Two celebrations-featuring food, festivities and fun-will mark the official grand opening of the Discover the Berkshires Adams Visitor Center. On Thursday June 17, the Berkshire Visitors Bureau, which manages the 3 Hoosac St. facility, has invited the bureau's members Visitor and state and local officials for a 10 a.m. ribbon cutting and building dedication. A private reception and tour for the members and invited guest will follow.
On Saturday, June 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the bureau will host a public grand opening at the facility, featuring music, performances and talks by the region's cultural organizations. Free raffles for visitors will include tickets to performances and attractions, gift certificates, t-shirts, mugs and other gifts donated by bureau members. The Adams Lions club will sell food and refreshments.
The recently constructed $2.5 million dollar building houses a Visitor Center on the first floor and the Visitors Bureau headquarters on the second floor. On May 30, the center inaugurated a "soft opening" for the public. The opening drew more than 700 visitors from at least a dozen states over the Memorial Day weekend.
The Visitors Center features audio visual presentations, photographs and displays around the theme "The Berkshires: Then & Now." In the Center's display area, six continually running audio visual programs highlight various aspects of the country, such as culture, historic sites, dining and lodging, family activities, recreation and shopping. Historic and contemporary photographs throughout the Center depict noteworthy features of the region; one display section is entirely devoted to the history of Adams.
The reception area offers brochure racks with information on local attractions, events and businesses. Using state of the art computer mapping software, Visitor Center staff can display and electronically highlight travel routes on an oversized screen, and print out customized maps for travelers needing directions. The Center, which also offers restroom facilities, snacks, water and soft drinks, is located at the northern trailhead of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail.
The Visitors Bureau's headquarters include offices for the organization's marketing, public relations, advertising, membership, central lodging reservation services and administrative functions.
The Center was designed and constructed with an emphasis on environmental sensitivity. Plumbing and electrical fixtures, were chosen to save energy and conserve resources. The building is heated and cooled using a computer controlled geothermal energy system. Pipes reach 300 feet underground to pump ground water, which is at a constant year round temperature, for geothermal temperature control.
The Berkshire Visitors Bureau also recently assumed management of the Discover the Berkshire Pittsfield Visitor Center on South Street, Pittsfield. For additional information on Visitor Center events, call 413-743-4500, ext. 100.
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Air Quality Alert Issued for Berkshire County
Staff reports
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The state's on an air quality alert through midnight Thursday because of the smoke from wildfires in Canada.
Berkshire residents woke up to smoky, hazy skies and a red glowing sun on Wednesday morning, but with less oppressive heat.
The Department of Environmental Protection issued an air quality alert for elevated levels of fine particles (PM2.5). This refers to microscopic airborne particles measuring 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter — about 30 times smaller than a human hair. These particles come in many sizes and shapes and can be made up of hundreds of different chemicals.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the size of these particles can cause serious health problems because they can get deep into your lungs and even into bloodstreams. Particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter pose the greatest risk to health.
The air quality statewide is expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups. These include people with heart or lung disease such as asthma, older adults, children, teenagers, and people who are active outdoors. People with either lung disease or heart disease are at greater risk from exposure to air pollution.
MassDEP advises people in sensitive groups to reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion, take more breaks, do less intense activities, follow asthma action plans, and keep quick relief medicine handy. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath.
EPA's air quality index rates levels from "good" at 0-50 and "very unhealthy" from 201 to 300. Residents of Williamstown can track the AQI through PurpleAir, which displays results from monitors in five sections of town.
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