Amherst Briefs

Published on November 10, 2006

Work to continue on Meadow Street bridge through spring

The Meadow Street bridge that extends over Swamp Brook will continue to be rebuilt through next spring.

Erik Abell, spokesman for the state Highway Department, said last week that Rotha Contracting Co. Inc., of Avon, Conn. has completed most of the substructure repair, but still has to complete the deck repairs and paving.

"The contractor hasn't finished as much work as we would have liked to date and we've urged them to get more done, while the weather cooperates, prior to the end of the construction season," Abell said.

The $976,162 project to rebuild the 71-year-old bridge, near Kimball's Auction Gallery, has forced all traffic on Meadow Street west of the Route 116 bypass to be diverted onto the Route 116 bypass.

In addition, water to 10 homes on Meadow Street and Russellville Road has periodically been cut off.

Hadley's Board of Selectmen this week agreed to continue supplying water to these homes on an as-needed basis.

- SCOTT MERZBACH

Alarm goes off for VLO

Valley Light Opera productions usually provide some surprises for the audience. But opening night alarm on Nov. 3 surprised them as well.

"It's the first time in 32 years of VLO productions that the fire alarm went off," said Glenn Gordon, veteran VLO chorus member.

The audience of several hundred was just filing into the Amherst Regional High School auditorium after intermission for the second act of "The Gondoliers," this year's Gilbert and Sullivan offering.

The alarm went off at 9:51 p.m., emergency lights flashed, and the audience, cast, crew and orchestra members, some with instruments, filed outside in an orderly fashion gathering under a chilly moonlit sky.

John Bechtold, Amherst Regional High School drama teacher, steered everyone to the parking lot to allow fire fighters clear access to the building. ARHS Theater Co. members wheeled the coffee cart outside and dispensed free coffee to warm chilled fingers. The company raises money by selling refreshments during VLO production.

Fire engine 1 responded to the alarm that was caused by steam from the boy's locker room shower, according to Amherst Fire Department Capt. David Miner. Any alarm at the high school is automatically dialed to the dispatcher that calls the fire department, Miner said.

The ARHS football team had been playing under the lights Friday night. It lost 6-0.

- Phyllis Lehrer

Henry St. construction begins this week

Construction began on Henry Street this week and will last into the winter. A new drainage system will be installed over the course of the coming months. The drainage installation is a necessary precursor to repaving Henry Street, which will occur once the drainage construction is completed.

During construction, Henry Street will be closed to through traffic and open only to local residents and emergency vehicles. Construction will begin at the north end of Henry Street and will often make the road impassible during the day. Residents should be aware of where construction is taking place and plan on not being able to get through that particular area during the day. It will not be possible for the Department of Public Works to post signs at each driveway letting residents know where the construction crew is working that day, so residents will have to bear with construction crews and be prepared to turn around and go another way if they encounter them. Henry Street construction will begin just south of the Cushman School near the Pine Street intersection and continue working southerly to the intersection of Shutesbury and Flat Hills Flat Hills Road.

Henry Street will be detoured to all but local traffic during construction.

All construction dates are estimates and may be revised to accommodate weather or DPW emergencies/priorities as they arise. All construction will take place weekdays between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Parking is not allowed on street while construction is under way.

For questions or additional information concerning this project, contact the DPW office at 259-3050 or email the DPW at skeelsj@amherstma.gov.

Fort River to host annual book fair

Fort River Elementary School in Amherst will be holding its annual book fair from Nov. 13 through Nov. 16.

The hours are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. A large array of great children's books from Scholastic and more will be available. Also, on Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. find a special selection of teacher resources and books discounted at least 50 percent off. Come visit and get some holiday shopping done early. Email Dianec711@myway for directions or questions.

Baha'i founder's day to be celebrated

The birth of Baha'u'llah, the prophet-founder of the Baha'i faith, will be celebrated Nov. 11 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Jones Library. The evening includes music, prayers, presentation on the life of Baha'u'llah, songs and refreshments.

The event is free and open to the public.

The Baha'i faith is a worldwide religion born in Persia on the 19th century and now numbers 5 million residents in 191 countries and 45 territories, according to a press release. Its rich diversity embraces people from most of the planet's races, creeds and cultures, including more than 2,100 different ethnic groups. Its fundamental belief in the oneness of humankind, the unity of religion and progressive revelation provides a unifying vision of the nature of man and society in an age of deep schisms in the fabric of world order. The celebration of the birth and life of Baha'u'llah energizes the forces for world peace and development.

Book sale to be held

The annual Best of the Books Book Sale will be held Nov. 18. from 9 a.m. until noon at the Jones Library. The Friends of the Jones Library System sponsors the sale that offers an outstanding selection of best quality donated books at bargain prices. Excellent quality hardcover books will be available for $4. Collectors' items will be individually priced. The sale also includes paperbacks and children's titles.

Any items left unsold after noon will be available for sale in the library courtyard.

Donations of books in good condition for the sale will be accepted at the library until Nov. 15.

The friends, a private nonprofit organization, raise more than $4,000 each year from the annual sale, as well as the on-going sale of book donations and library discards in the library hallway. The friends want to stimulate use of the town libraries, to strengthen library resources and to respond to the libraries' special needs.

One friends' project is "Every Child a Reader," which sponsors visits by all second-grade classes in the Amherst public schools to learn about libraries. The friends also sponsor the "Children's Music Series" that presents free musical performances for children, fund the purchase of chairs, display shelving and baby changing tables. New members are welcome. For information, call the library at 259-3090 or visit www.joneslibrary.org.

First films announced for new cinema

The first films to be shown at the new Amherst Cinema Arts Center Nov. 22 will be "The Queen" and "For Your Consideration."

There will be several showings of each every night, with matinees on weekends and on Friday, Nov. 24.

"The Queen" stars Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II at the time of Princess Diana's death. "For Your Consideration," which pokes fun at Hollywood award shows, is directed by Christopher Guest, who made "Best in Show" and "A Mighty Wind."

"We're opening with two films we believe will each have a large following," said Carol Johnson, president of the board of the center. "In the future, we may have up to five different films showing daily."

The public will be able to tour the three new movie theaters on Nov. 18 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

There will be a ceremonial ribbon-cutting at 11 a.m. U.S. Rep. John Olver, state Sen. Stan Rosenberg (both D-Amherst) and others will speak.

Tabella opens, despite delays

A new restaurant called Tabella opened Oct. 25 in the Amherst Cinema building, two months later than planned.

Co-owner Adrian d'Errico said that if Town Manager Laurence Shaffer hadn't cut through some red tape with inspections, the opening might have been further delayed.

The problem was not uncooperative inspectors so much as a lack of communication and centralization of the process, d'Errico said.

Town Hall needs to synchronize the acquisition of multiple permits so they can be handled at the same time, Shaffer said. The process needs to be more transparent, logical and automated, he said.

Tabella serves tapas and wine from 4:30 to midnight Monday through Saturday.

The night it opened, d'Errico's wife and co-owner, Emily Wadham, went into labor. Their daughter, Lucia, is now "our most important customer," he said.