Zoom talk to share details of Montague Shakespeare Festival

MONTAGUE — The Montague Shakespeare Festival planned for March 18 to April 7 is hosting a Zoom talk on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 11 a.m. with Artistic Director Nia Lynn of the Royal Shakespeare Co.

The Zoom event is not an audition; rather, it is an opportunity to learn more about the three-week festival and discover how to get involved as an actor, stagehand or otherwise. For Zoom log-in information, visit montagueshakespearefestival.com.

The inaugural season of the Montague Shakespeare Festival, to be held at the Shea Theater Arts Center, is a celebration of Shakespeare’s timeless works. The festival will feature a series of workshops, professional training sessions and new theatrical stagings.

Lynn’s career spans prestigious institutions such as the Royal Shakespeare Co., Donmar Warehouse, London’s Young Vic, Horace Mann School in New York and Connecticut’s Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. Her expertise encompasses a comprehensive approach to performance, combining voice coaching, body and breath work, and accent and dialect training.

The Montague Shakespeare Festival is envisioned by Executive Director Kenny Butler. Proceeds will benefit the Shea Theater. This celebration of Shakespeare’s work is made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Shea Theater, RiverCulture, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and the cultural councils of Montague and Amherst.

Learn about fuel
assistance at The Brick House

TURNERS FALLS — The Brick House Community Resource Center at 24 Third St. will host representatives from Community Action Pioneer Valley’s fuel assistance program on Monday, Feb. 12, and Tuesday, Feb. 13, both from 9 a.m. to noon.

Community Action representatives will provide information about the program and sign people up who either have never received fuel assistance or have not received fuel assistance in the past three years. No appointment is necessary; just drop in.

For more information, contact Stacey Langknecht at slangknecht@brickhousecommunity.org or 413-800-2496.

Erving seeks screening
committee
members

ERVING — In the wake of Town Planner Mariah Kurtz’s resignation that will take effect March 1, the Selectboard is creating a five-member screening committee to find her replacement. The board intends to appoint the five members later this month.

Selectboard Chair Jacob Smith said more details will soon be posted on the town website and on social media. Individuals can drop off letters of interest at Town Hall.

Gill sewer rates up 6.5%

GILL — The town’s sewer rates will increase by 6.5%, according to Town Administrator Ray Purington.

The decision was approved by two Selectboard members during a Jan. 29 meeting, with one member absent. The cost will increase from the current $0.3278 per cubic foot to $0.3491 per cubic foot.

“It was pointed out that the cost of sewage disposal accounts for 80% to 85% of the costs related to Gill’s sewer system,” Purington wrote in an email. Since Gill last increased its sewer rates in December 2021, Montague has increased the rate it charges Gill for sewage disposal by 21%.

The 6.5% rate increase, Purington said, is believed to be “minimally adequate to meet projected expenses for the coming year.” Additionally, he said the town will take “a deeper dive into analyzing” its sewer rates this summer and fall after appointing two additional sewer commissions, assuming the question to expand the commission is approved during May’s town election.

According to Purington, the new rate is effective for the bills covering usage from October 2023 to December 2023, which will be mailed soon.