Vocanologist Wendell A. Duffield to speak at Williams College

Print Story | Email Story
WILLIAMSTOWN – Wendell A. Duffield, formerly of the U.S. Geological Survey and adjunct professor at Northern Arizona University, will present two illustrated lectures on volcanoes at Williams College on Tuesday, Sept. 21. The first talk “Oral Tradition and ‘Prehistoric’ Eruptions: Where Anthropology, Archaeology, Volcanology and Common Sense Intersect” is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. in Clark Hall, room. At 8 p.m. he will speak on “Chasing Volcanoes Near and Far.” This lecture is also scheduled for Clark Hall (the geosciences building) in room 105. Both lectures are sponsored by the Sperry Fund of Geology at Williams and the Five College-University Geology Lecture Series. The lectures are free and open to the public. Duffield, a graduate of Carleton College, received his Ph.D. in geology from Stanford University in 1976. He spent 32 years “chasing volcanoes” around the world as a member of the Volcano Hazards Research Team of the U.S. Geological Survey. After retiring from the Survey, he has taught geology at Northern Arizona University at Flagstaff, consults about geothermal energy, and writes and speaks for a general audience about his experiences as a volcanologist. In addition to his numerous professional articles and maps, he has written a number of popular publications, including “Chasing Lava – A Geologist’s Adventures at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.” For building locations on the Williams campus, please consult the map outside the driveway entrance to the Security Office located in Hopkins Hall on Main Street (Rte. 2), next to the Thompson Memorial Chapel, or call the Office of Public Affairs (413) 597-4279. The map can also be found on the web at www.williams.edu/home/campusmap/
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Council Passes $232.7M Budget

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council unanimously approved a $232.7 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year. 

It is a modest, almost 2.9 percent increase from FY26. 

"I do want to give the community kind of a heads up as we move forward on budgets. What we see coming out of the federal government that's trickling down to the states, it's going to be harder and harder for us as a community to meet our needs under the Proposition 2 1/2," Councilor at Large Alisa Costa said. 

"We're going to have challenges, as we've seen communities across the state trying to override the Proposition 2 1/2, because we have dwindling amounts of money coming from the state and federal government." 

She pointed out that, at the same time, utility bills are going up for both residents and the city, as are the costs of pavement and other items. 

The amended budget of $232,777,720, down from the $232,782,090 originally proposed, includes cuts to the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the restoration of funds for councilors to attend the annual Massachusetts Municipal Association conference. 

The Pittsfield Public Schools' $86,855,061 budget includes $68,886,061 in state Chapter 70 funding and $18 million from the city. With $345,000 in school choice and Richmond tuition revenues, it totals $87,200,061 and is an approximately $300,000 increase from the Pittsfield Public Schools' FY26 budget of $86.9 million. 

The district's budget will fund 13 schools, as Morningside Community School will retire in the fall, and includes the middle school restructuring. 

Councilors also approved the use of $2 million in certified free cash to reduce the tax rate, and appropriated $450,551 for parking-related expenditures. 

View Full Story

More Stories