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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Legislative Hearing in Pittsfield Tackles Inflated Utility RatesBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
04:50AM / Monday, December 11, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A legislative hearing was held at the Berkshire Innovation Center last week to address rate increases in electricity, gas, and oil with representatives from the Healey-Driscoll administration and utility companies. In the last two years, electricity rates have increased by an average of 12 percent and natural gas prices by 1 percent and Western Mass. communities feel that they are experiencing the brunt of it. The session began with a panel discussion between legislators and the Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rebecca Tepper, Commissioner of the Department of Energy Resources Elizabeth Mahoney, and Chair of the 0 Comments
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BCC Announces New Staff | 04:09PM / Sunday, December 10, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces the addition of four staff members. Erica Barreto joins BCC as Coordinator of Student Diversity Programs and Belonging. Born to first-generation immigrant parents from Brazil and Portugal, Barreto grew up in the Hudson Valley, New York, before moving to the Berkshires. In 2019, she returned to her alma mater, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, to coordinate the MCLA Institute for the Arts and Humanities (IAH). In 2022, Barreto was awarded the BCC 40 Under 40 Award to commemorate her work with IAH. She is the vice president of the board of directors for WAM Theatre. In her free time, she likes 0 Comments
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MassWildlife: Avoid decorating with invasive plants| 12:19PM / Sunday, December 10, 2023 | |
During the holiday season, many people use plants to decorate their homes or businesses. If you wish to use plants in your decorations, be sure to select native species such as native pines, spruces, hemlock, American holly, mountain laurel, fir, or winterberry holly. Avoid exotic, invasive plants like Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) and multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora). These plants may have attractive berries, but they can cause severe damage to native plants, shrubs, and trees. Invasive plants can spread quickly in open fields, forests, wetlands, meadows, and backyards, crowding out native plants that provide valuable wildlife habitat. Oriental bittersweet can even 0 Comments
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Governor Holds First Regional Cabinet Meeting in Amherst | 12:00PM / Sunday, December 10, 2023 | |
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration held their first regional cabinet meeting at University of Massachusetts Amherst to discuss the administration's priorities in Western Massachusetts. In an effort to promote statewide collaboration, the administration aims to hold a regional cabinet meeting in every region across the state. "Our state is made up of 351 cities and towns, each with their own unique sets of characteristics and needs. By hosting regional cabinet meetings, our administration is doubling down on our commitment to work for the entirety of Massachusetts," said Governor Healey. "Over the last year, we have made 0 Comments
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Governor Releases Plan to Protect and Enhance Access to Farmland| 08:32AM / Sunday, December 10, 2023 | |
DRACUT, Mass. — The Healey-Driscoll Administration released the Massachusetts Farmland Action Plan today, a long-range strategic initiative to address Massachusetts' farmland needs. The plan sets goals and priorities around increasing farmland conservation and protection, addressing farmland access, and preserving and expanding the economic and environmental viability of farms across the state. "Today, nearly 500,000 acres of precious farmland are stewarded by our farmers. But with rising costs and increased extreme weather, our farmers need our help to plan for the future," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "The 0 Comments
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Governor Appoints Veteran Advocate | 04:01PM / Saturday, December 09, 2023 | |
BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey, Attorney General Andrea Campbell anda Auditor Diana DiZoglio announced the appointment of Colonel Robert "Bob" Notch to lead the Massachusetts Office of the Veteran Advocate. In this role, Notch will oversee the newly established independent state agency whose focus is to ensure that veterans in Massachusetts receive humane, safe and dignified treatment and effective services in a timely manner and compliance with existing laws and regulations. "As a retired Army Colonel, Colonel Notch has the life experience and career skills to lead our new Office of the Veteran Advocate," said Governor Healey. "This 0 Comments
