MCLA Kicks off 2024 Green Living Seminar

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass.—MCLA's annual Green Living Seminar Series returned in January and continues through April presenting a series of lectures on the theme of "Greening in New England." 
 
Presentations occur every Thursday at 5 p.m. in the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation (FCSI) Room 121.
 
The series kicked off on Jan. 25 with the presentation "Advancing Sustainability in Urban Residential Neighborhoods of Massachusetts" led by Urban Foresters Samantha Eanes and Sarah Greenleaf from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Urban and Community Forestry Greening the Gateway Cities Program. The program is designed to reduce household heating and cooling energy use by increasing tree canopy cover in urban residential areas. 
 
Future Green Living Presentations include:
 
February 8: Nature Based Solutions for River Restoration and Flood Resilience in New England, Erin Rogers, Western New England Project Manager, Trout Unlimited
 
February 15: WD Cowls- Sustainability is Our Purpose: Perspectives From Massachusetts' Largest Private Land Owner, Arthur Haskins, Vice President, Real Estate & Community Development, WD Cowls, INC. Land Company
 
February 22: Land As Climate Solution for the Berkshires, Jenny Hansel, President, Berkshire Natural Resources Council
 
February 29: National Forest in New England: Management for Climate Resilience That Incorporates Sociopolitical and Economic Pressures, District Ranger Martina C. Barnes, US Forest Service, Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests, Manchester Ranger District
 
March 7: Regenerating Bioregional Food Systems, Hannah McDonald, Northeast Organic Farming Association, Massachusetts Education Events Manager
 
March 21: TBA
 
March 28: Making Energy More Sustainable in Massachusetts, Christopher Mason, Western Massachusetts Regional Coordinator, Green Communities Division, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources
 
April 4: Regulatory Framework for Wetlands Protection in Massachusetts, Sarah LaValley, AICP, Assistant Director, Northampton Office of Planning and Sustainability
 
April 11: Ensuring Everyone Can Enjoy the Outdoors in New England's Sustainable Future, Rachel Hailey, Founder and Transformationalist, DEI Outdoors
 
Each presentation is free and open to the public. All lectures will be recorded and can be replayed on the MCLA ENVI Youtube Channel and broadcast on Northern Berkshire Community Television Channel (NBCTC) 1302 at the following times:
  • Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.
  • Fridays at 4 p.m.
  • Saturdays at 3:30 p.m.
  • Sundays at 11:30 a.m.
  • Mondays at 5:30 p.m.

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Veteran Spotlight: Army Sgt. John Magnarelli

By Wayne SoaresSpecial to iBerkshires
PLYMOUTH, Mass. — John Magnarelli served his country in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division and the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam from May 4, 1969, to April 10, 1970, as a sergeant. 
 
He grew up in North Quincy and was drafted into the Army on Aug. 12, 1968. 
 
"I had been working in a factory, Mathewson Machine Works, as a drill press operator since I graduated high school. It was a solid job and I had fallen into a comfortable routine," he said. "That morning, I left home with my dad, who drove me to the South Boston Army Base, where all new recruits were processed into service. There was no big send off — he just dropped me off on his way to work. He shook my hand and said, 'good luck and stay safe.'"
 
He would do his basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., which was built in 1917 and named after President Andrew Jackson. 
 
"It was like a city — 20,000 people, 2,500 buildings and 50 firing ranges on 82 square miles," he said. "I learned one thing very quickly, that you never refer to your rifle as a gun. That would earn you the ire of the drill sergeant and typically involve a great deal of running." 
 
He continued proudly, "after never having fired a gun in my life, I received my marksmanship badge at the expert level."
 
He was assigned to Fort Benning, Ga., for Combat Leadership School then sent to Vietnam.
 
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