Eating ‘good and cheap’ cookbook
ORANGE — Best-selling cookbook author Leanne Brown recently donated 500 copies of “Good and Cheap” to the Franklin County Community Meals Program. Brown created the cookbook for anyone on a tight budget — particularly for those living on a food stamp budget of $4 a day.
According to Meals Program Executive Director Andrea Leibson, the cookbooks are being given out at the two food pantries that the program runs (at Greenfield Community College during regular pantry hours and the Orange Food Pantry) throughout December. Someone at the food pantry at 118 East Main St., said the pantry distributed nearly all its cookbooks on Dec. 1.
ORANGE — The Orange Water Department has received the Orange Energy Committee’s Energy Saver Award in recognition of significant savings of heating fuel at its office building last winter.
The savings were achieved by installing interior storm windows in the building’s drafty, old windows and by lowering both day and night settings on the programmable thermostat. The Orange Water Department has been working for several years to achieve maximum energy savings. More efficient variable drive pumps were installed at some wells using a Mass Save grant.
Window inserts are suitable for home windows. A video can be found at northquabbinenergy.org.
ORANGE — The “Last Chance” Holiday Craft Fair is scheduled for Saturday at the Athol/Orange Elks Lodge 1837 at 92 New Athol Road in Orange. It is slated to last from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There will be a bake sale, a tin can auction, food, and an opportunity to take pictures with Santa.
The fair is sponsored by the Athol Lions Club.
NEW SALEM — The Friends of the New Salem Public Library has invited children to celebrate the winter solstice on Dec. 20 at the New Salem Public Library as part of its ongoing “Library for All Seasons” program. Volunteers from the Friends will host activities that include making storybook lanterns, or luminaries, and listening to a special story about the solstice, which occurs on Dec. 21 and marks the first day of winter. The event is scheduled to last from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Refreshments will also be served.
Children under 5 must be accompanied by an adult. Students coming from Swift River School will be able to take a bus directly to the library.