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FEMA Awards Nearly $8.3 M to Mass for COVID Vaccination Costs| 12:17PM / Saturday, December 09, 2023 | |
BOSTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending almost $8.3 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse it for the cost of providing vaccinations and preventative treatment to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. The $8,251,189 in Public Assistance grants will reimburse the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for the costs of contracting to both operate a statewide network of mobile vaccination sites and to provide in-home vaccinations and treatments to homebound patients between July 2022 and May 2023. One grant of $3,553,090 will cover the cost of contracting with CDR Health Care to provide 24 Registered Nurses for 6,659 hours, 0 Comments
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Long winter's nap: Which animals hibernate?| 12:00PM / Saturday, December 09, 2023 | |
As temperatures start to drop, you may start to grow envious of the animals that rest, or hibernate, through New England's snowy season. Hibernation is a behavioral adaptation that allows animals to survive low temperatures and periods of time without food. When an animal hibernates, they decrease their body temperature, metabolic rate, heart rate, and respiratory rate. This energy reduction allows the animal to survive without eating or drinking when food becomes scarce during the winter. A few animals, like woodchucks, are "true hibernators." Other species can reduce their body temperature and metabolic rate during the winter, but are not true hibernators since they 0 Comments
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Pittsfield High School Honor Roll| 04:00PM / Friday, December 08, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield High School has announced its honor roll for the first quarter of the 2023-2024 school year. Of the 723 students enrolled, 342 students, or 47 percent, achieved high honors, and 58 students, or 8 percent, earned honors. High Honors requires a grade point average of 92 percent and above. Honors require a grade point average of between 88 percent and 91.9 percent. High Honors Grade 12 Mia S. Adair Bibiana A. Addai Natalie M. Arnhold Brandon A. Balcazar Chacon Juan E. Bedard Torres Braden J. Bienvenue Ashton P. Bock Riley J. Bordeau Emma L. Boynton Ethan T. Breitmaier Patrick J. Brennan Nicholas R. 0 Comments
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ServiceNet Announces Two New Senior Leadership Positions | 03:21PM / Friday, December 08, 2023 | |
 NORTHAMPTON, Mass. — ServiceNet, a nonprofit mental health and human services agency based in Northampton, is announced the promotion of two leaders in its Developmental and Brain Injury Services (DBIS) division. Shawn Robinson, formerly Director of Vocational Services and of Prospect Meadow Farm in Hatfield, has been appointed Vice President of Vocational Services & Day Programs. Robinson, who has worked with ServiceNet since 2011, was recognized in 2023 as the Daily Hampshire Gazette's Person of the Year and he also received a Black Excellence on the Hill Award from the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus. Mike Lalak, a former Senior 0 Comments
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@theMarket: Markets Consolidate GainsBy Bill Schmick,
03:11PM / Friday, December 08, 2023 | |
In the coming week, there are three hurdles that investors need to confront. Inflation data, a bond auction, and an FOMC meeting. Investors are now convinced that job growth is finally slowing, inflation is a thing of the past and that the Fed will begin cutting interest rates as early as the second quarter of 2024. As such, they expect next week's Consumer Price Index will show further declines in headline inflation. Despite the almost one percent decline in the U.S. Ten-year bond, the U.S. Treasury's 10- and 20-year bond auctions will go off without a hitch. And finally, since inflation is dead and jobs are falling in an election year, the Fed will have no choice but to cut 0 Comments
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BCC Foundation Lends Financial Assistance to Paraprofessional Program | 11:07AM / Friday, December 08, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In January 2022, Berkshire Community College (BCC) partnered with Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) to form the Associates to Bachelors Pathway to Licensure for Paraprofessionals, known as the P2T Cohort. The goal: to provide an efficient pathway to teacher licensure. Now, the P2T Cohort is getting additional support from the Berkshire Community College Foundation, which has pledged $16,000 in support of professional mentorship expenses related to the program. "The Massachusetts Early Education and Care (EEC) Career Pathways Grant has been using a mentor model for several years and has had great success 0 Comments
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