ÿþ<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml"> <head><title>Orange MA local news</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=unicode"> <meta name="keywords" content="Orange, MA, Massachusetts, Local News"> <meta content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.3199" name="GENERATOR"> <style> <!-- div.Section1 {page:Section1;} span.SpellE {} .PrsnttnDiv {width: 100%;} .style5 { font-size: small; } .style4 { font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: left; } .style3 { font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; text-align: left; } .style6 { border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; } .style7 { border-left-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; } .style8 { border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; } .style9 { font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: small; text-align: left; } .style15 { font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-weight: bold; font-size: medium; } .style1 { font-size: medium; } h1 {margin-bottom:.0001pt; page-break-after:avoid; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in} .style13 { font-size: medium; text-align: left; } .style14 { font-size: small; text-align: left; } .style20 { font-size: small; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; } .style21 { font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; } .style27 { font-size: medium; text-align: left; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; } .style42 { font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; } .style54 { font-family: "Times New Roman"; } .style55 { font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; } --> </style> </head> <body> <img height="70" src="images/news.gif" width="288" border="0">&nbsp;<b><font size="1" face="Arial"> </font></b><a href="mailto:info@petershamcommon.com?Subject=News for You&amp;Body=Here's Some News You Can Use."><b> <font size="4" face="Arial">Send Orangetowngreen Your Information</font><font size="4"> </font> </b></a><b> <font size="4">&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;</font></b><p align="center"><font color="#e97a28"><b><a href="http://wire.ap.org/APnews/?SITE=ORALB&amp;FRONTID=HOME"><font face="Arial" size="1"> &nbsp;News</font></a></b><font face="Arial" size="1"> <b>| </b></font><font face="Arial"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.srh.noaa.gov/data/forecasts/MAZ004.php?warncounty=MAC027&amp;city=Petersham"><b> Weather</b></a> <b>| <a href="http://www.weather.com/weather/local/01366?lswe=01366&amp;lwsa=WeatherLocalUndeclared"> Weather II</a>| <a href="http://www.masslottery.com/Index.shtml">Lottery</a> | <a href="pictures.htm"> Photos</a> | <a href="http://news.google.com/news/gnsportsleftnav.html">Sports</a> | <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/default.stm"> BBC</a> | <a href="http://www.hollywood.com/showtimes/search.asp?sortby=theater&amp;searchradius=30&amp;searchzip=01366&amp;searchcity=&amp;searchstate=&amp;image.x=13&amp;image.y=7"> Movies</a> | <a href="http://www.worldnews.com/">World News</a> | <a href="http://www.google.com/"> Web Search</a> | <a href="tools.htm">Tool Box<br> </a></b></font></font></font><font size="1" face="Arial" color="#e97a28"><b><a href="http://"> Web Search Orange</a> </b></font><font size="1"><font color="#e97a28">|</font><b><font color="#e97a28" face="Arial"> <a href="http://www.arabworldnews.com/">Arab World News</a> | <a href="http://www.korea-dpr.com/"> N. Korea</a> | <a href="makehome.htm">We&#39;d Like to Be Your Home Page</a> | <a href="http://www.monster.com/"> Job Search</a></font></b></font></p> <p align="center"><b><font face="Arial" size="2"> <a href="http://www.mass.gov/rmv/forms/21278.pdf">Motor Vehicle Crash Report Form</a></font></b></p> <div align="center"> <table border="0" width="98%" class="style7" style="position: relative"> <tr> <td valign="top" class="style6" style="width: 514px"> <mso-bidi-font-weight: normal?> <p align="left"> <span class="Apple-style-span"><b><font size="4">Berube and Howe Cast in &quot;Lincoln: The Musical&quot;<br> <br> </font></b>On Saturday, February 11, the regularly scheduled Drama Circle will feature a reading and discussion of &quot;Lincoln: the Musical&quot; by Michael P. Riccards between 2:00 and 5:00 PM at The Dance Studio, 5 South Main Street in Orange, Massachusetts. The public is invited to attend.<br> <br> Chuck Berube of Petersham has been cast as Abraham Lincoln. Sally Howe, a resident or Orange, is Mary Todd Lincoln, and Charles Tower of Athol will perform the part of John Wilkes Booth. Genevieve Fraser, the artistic director of the Drama Circle will serve as director, and Tim Waite, the assistant director, will also perform the part of General Winfield Scott. General Scott developed the Anaconda Plan which ultimately led to the Union victory.