Repairs Planned for Silver Lake's Underwater CapBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:27AM / Friday, July 25, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Starting next month, a thinning portion of Silver Lake's underwater cap will be repaired.
During a public hearing on Tuesday, members of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's New England Region 1 and General Electric detailed the three-week-long project beginning in August. An additional 6 to 9 inches of cap material will infill a three-quarter acre area of the lake, totaling about 810 cubic yards.
In 2023, monitoring required by the 2000 Consent Decree revealed that a southern area of the cap along East Street reduced to a thickness of 9.4 inches, down from 14. Work will be done behind the site of the former Kentucky Fried
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Nature Conservancy Welcomes Hikers to New Washington TrailBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:06AM / Monday, July 21, 2025 | |
A kiosk offers information on the trail and conserved woodlands. WASHINGTON, Mass. — The Nature Conservancy created a trail along Coles Brook with the property's history in mind.
On Friday, the nonprofit held the first guided walk through the Headwaters Trail Loop, located in the Coles Brook Preserve. The nearly 1,500-acre property that spans into Middlefield now has a 1.2-mile trail with an OPDMD (other power-driven mobility devices) route.
The conservancy hasn't had a trail opening for more than 25 years, and now has about 10 statewide. Coles Brook is one of the organization's largest state preserves and consists of shrubby wetlands,
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Parks Commission Hears Complaints Over Pontoosuc Park Shore AccessBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:46AM / Wednesday, July 16, 2025 | |
The site visit preceded a meeting of the Parks Commission PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A site visit to the south side of Pontoosuc Lake Park on Tuesday turned combative at times as attendees passionately voiced their discontent on renovation work they say limits access to the water. The city planted 1,088 shrubs along the shoreline — service berry, buttonbush, silky dogwood, and nine other species. Some of the two dozen people who attended the site visit complained that the plantings are obstacles to using the shore for swimming, boating and fishing. "We gotta remember this lake is used by everybody that belongs to the Commonwealth of >> Read More |
Roots Rising Receives Grant for Farm & Education CenterBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
05:48AM / Tuesday, July 15, 2025 | |
The existing house at the farm can be seen in this provided photo. It will eventually be renovated and expanded. The nonprofit hopes to provide housing for farming apprentices. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Roots Rising recently received a $200,000 Cultural Facilities Fund grant to help build a new farm and education center. "To have MCC and MassDevelopment believe in our vision and make a tangible commitment to our young people, our local food system, and our community is so meaningful to us. It validates the work we have done and the future we are building together!" Executive Director and co-founder Jessica Vecchia, said in an email. In February >> Read More |
Berkshire Green Drinks to Discuss Rat Poison Hazards and Proposed Legislation| 08:06AM / Wednesday, June 04, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Green Drinks will host a discussion on the potential hazards of rat poison to wildlife, domestic animals, and humans, along with information regarding pending legislation in Massachusetts aimed at restricting its use. The event, titled "Rescue Raptors: Regulate Rat Poison," will feature local activists Peggy White and Richard Clapper. The free event is scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, and will be accessible both online via Zoom and in person at Hot Plate Brewing Co., located at 1 School St. An in-person social gathering is planned to begin around 5:15 PM, with the presentation and Zoom meeting commencing at 6:00 >> Read More |
BEAT Queries Residents on Future of Pittsfield Peaker PlantBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:32AM / Monday, May 26, 2025 | |
Participants indicated their feelings about the plant and its future. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Environmentalists continue to push for the decarbonization of the last peaker plant in Berkshire County.
On Tuesday, the Berkshire Environmental Action Team solicited feedback about the future of Pittsfield Generating Co. at Allendale Elementary School, which neighbors the power plant.
Talks about transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy with battery storage are underway between the owners, state agencies, and other stakeholders. BEAT will present data from this meeting to inform the conversation.
"The reason we're holding meetings like this is to let
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Berkshire Agricultural Groups Receive Over $124K in State Grants| 10:46AM / Thursday, May 08, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Healey-Driscoll Administration has announced significant grant funding to support agricultural initiatives across Massachusetts, with several organizations in Berkshire County receiving awards. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) will manage these grants through three programs: the Agricultural Fairs Infrastructure Grant Program, Farmers Market Sustainability Grant Program, and Buy Local Grant Program. "Agricultural fairs are an important part of Massachusetts' farming history and traditions," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "These fairs, along with farmers markets, >> Read More |
GE Plans for PCB Removal Gets OK| 03:46PM / Wednesday, April 30, 2025 | |
BOSTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved, with several conditions, the General Electric Company's Revised On-Site and Off-Site Transportation and Disposal Plan. GE's revised plan maximizes the use of rail and hydraulic pumping for the transport of sediments and soils in and along the Housatonic River that are contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls. Approximately 75 percent to 80 percent of the material to be removed from the river will be transported hydraulically without the need for any trucks. Approximately 17 percent of the material can be transported by rail (combined with trucking). As little as approximately 5 percent of the material >> Read More |
Dalton Green Committee to Present Climate Action Plan Draft April 12By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:11AM / Tuesday, April 01, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Green Committee will present its draft of the Climate Action Plan on For the past nine months, the committee has been working with the town's consultant, Blue Strike Environmental, in the development of this document. The goal of the climate action plan is to aid the town in achieving net zero by 2050 by seeking strategies to decrease the town's dependence on fossil fuels for homes, businesses, municipal facilities, and vehicles. Committee members said the CAP presentation will kick off a vital discussion on climate change within town. "This is an ongoing process, with this presentation being the initiation of a >> Read More |
Leah Penniman to Speak at BCC Earthseed Series.| 08:00AM / Sunday, March 30, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) will host Leah Penniman as part of its Earthseed Speaker Series & Skillshare on Thursday, April 10, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event, which is open to the public, will take place in the Koussevitzky Arts Center, Room K111. Registration is available at www.berkshirecc.edu/earthseed. Penniman, co-founder and co-executive director of Soul Fire Farm in Petersburg, NY, will speak about her work in food justice and sustainable agriculture. Soul Fire Farm, established in 2010, focuses on addressing racial disparities within the food system and promoting land access for Black and Brown communities. >> Read More |
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