Feb. 8: Cookie Walk

MONTAGUE CENTER — Residents with a sweet tooth can visit the First Congregational Church of Montague at 4 North St. for the third annual Cookie Walk on Saturday, Feb. 8, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Guests can pick up items for Valentine’s Day from vendors in the Fellowship Hall, along with cookies and flowers.

Musical revue to raise money for food pantry

TURNERS FALLS — Ahead of the “Lights, Community, Action!” performance to raise money for Community Action Pioneer Valley’s Center for Self-Reliance Food Pantry, an anonymous donor has agreed to match funds raised through sponsorship, donations and ticket sales up to $5,000. Plus, Greenfield Savings Bank has pledged to match all concession sales.

Proceeds from the four-act musical revue will go toward the food pantry, and each of the acts will center around one of the four themes of Community Action’s programs: food, heat, support and community connection. This is JaDuke’s fourth year of putting on a benefit show for a local nonprofit, with previous beneficiaries including the Children’s Advocacy Center of Franklin County and North Quabbin, The United Arc and the New England Learning Center for Women in Transition (NELCWIT).

“We are hopeful that the event will raise [more than] $20,000 to feed our neighbors who are navigating poverty,” Jessica Thompson, associate director of community engagement with Community Action Pioneer Valley, said in a statement. “We are so grateful for the dedication and generosity of the team at Ja’Duke Theater and honored by the time and talent contributed by the hardworking cast of ‘Lights, Community, Action!’”

There will be two performances of “Lights, Community, Action!” on Friday, Feb. 7, and Saturday, Feb. 8, both at 6 p.m. at Ja’Duke Theater, located at 110 Industrial Blvd. Tickets are available online at jaduketheater.com.

For those who can’t make it to the show but would like to contribute, donations can be made at communityaction.us.

History talk explores German community in Turners Falls

TURNERS FALLS — After the Turners Falls canal was rebuilt in 1869, German immigrants were among the first to move to Turners Falls, and the first to witness the planned village’s growing pains.

Attendees can join Department of Conservation and Recreation staff at the Great Falls Discovery Center on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 2 p.m. to see how photos, news clippings and oral history help tell the story of how the Germans built their community and traditions in the village through mutual aid and hard work.

School Committee seat available

MONTAGUE — There is an open seat for a Montague resident on the Gill-Montague Regional School District School Committee.

Interested Montague residents should email Executive Assistant Tara McCarthy at tara.mccarthy@gmrsd.org or send a letter to Tara McCarthy, 35 Crocker Ave., Turners Falls, MA 01376, by Monday, Feb. 10, so the School Committee can consider potential candidates at its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11.

NMH presents winter dance concert

GILL — Northfield Mount Hermon School’s Dance Company will present its winter concert “What Does It Mean to Be Human?” on Thursday, Feb. 13, and Friday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m., as well as Saturday, Feb. 15, at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., in the Chiles Theater in the school’s Rhodes Arts Center.

The concert’s theme is inspired by a key question explored in the NMH humanities curriculum: “What does it mean to be human?” Gretel Schatz, director of NMH’s dance program, said in a statement, “The students can interpret that any way they choose, and the dance is the answer.”

The concert consists of 10 original pieces, including modern contemporary, classical ballet and hip-hop. The pieces, choreographed by students and faculty, examine the concepts of connection, identity, vulnerability and strength.

Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance. For tickets and more information, visit nmhschool.org/academics/arts/tickets.