Dalton Panel Steps Back From Climate Leader PursuitBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:47AM / Thursday, November 30, 2023 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Dalton Green Committee voted to take a step back from its efforts in reaching climate leader status. To reach this designation, the town would need to commit to eliminating on-site fossil fuel use by 2050, create a decarbonization roadmap, adopt Zero-Emission Vehicles policy, and adopt the Specialized Stretch code. The changes to the climate leader status requirements and the unknowns surrounding the new designation has caused the committee to reconsider their stand. The state Department of Energy Resources (DOER) keeps changing the status requirements most notably the specialized stretch code, committee members >> Read More |
Springside Park Not Viable for Roots Rising FarmBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:51PM / Sunday, November 26, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Arsenic-infected soils and invasive plants have led Roots Rising to pull its farm project from Springside Park.
"Over the past several months we have been studying the site at Springside Park. We found levels of arsenic that require further investigation as well as a number of species of invasive plants," Executive Director Jess Vecchia wrote to the Parks Commission.
"One such plant, cypress spurge, is of particular concern because contact with the latex sap can cause serious burns on skin, as well as permanent corneal damage if it comes into contact with the eyes."
Earlier this year, the nonprofit farming organization came to the commission
>> Read More |
Plant Connector Pop-up Opens in Pittsfield By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
11:15AM / Saturday, November 18, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — North County business owners Emilee Yawn and Bonnie Marks brought their community-loving plant shop, Plant Connector, to Central County. The pop-up shop, located at 64 North St., will be open until Dec. 31. The pop-up shop will replicate the much-loved North County store with an assortment of plants, home decor, and events. Yawn said the Plant Connector, which opened on Eagle Street in North Adams in 2020, is all about connecting people with plants and each other. "So, the Plant Connector is just about connecting people to each other and to the world around them," she said. In 2022 the shop outgrew >> Read More |
Pittsfield Farmers Market Indoor Season| 04:03PM / Tuesday, November 07, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Roots Rising announced that the indoor season of our teen-run Pittsfield Farmers Market kicks off on Nov. 11. The monthly indoor market offers local Berkshire goods throughout the winter months. The indoor market will take place one Saturday a month from 9 AM to 1 PM inside Zion Lutheran Church, 74 First St. on the following dates: Nov. 11, Dec. 2, Jan. 13, Feb. 10, March 9, and April 13. The market offers fresh, local and seasonal fruits, vegetables, baked goods, meat, eggs, cheese, and artisan goods. This season will feature a mix of new and returning vendors. The market itself is completely full, with many local farmers, food producers, and >> Read More |
Governor Submits Application to Decarbonize Low-Income, Affordable Housing | 12:35PM / Saturday, October 28, 2023 | |
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced that Massachusetts agencies have requested clean energy investments for up to 78,500 low-income and affordable homes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, the largest single emissions reduction initiative in United States history. A coalition led by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), and including the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), MassHousing, and Boston Housing Authority, submitted the state's application to the Solar for All competition for $250 million. In parallel, the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank, based at >> Read More |
DFS Launches Tool to Track Lithium-Ion Battery Fires| 11:57AM / Sunday, October 22, 2023 | |
STOW—State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine announced that the Department of Fire Services will begin tracking fires involving lithium-ion batteries, which are increasing in frequency nationwide and have killed more than a dozen people in New York City this year. "Across the country, and most visibly in New York City, fires caused by or involving lithium-ion batteries are on the rise, and often with deadly consequences," State Fire Marshal Davine said. "One of the greatest challenges in addressing the increase in these fires is quantifying them. We are launching a new effort to gather more and better data on lithium-ion battery fires in >> Read More |
Pittsfield Residents Discuss Vision for Former Saw Mill PropertyBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
06:12AM / Saturday, October 21, 2023 | |
The property, outlined in orange, is just south of Clapp Park and north of Velma Avenue. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is in the final stages establishing the former saw mill property as a conservation area. The goal of the project is to permanently protect these lands as part of the continued development of a greenway of protected land between Clapp Park and Pittsfield Municipal Airport. It had been part of a family farm for 175 years and, more recently, a solar field had been proposed for the area. "We're just trying to create a cost efficient property that's high quality, high value, that contributes to increasing your property >> Read More |
Bulky Waste Cleanup A Big Help for Westside Pittsfield ResidentsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
01:50PM / Tuesday, October 17, 2023 | |
The ton of electronics collected will be recycled by North Coast Services. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Community members were spared the cost of larger disposables and ensured that their items were recycled properly during the annual West Side neighborhood cleanup and bulky waste collection on Saturday.
The event is targeted at residents of the neighborhood and has a twofold aim of providing a free opportunity to dispose of items such as mattresses and furniture while keeping them out of dumping areas.
Now in its 20th year, it was hosted by the city's Department of Community Development in partnership with the Pittsfield Housing Authority and 18 Degrees/Pittsfield Community
>> Read More |
Berkshire East Named a 2023 Mass Save Climate Leader| 08:04AM / Sunday, October 15, 2023 | |
CHARLEMONT, Mass. — Berkshire East Mountain Resort has been named a 2023 Climate Leader by the Sponsors of Mass Save. The award, given to 14 recipients, recognizes long-term energy efficiency commitment and dedication by leveraging the support and incentives the Mass Save program offers. "We are proud to live and work in the Commonwealth where we have a number of leaders to show us the pathway through decarbonization to a net zero future," said Tilak Subrahmanian, Vice President of Energy Efficiency and Electric Mobility at Eversource. "The Sponsors of Mass Save continue to see the strong efforts from this year's recipients and their dedication >> Read More |
Dalton Green Committee Urges Need For Sustainability ManagerBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:34AM / Tuesday, October 10, 2023 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Green Committee recommending that the town consider hiring a sustainability manager. Committee members last week voted to have Chair David Wasielewski create a presentation for the Select Board to demonstrate the need for this position. The role of a sustainability manager would be to stay up to date on the volume of information surrounding sustainability and advocate and be a proponent of green initiatives, committee members said. There are so many moving parts in town government and variables that need to be considered which understandably slows down decision making, committee member Todd Logan >> Read More |
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