Wildlife-Friendly Fall Cleanup TipsMass Wildlife,
04:00PM / Monday, October 09, 2023 | |
 Autumn is here, bringing cooler temperatures, falling leaves, and shorter days. As you prepare your yard for winter, help your local wildlife with a few simple steps. Although raking leaves seems synonymous with autumn, allowing some leaves to remain in your yard can provide benefits for plants and local wildlife. When they decompose, leaves return nutrients to the soil. In addition, fallen leaves provide cover and insulation to overwintering insects including many types of moths and butterflies. Mow over fallen leaves to break them up and speed decomposition. Use a rake to spread out the leaves so underlying plants and grass are smothered. Excess leaves can be used as mulch >> Read More |
Dalton Green Committee Discusses Getting Compost ProgramBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:42AM / Monday, October 09, 2023 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Green Committee is mulling the potential of a composting program at the transfer station. The program would allow residents to bring organic compost to the transfer station without charge. The compost station would have three sections separated by concrete cubes. Every six months to a year, the compost would be moved to a different section as it breaks down, committee member Antonio Pagliarulo said. Pagliarulo and committee member Thomas Irwin visited the Egremont Transfer Station to inform Dalton's proposed program. "It's gratis to the townspeople of Egremont. They leave their compost, and then >> Read More |
Berkshire County Historical Society Celebrates Plant a Tree Day | 11:45AM / Wednesday, September 27, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Join the Berkshire County Historical Society on Thursday, Sept. 28, at 5:30 pm as they celebrate Plant a Tree Day with a ceremonial planting of a young American elm "Jefferson" on Park Square. The tree will be planted to honor the Berkshires' first known environmentalist Lucretia Williams. Williams threw herself before the woodsman's axe to save a towering elm known as the Pittsfield Elm on Park Square in 1789. "BCHS is very grateful to the Pittsfield Parks Department and George and Alice Wislocki for helping make this possible, said Executive Director Lesley Herzberg. "It is a fitting and lasting tribute >> Read More |
Mayor Tyer Recognizes BEAT for International AwardBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:44AM / Wednesday, September 27, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Environmental Action Team was applauded in council chambers on Tuesday for its various efforts that led to an international award.
"BEAT has worked tirelessly to address significant environmental issues that affect the quality of life for Pittsfield residents as well as the animal and plant life found within its borders," Mayor Linda Tyer said.
Joined by Executive Director Jane Winn, Tyer read a proclamation to the council and attendees.
In June, the nonprofit received a prestigious stewardship award at the International Conference of Ecology and Transportation in Burlington, Vt., for its work protecting and reconnecting wildlife
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Springside Park Conservancy Hosts Community Day| 12:19PM / Monday, September 18, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Springside Park Conservancy will present a day of "family fun and outdoor stewardship" on Sept. 23, 2023, in celebration of the organization's 10th anniversary. In the morning, Conservancy partners will join the annual fall park clean up held by the Friends of Springside Park. Volunteers will check in at the North Playground beginning at 9. Gloves, bags, and instructions for litter clean up will be provided. In the afternoon, more than a dozen organizations will present an outdoor fair of guided hiking, bike rides, kids crafts, outdoor activities, demonstrations, face-painting and more on the Springside House >> Read More |
Biodiversity Research Institute Attempts to Revitalize Loon PopulationBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
07:37AM / Sunday, September 17, 2023 | |
 DALTON, Mass. — The Biodiversity Research Institute is attempting to revitalize the loon population in Massachusetts. Earlier this season, the institute deployed rearing pens at Windsor Reservoir with the goal to translocate a total of nine to 15 male chicks this season. The institute, based in Portland, Maine, works internationally to assess threats to wildlife and ecosystems and conducts research to inform policy decisions. It collaborates with a range of public agencies and nonprofit organizations. Its loon research program began in 2013 with the goal of strengthening and restoring the birds' population and developing protocols that can be >> Read More |
Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market Unveils Solar-Powered Vehicle at Pittsfield Farmers Market| 03:04PM / Thursday, September 07, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On Saturday, Sept. 9 at 10:00 am at the Pittsfield Farmers Market, 100 First Street, the Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market (BMFM) will unveil the new mobile farmers market van. Roots Rising, the nonprofit whose teen program runs the Pittsfield Farmers Market, received funding in 2022 to purchase an electric, solar-powered vehicle for their programming. In the spirit of community partnership, they are leasing the brand-new vehicle to the BMFM partnership for the fall pilot program of the Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market. Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 13, the Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market will make three stops each week: Tuesday mornings at >> Read More |
Berkshire Green Drinks: Beyond Recycling| 12:05PM / Wednesday, September 06, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Andrew Ferrara, program manager of Berkshire Environmental Action Team's Zero Waste Initiative, will speak at the September Berkshire Green Drinks event at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, September 12, online via Zoom. According to a press release: Learn about current projects and groups working to reduce waste in Berkshire County that go beyond just recycling. Get an inside look into the many recycling programs BZWI offers to the community, including conventionally not-recyclable items like toothbrushes and bread tags. Learn why special recycling programs are not the answer to our waste crisis and how BZWI plans to move beyond recycling as a solution by >> Read More |
Deputy MDAR Commissioner Visits Pittsfield Farmers MarketBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:38AM / Monday, August 14, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Representatives from the state Department of Agricultural Resources made a stop at the Pittsfield Farmers Market as part of Massachusetts Farmers Market Week, recognizing the role agriculture plays in community building and expanding food access.
"Today is actually the last day of National Farmers Market Week and tomorrow starts another farmer's market week in Massachusetts because every week is farmer's market week in Massachusetts. We have over 260 farmer's markets during the growing season and about 50 in the winter even so it's never a bad time to find local produce anywhere in Massachusetts," MDAR Deputy
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Mass Celebrates Federal Funds to Support Energy-Efficient Building Codes | 10:28AM / Sunday, August 13, 2023 | |
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced it was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to receive a competitive grant for $3.9 million. The funds will support the adoption and implementation of the updated Stretch Energy and Specialized building codes throughout Massachusetts. The Department of Energy Resources (DOER) will use the grant to offer field-based training to aid implementation in the affordable housing industry, support local building code officials, and enable the sharing of regional best practices to advance the equitable adoption and implementation of the updated codes. "Our administration sees an unprecedented >> Read More |
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