Friday, September 19, 2003

Montague Farm May Host Area Peace Group Montague farm may host area peace group by Dianne Broncaccio, Recorder Staff Greenfield Recorder, Tuesday September 16, 2003 TURNERS FALLS - If all goes as planned, the Montague Farm on Ripley Road - now home to the Peacemakers Circle International - will open a conference center for workshops, retreats, training programs and performances. The nonprofit peace activism group acquired the 34-acre farm in July 2002 and is putting together funding to convert the farm's early 19th century barn into a conference center and office spaces, co-founder Bernie Glassman told Montague selectmen Monday. The center will be called "The House of One People," and it will be used for workshops, lectures, interfaith programs and other events that focus on peace initiatives and social activism. The conference center will be able to hold events for up to 100 people, although most events will be attended by between 30 to 50 people, Glassman said. A site plan review will go before other town boards as part of the permit process, Glassman said. Glassman and Eve Marko went to selectmen to see if the board would send a letter of support for the project to the United State Department of Agriculture, which may lend money for the construction through a rural development component. Glassman said the agency requires a letter from town or city officials saying that the structure will not have a negative effect on the community. Selectmen said they wanted to see the organization's nonprofit documentation, a list of its incorporators and a layout of the conference center plan. If satisfied with the provided criteria, selectmen agreed to furnish the letter by Thursday, which is the deadline for the loan application. Brought to you by Peacemaker Circle International. 2:22:23 PM

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