Turners Falls Water Department bills mailed Wednesday

TURNERS FALLS — The Turners Falls Water Department’s semi-annual water bills, due Dec. 1, were mailed Nov. 1. There is a $20 charge for bills submitted late.

Payments can be dropped off or mailed to 226 Millers Falls Road, Turners Falls, MA 01376, or submitted online at turnersfallswater.com.

Dinosaurs taking over Great Falls Discovery Center

TURNERS FALLS — The Montague Public Libraries are hosting an all-ages “Tea Rex” Party, featuring huge inflatable dinosaurs and special guest Dinoman, on Friday, Nov. 3, from 3:30 to 5 p.m in the Great Falls Discovery Center’s Great Hall.

The event will explore how we know dinosaurs were here, what a fossil is and how fossils are made. There is no registration required. Kid-friendly refreshments will be served.

Chinese paper cutting workshop coming to Discovery Center

TURNERS FALLS — The Montague Public Libraries and Cambridge multimedia artist Zhonghe Li are hosting a Chinese paper cutting workshop on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. for families with children ages 5 to 12, and for teenagers and adults from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Great Falls Discovery Center.

Attendees will learn the history of the art and basic techniques, and choose from the many animals that live in and along the Connecticut River for artistic inspiration.

Annual holiday bazaar returns to Montague Center

MONTAGUE CENTER — Fete Noel, the First Congregational Church of Montague’s annual holiday bazaar, will be held Saturday, Nov. 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The fair will feature crafts, knitted items, baked goods, raffles, Christmas goods, children’s activities and more. There will be free coffee from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., and Santa will arrive at 11 a.m. There will be a lunch of corn chowder, sandwiches and pie. All proceeds benefit mission programs.

For more information, call 413-367-2812.

Purchase agreement executed for Town Hall annex solar project

MONTAGUE — The Selectboard executed a $192,930.52 master purchase agreement for an engineering study with Alliance Clean Energy (ACE) Solar during its meeting on Monday.

ACE Solar will install a 75-kilowatt ballasted photovoltaic system atop the roof of the Town Hall annex. This system, which will be owned outright by the town, will translate to an estimated cost savings of $16,381 in the first year, increasing to around $23,000 by the 20th year, according to Assistant Town Administrator Walter Ramsey. The project is expected to pay itself off in about seven years.

The $192,930 bid by ACE Solar was the only one the town received, but Ramsey assured meeting attendees that it was “an advantageous proposal” by a company that is, “by all accounts, a reputable firm.” The project will be funded by previously appropriated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding in the amount of $205,000.

Agreement executed with Wright Pierce for screw pump replacement

MONTAGUE — The Selectboard executed a $273,628 professional services agreement with Wright Pierce Inc. for the Clean Water Facility’s screw pump replacement project at Monday’s meeting.

“The Archimedes-style screw pumps are a critical feature of the plant, as they pump wastewater entering at the lower end of the facility to the upper end for treatment,” warrant background for February’s Special Town Meeting explains. “Installed in 2002, the current Internalift screw pumps are at the end of their 20-year expected life.”

Ja’Duke presents ‘The Little Mermaid’

TURNERS FALLS — The Ja’Duke Center for the Performing Arts is showing a production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” on Nov. 3 and 4 at 6 p.m., as well as on Nov. 5, 11 and 12 at 2 p.m.

The G-rated performance, directed by Ja’Duke founder Nick Waynelovich and choreographed by Kass Jensen, has a run time of two hours and 15 minutes with one intermission. Tickets can be purchased at eventtickets2u.com/jaduke-theater.