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State Awards $11.1 Million in Climate Change Funding To Cities And Towns| 09:17AM / Thursday, September 17, 2020 | |
 FITCHBURG, Mass. — Continuing investment in climate change resiliency, the Baker-Polito Administration announced $11.1 million in grants to cities and towns through the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program. This announcement brings total state investment in climate change resilience through the MVP program to over $44 million since 2017. The popular grant and designation program provides communities with funding and technical support to identify climate hazards, develop strategies to improve resilience, and implement priority actions to adapt to climate change. The grants were announced by Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito in Fitchburg as 0 Comments
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State Awards Grants to Support Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership| 02:06PM / Wednesday, September 16, 2020 | |
 ROWE, Mass. — The Baker-Polito Administration announced $225,000 in grant funding to eight municipalities and a regional economic development organization to support forest stewardship and conservation, trail improvements, and nature-based tourism in the Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership region. The funding builds upon the Commonwealth's Shared Stewardship Agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, which established a framework for partnerships between local governments and stakeholders to advance the goals of the Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership (MTWP) to conserve forests and enhance regional economic 0 Comments
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Chilling Snow Storm Draws Apprehensive Avian MigrantsBy Tor Hansen, iBerkshires columnist
08:00PM / Sunday, August 30, 2020 | |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — If ever there was a snow storm to remember it was that of early May in our Berkshires. Forewarned by the aggressive weather watchers to inform us of the approaching tempest, one may wonder how our birds reacted to atmospheric signs that animals first perceive. Flocking birds of assorted genera appeared stunned by the daunting freeze that enveloped both the world of people and the spring migrating birds eager to resume nesting and procreation of their progeny. All night the swirling snow fell in the valleys and foothills, and I felt concern for our cheerful charmers that must outlast the shivering cold swept upon them as they would take shelter 2 Comments
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Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary Nearing Fundraising Goal| 09:41AM / Monday, August 24, 2020 | |
 LENOX, Mass. — Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is nearing its Opening Doors to Nature capital campaign goal of $1.2 million to address the sanctuary's aging facilities Through donations, Mass Audubon's Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is now within $200,000 of its $1.12 million goal to fund the program barn expansion project. The capital campaign was created to help ensure the sanctuary's aging facilities are brought up to date, with a focus on accessibility and related amenities. The centerpiece will be an energy-efficient addition to the 18th-century program barn that includes modern restrooms, expanded lobby area, expansive decking, 0 Comments
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Massachusetts Residents Asked to Report Receipt of Unsolicited SeedsStaff Reports,
05:45PM / Tuesday, July 28, 2020 | |
These seeds arrived in Washington State apparently from China. BOSTON — Random packages of seeds that appear to be from China and other countries have been appearing in mailboxes across the country. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and numerous agricultural agencies across the nation are warning people not to plant what could be an invasive species. The state Department of Agricultural Resources has been notified that several Massachusetts residents have received these unsolicited packages that appear to have originated in a foreign country and contain seeds. While the exact types of seeds in the packages are unknown, the seeds are thought to be 3 Comments
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Pittsfield City Council Recognizes Environmentalist By Jack Guerino, iBerkshires Staff
01:20PM / Wednesday, July 15, 2020 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council honored local environmentalist Jane Winn as one of the commonwealth's Unsung Heroines Before breaking into the evening's business Tuesday, the council took a moment to recognize the executive director of the Berkshire Environmental Action Team. "In regular times, before the world has turned upside down ... I would be with you probably with a full audience to celebrate as we do every year," said state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, who nominated Winn. "I am really pleased to present to you Pittsfield's 2020 Unsung Heroine Jane Winn." The Massachusetts Commission of the Status of Women annually 0 Comments
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Lanesborough's 'King Elmer' Inoculated Against Dutch Elm DiseaseBy Stephen Dravis, iBerkshires Staff
07:06PM / Thursday, June 18, 2020 | |
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The king may have been dethroned, but the local tree committee is making sure he doesn't lose his crown. "King Elmer," the American elm tree that towers above Summer Street near the junction with Route 7, once held the title for the largest such specimen in the commonwealth. It since has been supplanted by a slightly larger tree in Old Deerfield Village, but with a height of 110 feet and an average crown measuring just more than 99 feet across, the tree named by Lanesborough Elementary School pupils in 2010 remains a regal presence. Like elm trees across North America, Elmer's biggest threat is Dutch elm disease, 1 Comment
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State Grant Program Should Help Local Food ProducersBy Stephen Dravis, iBerkshires Staff
07:27AM / Sunday, June 07, 2020 | |
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — As a member of a town committee, an officer with the advocacy group Berkshire Grown and a documentary filmmaker, Sarah Gardner has spent years pushing for a stronger local food supply. So she was glad last month when Beacon Hill followed suit. As part of its overall response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the administration of Gov. Charlie Baker recently announced $36 million in grants to build up the commonwealth's "food security infrastructure." "The grants will fund investments in technology, equipment, increased capacity and other infrastructure to help producers distribute food, especially to food insecure 0 Comments
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Bald Eagle Population Soaring in MassachusettsBy MassWildlife,
12:58PM / Wednesday, May 27, 2020 | |
A bald eagle above the Eclipse dam on the Hoosic River last year. WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — The state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife has documented more than 70 active bald eagle nests throughout Massachusetts this spring, indicators that the population continues to grow. MassWildlife has seen a dramatic uptick in newly documented eagle nests and has confirmed nine new nests in Fitchburg, Wenham, Concord, Rutland, Wareham, Medford, Northampton, Hudson, and Barnstable. The new Barnstable nest marks the first nest with eggs on Cape Cod in 115 years; the last was in Sandwich in 1905. Eagles have been sighted along the Hoosic River and nesting pairs 3 Comments
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Area's Garden Centers Ready for Bump in DemandBy Stephen Dravis, iBerkshires Staff
03:47AM / Friday, April 24, 2020 | |
Customers can't go into Whitney's farm store but can order and pick it up outside. CHESHIRE, Mass. — When the commonwealth shut down non-essential businesses last month, nurseries and garden centers were classified as essential. That could be an understatement. If anything, they're more important than ever. "I've taken, I'd say, 10 times the phone calls about people wanting to start vegetable gardens this year," said Martha Tanner, the greenhouse manager at Whitney's Farm Market and Garden Center. "People are really interested in growing their own food and starting their own gardens. "I totally encourage people to grow 1 Comment
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