<br> <br> &nbsp; Lincoln: The Musical will be performed on the two weekends following the 4th of July at the Orange Town Hall, 6 Prospect Street in Orange, MA as part of commemorative activities honoring the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War. The production is funded, in part, by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. <br> <br> The script calls for an all-ages chorus as well as soldiers. Roles for soldiers and additional members of the chorus are still available, and Lincoln&#39;s secretary and assistant John Nicolay and John Hay as well as the part of 12 year old Willie Lincoln have not yet been cast. Volunteers are also needed to help with costumes, make-up, sound and light, sets and props. The music for &quot;Lincoln: The Musical&quot; is from the Civil War era. <br> <br> All readings and performances of the Drama Circle are open to the public free of charge. The Drama Circle is sponsored by the performing arts division of the non-profit organization, Art for Life. <br> <br> Organizations, businesses or individuals wishing to help sponsor the play or other 150th Anniversary Civil War commemorative activities which will be held on the 4th of July should make tax deductible donations out to &quot;CF Pals - Drama Circle,&quot; 1 South Main Street, Orange, MA 10364. In-kind donations are also gratefully accepted. For further information, contact Genevieve Fraser at 978-544-1872, or email: <a href="mailto:FraserGenevieve@gmail.com"> FraserGenevieve@gmail.com</a></span></p> <p align="left"> <span class="Apple-style-span"><b><font size="4">Civil War Quilt Contest and Black Powder Shoot <br> </font></b>The Orange Rod and Gun Club, will host a Black Powder Shoot in honor of the 150th Civil War Anniversary activities planned for Orange on July 4th. The day&#39;s activities will begin with the shoot followed by a lecture on antique firearms in the clubhouse. The Orange Rod and Gun Club holds the oldest gun club charter in the state and was active during the Civil War. <br> <br> Additional activities include a Civil War Quilt Contest for 60 inch square Civil War replica quilts, both hand made and machine made. Civil War children&#39;s games, a Living Heritage Artisan and Farmer&#39;s Market and readings from Civil War diaries and letters as well as music and theatrical performances will be part of the celebration. For further information, contact the organizer, Genevieve Fraser at telephone (978) 544-1872, or write FraserGenevieve@gmail.com Additional information and tributes are posted at Website: <a href="http://www.Quabbincivilwar.blogspot.com"> www.Quabbincivilwar.blogspot.com</a></span></p> <p align="left"> <span class="Apple-style-span"><font size="4"><b>Piti Theatre Company returns to Orange <br> <br> </b> </font>Piti Theatre is returning to the Wheeler Memorial Library to offer workshops during February School Vacation week. <br> The company will also return to the Orange Town Hall this spring (date TBA) with their new play inspired by research <br> about honeybees, To Bee or Not to Bee. Below please find the workshop schedule. All these events are free and funded <br> in part by the Art Angels of Western MA, a group of women philanthropists in the Pioneer Valley, and the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. Registration is suggested but not required for Thursday workshops. Please call 978-544-2495 x103. Tuesday Story Theatre takes the place of the Rise and Romp Story Time whose attendees are all welcome along with any newcomers. <br> <br> <font size="2" face="Arial"><b>Theater Workshop schedule:</b><br> Tues. Feb. 21st<br> 10:30  11:30 am: STORY THEATER FOR PRESCHOOLERS<br> Read aloud and create a play!<br> Thurs., Feb. 23th<br> 10:30  12 pm: THEATER GAMES FOR AGES 7 - 12<br> Have fun and learn some building blocks for performing onstage<br> 1  2 pm: PAGE TO STAGE: PLAY-WRITING FOR AGES 8  13<br> Create characters, dialogue, setting  everything you need for a play and then watch it happen . . .<br> 2:30  4 pm: LET S MAKE A SCENE FOR AGES 12  16</font></span></p> <p align="left"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 700;"> <font size="4">North Quabbin Food Forum</font></span></p> <p align="left"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Saturday February 25th 10am to 3.30 PM Orange Innovation Center 3rd Floor 131 West Main Street, Orange MA. The event is free. Priority to those who live or work in the North Quabbin region. Geared towards adults; interested teens encouraged! No pre-registration but capacity is limited to 60, first come basis. Please arrive by 10am and plan to stay until 3.30 so we can build community together Please bring: a dish to share for the potluck lunch (that can be served without heating; incorporate a local food item if possible). Coffee, tea, baked goods available for purchase in the morning from the<br> Bohemian Kitchen and Maple Grove Farmhouse Bakery in the<br> Orange Innovation Center. For more information call 978-544-9023 or Email <a href="mailto:deb@seedsofsolidarity.org"> deb@seedsofsolidarity.org</a></span></p> <p align="left"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> <b> <font