeners will
be taking care of the North Egremont Cemetery
Garden, the Library Garden and the Village
Green. The club was very happy with the bridge
boxes last year. We hope to have the same
success in the months to come.
Our first club meeting will be at the Koi
Restaurant. We have a very busy program for the
public.
Saturday, May 26th will be our PLANT, BAKE
AND TAG SALE.
Wednesday, June 25th is the date of our
annual "HIGH TEA" at the Botanical Garden.
Proceeds will go towards "THE GERTRUDE
BURDSALL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND".
Sunday, July 27th the Garden Club will
have a booth at "THE EGREMONT ON
PARADE FAIR", held at French Park.
Friday September 25th we will continue
with our series on Famous Authors. The event
will take place at The Sheffield Library. There
will be a speaker and a professional actress,
followed by tea and home baked cakes and cookies.
Saturday December 13th is the date of our
"CHRISTMAS FAIR", at the South Egremont
Fire House.
Thank your for your support. Your
contributions go towards scholarships for local
horticulture students. Donations also help us to
make Egremont a more attractive place to live.
Egremont Supper Club:
Potluck dinner at the South Egremont Congregational Church 6:30pm on Thursday, March 20 and April 17, 2008. Bring your own dinner service and a dish to share. Good food, good company, share recipes.
Proctor’s Bel-Air Farm LLC:
Advance Notice
Open House Public Invited
Celebrating 50 years of Farming on Baldwin Hill
June 28, 2008 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Watch for more details in next newsletter.
Southern Berkshire Regional School District:
“Mount Everett Music Department To Perform South Pacific”
The Music Department of the Southern Berkshire Regional School District will present Rodgers & Hammerstein’s beloved musical South Pacific, on Friday and Saturday, March 14 & 15 at 7:00 pm, and again on Sunday March 16th at 2:00 pm in the Consolati Performing Arts Center at Mount Everett Regional School in Sheffield.
With a cast, crew, and orchestra of over 50 Mount Everett students, South Pacific will be one of the largest musicals ever staged at Mount Everett.
Set in an island paradise during World War II, two parallel love stories are threatened by the dangers of prejudice and war. Nellie, a spunky nurse from Arkansas, falls in love with a mature French planter, Emile. When Nellie learns that the mother of his children was an island native, she’s unable to turn her back on the prejudices with which she was raised, and refuses Emile’s proposal of marriage. Meanwhile, the strapping Lt. Joe Cable denies himself the fulfillment of a future with an innocent Tonkinese girl with whom he’s fallen in love out of the same fears that haunt Nellie. When Emile is recruited to accompany Joe on a dangerous mission that claims Joe’s life, Nellie realizes that life is too short not to seize her own chance for happiness, thus confronting and conquering her prejudices.
South Pacific boasts one of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s most memorable scores with songs such as Some Enchanted Evening, There is Nothin Like A Dame, Bali Hai, Younger Than Springtime, I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair, and You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught, just to name a few.
South Pacific’s lead characters are Maddy Maggio as Ensign Nellie Forbush, and Mitch Moulton as Emile de Becque, with Danielle Dillon as Bloody Mary and Alex Crawford as Lt. Joseph Cable. The characters of Ngana and Jerome, Emile’s illegitimate children are being played by third graders, Meadow Wicke and Eli Gold. Travis Daly is directing with Nancy Loder as the Music Director. Kristine Waterman is the choreographer, Rick Blackburn the conductor of the Pit Orchestra and Hilda Banks Shapiro is the rehearsal/performance pianist.
Tickets are $10.00 for seniors and students and $12.00 for general admission. Tickets may be reserved by calling the Box Office at 413-229-8252
Southern Berkshire Regional School District:
“Mount Everett Music Department Announces Western District Winners”
The Music Department of the Southern Berkshire Regional School District announced today that six Mount Everett Regional School students have been selected to perform in the Western District band or chorus performances to be held at the University of Massachusetts Fine Arts Center on Saturday, March 15th.
Scoring high enough to make the Western District Chorus were Hannah Guidi an eleventh grader from Southfield, Mitch Moulton, a senior from Sheffield, Alyssa O’Connor, a sophomore from North Egremont and Emily Crawford, a sophomore from Sheffield. Miss Crawford scored high enough to qualify for the All State Chorus as well. The Southern Berkshire Regional School District’s Choral program is under the direction of Mrs. Nancy Loder.
