Fisher Hill plans ribbon-cutting ceremony

ORANGE — A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for the new Fisher Hill Elementary School at 59 Dexter St. on Saturday, Nov. 18.

The ceremony is slated to last from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The school now accommodates all Orange students in preschool through sixth grade, as the newly expanded 97,000-square-foot building opened its doors for education in September. Students through third grade moved from the school’s pre-existing section to the new three-story, roughly 50,000-square-foot addition when the holiday break ended on Jan. 3, 2023, and returned to the gutted and renovated portion when summer vacation concluded.

Florence author to visit New Salem Public Library

NEW SALEM — Florence author Michael Miller is slated to read from his novel “High Bridge” and answer questions during the Friends of the Library Author Series session planned for 7 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16.

The book centers around the unlikely friendship of future President Grover Cleveland and women’s rights activist Matilda Joslyn Gage as they try to solve a mystery and vindicate a Black man accused of murder. The event is free, but the Friends welcome any donations.

People can also join via Zoom. More details and the Zoom registration link are available at nsfriendsoflibrary.weebly.com/events. People can email the Friends at nsfriendsoflibrary@gmail.com with questions.

Miller will have copies of his book for purchase.

Orange election set for Feb. 5

ORANGE — The annual town election will be held on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024.

The following positions will be on the ballot: two seats with three-year terms on the Selectboard; a one-year stint as moderator; a three-year position on the Board of Health; a three-year term on the Elementary School Committee; a two-year seat on the Elementary School Committee; two seats with three-year terms on the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School Committee; a pair of three-year terms as library trustee; a one-year term as library trustee; a three-year stint as water commissioner; a two-year term as water commissioner; a three-year term as cemetery commissioner; a two-year term as cemetery commissioner; a three-year term as trustee of soldiers’ memorials (veteran); a three-year term as trustee of soldiers’ memorials (non-veteran); and a four-year seat on the Housing Authority.

Nomination papers became available on Nov. 1 and must be obtained by Dec. 14. Only a registered voter can run for office and once they have obtained the nomination papers, they must have the papers signed by a minimum of 27 registered voters. Once the signatures are obtained, the nomination papers must be returned to the Town Clerk’s Office by Dec. 18.

Contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 978-544-1100, ext. 2 with questions.