OLLI Offers Courses on Psychotherapy, Investment

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PITTSFIELD — Laurie Heatherington, chairman of the psychology department at Williams College will address the debate of whether psychotherapy is art or science on Saturday, April 26, from 10:30to noon at Berkshire Community College, Room K111.

Presented by Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, her is lecture is titled "Psychotherapy: The Science of the Art."  Heatherington will also discuss the public perception of psychotherapy and the research evidence regarding its effectiveness.

A former practicing family therapist, she has published extensively in the professional and scientific literature. She is a member of the Editorial Boards of several psychotherapy research and family psychology journals. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of Connecticut and her bachelor's degree from Miami University of Ohio.

Financial Advice For Mature Investors

Financial manager Sheila Keator will address investment topics on Tuesday, April 8, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Hancock Shaker Village.

The course, "Financial Decisions for Current and Future Generations," will cover practical and sound advice on gifting, beneficiaries, required distributions, estate planning mechanisms, and the current market environment.

Keator is managing director of tnvestments at Keator Group LLC. She began her career with Kidder Peabody, where she rose to vice president before transferring to First Albany Corp. She founded her own firm in 2005 and was named that year to Research Magazine's "Women's Winner Circle" of top-ranked women advisers in America.

Her credits include Barron's Top 100 Financial Women in 2006 and 2007. Keator received her certificate of finance and accounting from the Wharton School of Business.

The cost to attend this lecture is $10 for OLLI members; $15 for non-members.

For information on either program and to register, call the OLLI office at 413-236-2190 or visit www.BerkshireOLLI.org  Payment will also be taken at the door.
 

Courses Through Videoconferencing


OLLI  begins its spring semester on April 14 with the introduction of its first videoconference course.

"Uncle Joe Stalin: Not Your Average Uncle," will be taught by lecturer Stan Applebaum. He will examine how Stalin's tyrannical personality and social forces shaped history in the 20th century.

The six-week lecture series will be presented in real time to audiences at two separate BCC locations — the South County Center in Great Barrington as well as the Pittsfield campus.

Through the use of a large screen and high-quality audio, participants can ask direct questions and look at videos and slides with fellow students at another site. OLLI has plans to expand teleconferencing to include classes at the Clark Art Institute, Williams College, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Bard College at Simon's Rock in the future.

Course Catalog

OLLI is offering 21 other courses on topics that cover art, literature, medicine, history, religion, genealogy, garden design, ship building, the environment, and life sciences.

Classes and events are held at locations throughout the county, including the campuses of BCC, Williams and Simon's Rock. Course sessions run four to six weeks. Most programs occur during the day. Courses are taught by college faculty and prominent professionals along with some of OLLI's  members.

Special events including trips to museums, theaters, historic sites, community programs of special interest, and social events round out the learning opportunities. OLLI also enjoys the support of local cultural partners, such as the Berkshire Museum and Shakespeare & Company, which provide programming and/or operational assistance. Many give discounts to OLLI members.

Dues are $50 per year. Course fees are $40 to attend one course, $80 for two to three courses, and $100 for unlimited registration. Flex registration allows payment of $40 to access up to six class sessions from the course offerings. To request a free course catalog or for more information, call 413-236-2190 or visit www.BerkshireOLLI.org
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.

Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.

The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.

Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is  appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.

Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.

Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.

Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.

The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.

The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.

Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.

Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years. 

He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.

Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.

Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve  a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.

Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.

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