For the Band, Kayla Alden, a freshman from Sandisfield was selected to the Western District Band as well as Nina Scibelli, and eighth grader from Sheffield. The instrumental/band program for the School District is under the baton of Band Director Eric Blackburn.
The Western District Music Educators Association sponsors this yearly event.
Democratic Town Committee:
Democrats in Egremont have a new Town Committee, and we appreciate those who came out to vote. Thanks also go to members of the previous committee for their many years of dedicated service.
The main function of the Republican and Democratic town committees is to engage the members of their parties in deciding which candidates to support in town elections. People who wish to run for any elected position submit a letter to the Republican Town Committee and to the Democratic Town Committee asking for their support. Then the committees convene their respective caucuses to vote on whom to support. The caucus meetings are open to all members of the party who live in the town (and the Democrats allow both Democrats and Unenrolled people to vote). An additional function of the town committees is to support both state and national candidates.
Egremont’s election season is fast approaching, and we will be seeking candidates for town offices. If you are interested, or if you know someone who is, please talk to a member of the Town Committee!
The most effective government is one that informs and includes its citizens. Your newly elected committee wants to make it as easy as possible for you to attend caucus meetings, and to participate in and support the democratic process. Thanks again, from your new Democratic Town Committee!
The new committee members are Bruce Cumsky, Dean Forsman, Robin Goldberg, Bernhard Haeckel, Chuck Ogden, Harriet Phillips, Janis Sagarin, Rosemarie Siegel
Board meeting schedule:
Subject to change. Please see posted calendars at Town Hall and the Post Offices for more detail.
Archives Room - First Saturday 9-noon
Assessors - Fridays 9am to 11am & Tuesdays 6pm to 8pm or by appointment
Board of Health - Monday- 8am to 1pm, Tuesday 8:30 to 12pm & 12:30 to 2:30pm Wednesday & Thursday 8am to 1pm Meetings - First & Third Thursday 9am to 11am
Board of Selectmen - Meetings Tuesday evenings 7pm. Office 7:30am to 3pm.
Building Inspector - Tuesday 12:30pm to 3:30pm. If Monday is a holiday Wednesday 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
School Committee: 2nd & 4th Thursdays 6pm Mt. Everett High School Library
Town Clerk - Tuesday evenings 7pm - 9pm or by appointment
Water Department - Third Thursday 7:00pm
Zoning Board of Appeals - as needed
To reach a board member or to leave a message please call the Town Hall.
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.
The Silo B&B - guest accommodations
413-528-5195
The Inn at Sweet Water Farm - B&B
1 Prospect Lake Road
413-528-2882
www.innsweetwater.com
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
Home - Asian Antiques & Interior Objects
195 Hillsdale Road (Route 23)
413-528-5383
Blue Rider Stables - Therapeutic Riding Center
Lesson, summer programs
www.bluerider.org
413-528-5299
Green River Arabians & Pintos -
Boarding, a 4-H program.
413-528-2367 arabpinto13@yahoo.com
www.thearabianexperts.com/greenriver
Indian Line Farm - Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) & Farmers Markets
413-528-8301
House to House Hauling & Recycling-
Rubbish removal
413-528-0943
G&S Gventer “Books - Buy & Sell Books
413-528-2327
Elfi Six Shiatsu/Acutonics®, Bodywork
413-644-9979
www.CosmicResonance.com
Peter Goldberg, Dipl. Ac - Acupuncture, Pain
Management 413-528-5055
Zorn Family Chiropractic-Chiropractor
44 Main Street
413-528-9654
www.healingspiritdc@yahoo.com
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
“Jack of All Trades”-Handyman Services
Jack Buckley
413-528-1982
413-446-1982
Catamount Ski Area - Skiing
413-528-1262
Anita Schilling - Real Estate Listing & Sales
Barnbrook Realty
413-528-4423
Florence F. Browner Real Estate - Full Service
90 Creamery Road
413-528-3266
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
Cyber Knights - Matthew Wall
Egremont Heights, South Egremont
Computer repairs & sales
413-429-7884
Dellea.biz Computer Services
Windows PC repairs & house calls
Toll-free 1-877-594-0497
Tarot Readings By Diana Dixon Ziegler
413-528-0452
561-632-7171
Support local businesses
Town of Egremont
P.O. Box 368
South Egremont MA 01258
413-528-0182
Printed, on recycled paper, by the Selectmen’s Office Staff
as submitted by Town Department.
“The Town of Egremont is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”