size="4">Northampton Hay and Animal Auction <a href="http://www.petershamcommon.com/market%20report2003b.htm">Weekly Report</a></font></b></span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> <b> <center> </p> </div> </div><center> <div align="left"> <font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size: 14pt"> <p><font size="4">Selectmen&#39;s <a href="http://www.townoforange.org/selectmen/selectmen.html">Agenda and Minutes</a></font></p> <p><font size="4"> <a href="http://www.townoforange.org/updates/110306nq%20JOBS.htm">Jobs</a></font></p> </font> </b></span> </div> </center> </center> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> <b> <font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size: 14pt"> <p align="left"><font face="Arial" size="4"><a href="facts.htm"> Weird Facts</a></font> </p> <center> <p align="left"></p> <center> <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Arial" size="4"><a href="race_day_2003.htm"> Race Day on the River</a></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><a href="https://www.bobandray.com/"><font size="2" face="Arial" color="#ff00ff"> HONK if you love Bob and Ray</font></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font color="#800000" size="1" face="Arial">&nbsp; <a href="http://www.boston.com/globe/living/comics">COMICS</a> - <a href="http://www.dilbert.com"> DILBERT</a></font></p> <center> <p align="left"><font face="Arial" size="4">Local Nature <a href="http://www.dhsmall.net/">Web Site</a></font></p> <center> <p align="left"> <font face="Times New Roman" size="4"> <a href="gardenclub1-09.htm">Orange Garden Club</a></font></p> <p align="left"><a href="http://www.massfarmstands.com"> <font face="Arial" size="2">Find Farmstands Here</font></a></p> <p align="left"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font face="Arial" size="2"> <a href="http://www.millersriver.net">Millers River Environmental Center</a></font></span></p> </center> </center> </center> </center> <p align="left"><font size="4">What&#39;s Going on at the Library?<br> <a href="http://www.localendar.com/elsie?JSP=PublishedCalendar&amp;mode=PUBLISH_PUBLIC&amp;search_type=M0&amp;start_date=04/01/07&amp;calendar_id=237086&amp;rss_link=237086" > Click Here - Find Out</a></font></p> <center> <center> <center> <center> <p align="left"><font face="Arial" size="2"> <a href="http://www.equinecenter.org/Calendar_of_Events.html">New England Equestrian Center Calendar</a></font></p> </font> </b></span><center> <center> <center> <center> <center> <p align="left">&nbsp;</p></center> </center> </center> </center> </center> </center> </center> </center> </center> <o:p> </td> <td width="60%" valign="top" class="style8"> <div align="left"> <font FACE="Times New Roman"> <div> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b> <font size="4">Customer Appreciation Day<br> &nbsp;</font></b></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">The Bohemian Kitchen, on the second floor of the Orange Innovation Center at 131 West Main Street in Orange, MA, will present its Customer Appreciation Day On Saturday, February 18th. The event will feature raffles, free homemade cake and Dean&#39;s Beans Coffee (while it lasts) as well as musical entertainment by pianist/composer Adam Bergeron.<font size="4"><b><br> &nbsp;</b></font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b> <font size="4">Tax Forms at the Library</font></b></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">The Wheeler Memorial Library and the Moore-Leland Library in Orange work with the IRS to increase the availability of federal tax forms and publications by providing free tax products for the public at all library branches. The libraries receive paper copies of the most commonly used forms and instruction booklets; many other forms and publications can be downloaded or printed from the IRS website: http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.html or by phone at 1-800-829-3676.<br> <br> The Orange Public Libraries also carry many Massachusetts State Income Tax forms and publications. Other state tax forms may be searched online and printed at the library. Massachusetts forms are also available at http://www.mass.gov/dor/forms or by phone at 1-800-392-6089. The IRS has announced that taxpayers have until Tuesday, April 17, 2012 to file their taxes this year, because April 15 is a Sunday, and Emancipation Day, a holiday in the District of Columbia, falls on Monday, April 16.<br> <br> Library staff will assist patrons with questions about the availability of Federal and Massachusetts forms. For legal reasons, the library staff is not able to answer specific tax questions; please consult the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or the DOR at 1-800-392-6089 for questions about your tax filing.