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Broadband Update |
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By: Tammy Daniels On: 01:46PM / Thursday June 18, 2009 |
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Remember that $40 million initiative to bring broadband to the state's rural communities?
Well, you can find out what's been happening in a couple weeks when the director of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute, Sharon Gillett, and her staff comes to Great Barrington. The institute was created as part of the broadband measure to assess deficiencies in Internet access and develop a comprehensive plan for expanding broadband with private partners.
Reps. Denis E. Guyer and William "Smitty" Pignatelli, and Sen. Benjamin B. Downing will be on hand as well. The forum takes place from 3 to 4:30 on Friday, June 19, at Berkshire South Regional Community Center, 15 Crissey Road, Great Barrington.
Guyer also passes along the news that the funding for the broadband bill will likely come from federal stimulus funds. The act included a $25 million bond - the governor's favorite way to fund projects - to creative an incentive fund overseen by the institute.
According to Guyer's recent newsletter, "Governor Patrick filed a bill regarding the change which was heard last week by the Committee Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. Passage of this bill will better position Massachusetts to take full advantage funding through the American Recover and Reinvestment Act for broadband infrastructure. As a member of the committee, I was able to attend a hearing last week which included review of this bill and I will be working to get this passed."
If you're planning to attend the broadband forum, let them know at broadband@masstech.org or 508-870-0312, Ext. 1645.
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Adios, Karen |
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By: Tammy Daniels On: 01:43PM / Friday May 22, 2009 |
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I first met Karen Gardner in the newsroom of the North Adams Transcript. We'd both been working for the New England Newspapers for years but our paths had never crossed.
We sat side by side, bonding over "Survivor," tales of children and family, the intricacies of entertainment pages, breaking news and the daily drudge. A year later, MCLA smartly plucked her from a ream of resumes to become its communication specialist.
I left the Transcript the following year; as often happens, we went along our separate ways, only occasionally meeting up. And she sent me lots of well-written press releases that saved me time and effort.
 Life handed her a couple tough years, but through it all she maintained her composure, her good nature and professionalism. Now she's found a new - and well-deserved - love and is flying off to Texas to marry into a new family and find new adventures.
As her MCLA colleagues said earlier this week, "she always carries herself with such grace."
So for all we were happy for her newfound joy, there was sadness, too, at her going away party last week at MCLA's alumni office. Karen got plenty of reminders of her time at the college (including a towel) and well wishes from President Mary Grant and even Mayor John Barrett III.
She's left some tough shoes to fill.
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