</p> </font> <font FACE="Times-Roman"> <p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> <span class="style42"> <b><span class="style21"><strong>Orange Libraries Offer Free Library Alerts</strong></span><span class="style1"><span class="style5"><span class="style20"><br> &nbsp;<br> </span> </span> </span> </b><span class="style1"><span class="style5"><span class="style20">The Wheeler Memorial Library is offering free email alerts&nbsp;that showcase the library&#39;s newest items each week. The alerts feature the latest bestsellers, movies, music CDs, audio books, children&#39;s titles, cookbooks, mysteries, travel guides, health books, science fiction and more.<br> &nbsp;<br> &quot;This is a great new way to enjoy and use your public library&quot; said Walt Owens, Director of the Wheeler Memorial Library. &quot;People are truly amazed when they see in one place just the great titles we purchase, which they can reserve and borrow at no cost. The materials we purchase covers all age groups, numerous formats, and many diverse interests.&quot;<br> &nbsp;<br> Owens notes that the new alerts are extremely convenient and quickly show what&#39;s new, whether checked out or not, for both branches, all from the convenience of one&#39;s home, work, or school.<br> &nbsp;<br> The alerts can also help those interested in specific topics, such as the newest arrivals appropriate for your child or teen. There&#39;s a separate section for DVD&#39;s, CD&#39;s, large print books, and several other categories . The alerts are free and do not require a library card. Go to&nbsp;<a style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://www.wowbrary.org/index.aspx?title=IHHUS0wJ1fFja56rH0L8mM4g%20GHRPYwGTciIts7sHX05tki28Bx0k%27Eoo2xsT6QEER%20k%2Chg5ppyZJ%26872dgn%2150317">www.wowbrary.org</a>&nbsp;to sign up or learn more.<br> &nbsp;<br> The Wheeler Memorial Library serves the Town of Orange and has 4,115 registered cardholders. &nbsp;For more information, visit <a target="_blank" href="http://orangelib.org"> http://orangelib.org</a> or call the Library 978-544-2495.</span></span></span></span></span></font><mso-bidi-font-weight: normal?><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b></div> <p><font face="Arial" size="2"><a href="ratphotos10.htm"> Picture Page</a></font></p> <mso-bidi-font-weight: normal?><font FACE="Times New Roman"> <mso-bidi-font-weight: normal?><font FACE="Times-Roman"> </font></font> <font face="Times New Roman"> </font> <font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size: 14pt"> <p></p> <font FACE="Times-Roman"> <pre wrap="" class="style4"><strong>Home Heating: Mandatory Upgrades </strong></pre> </font> </font> </b> <font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size: 14pt"> <font FACE="Times-Roman"> <pre wrap="" class="style9">In 2008, the Massachusetts legislature passed a law requiring that all fuel lines connecting home oil tanks to furnaces be protected with a plastic sheath to cut down on fuel line failures and residential oil leaks. New construction since 1990 has followed the rule. The new law affects homes where the new-style fuel lines have not been installed.</pre> <pre wrap="" class="style9">The change was favored by the oil heat industry. The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released the new rules this week. Everyone is required to comply by July 1 at an estimated cost of from $150 to $350. Huhtala Oil, one of our region&#39;s largest oil companies said it will not deliver oil to homes that have not made the upgrade by the start of this heating season and others may follow.</pre> <pre wrap="" class="style3"><span class="style5">Michael J. Ferrante, president of the Massachusetts Oil Heat Council, an industry group, said, &quot;Many audiences were concerned about the high cost...&quot; of cleaning up residential oil spills which are typically excluded from homeowners&#39; insurance policies. He said some 100,000 of the state&#39;s 960,000 oil heating customers will have to make the upgrade. The law also requires insurers to offer oil spill coverage at &quot;a reasonable cost.&quot; Because the regulation was just published, the industry is seeking an <b> </b>extension of time to get the work done. He said the industry &quot;embraced&quot; the new rules and that, &quot;Most people are saying &#39;come on in&quot; and do the work. This is good for consumers,&quot; Ferrante said. Ferrante said residential oil leaks can cost from $15,000 to $500,000 to clean up.</span></pre> <pre wrap="" class="style3"><span class="style5">Neither Ferrante nor Edmund Colletta, spokesman for the DEP could say how many residential leaks happen each year. They are not counted separately from delivery spills, Colletta said. There are provisions in low- income fuel assistance programs to help cover the upgrade cost, Ferrante said.</span></pre> </font> </font> <b> </div> <center> <div align="left"> <font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size: 14pt"> </font> </div> </center> <p align="center"> &nbsp;</b></span></td> </tr> </table> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-7482205-2"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {}</script> </body> </html>