NBCC, Take Charge Hosting Environmental Forum

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Northern Berkshire Community Coalition's December monthly meeting will focus on environmental issues.

Hosted in conjunction with Take Charge, a local campaign working to make homes more energy efficient, the community discussion with residents, public officials and college professors will be held Friday, Dec. 4, from 10 to noon at First Baptist Church on Eagle Street. The first hour will cover updates on events and initiatives of NBCC partners; the second hour will be the forum.

Forum participants include Philip McKnight, a Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts professor of environmental law, discussing the current climate change legislation and the upcoming Copenhagen conference; Stephanie Boyd, director of the Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives at Williams College, talking on how higher education is responding to the challenges of reducing carbon emissions; Madeline King and Jaimie Wallace, Take Charge interns, providing information on grass-roots initiatives and answering questions about what individuals can do to help; and Lauren Moffat, coordinator of the Berkshire Environmental Resource Center at MCLA, discussing environmental science and technology in the Berkshires. A question-and-answer period will follow.

The public is encouraged to bring questions or concerns on these topics.

Take Charge is a NBCC partner; its work revolves around education, outreach and environmental action through a community campaign made up of residents, colleges, schools, local government, businesses and organizations.

For information on the forum, contact King at msk1@williams.edu or Wallace at jw2606@mcla.edu.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Companion Corner Grey Boy at No Paws Left Behind

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There's a cat No Paws Left Behind still waiting for his forever home.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home. He was previously highlighted but he now has new information.

Grey Boy is 10 years old and is a gray and white domestic shorthair and was previously highlighted on Companion Corner.

The shelter's Executive Director Noelle Howland introduced us to him and his long journey to be ready for adoption.

"He's been here a couple months. He was a transfer from a rescue in Bennington. They were out of space, so we had taken him in with a few other cats. So he's been here a couple months. He came in with what we believed was a respiratory infection," she said. "So it took us a little bit to get him ready, and then he also needed a dental. So he has nice, clean teeth. He had some teeth removed, and then he has to go back in and have one more dental. So he'll be all ready to go."

It was previously thought that he has feline herpes but he was recently diagnosed with a palette fracture because of how bad his dental disease was, which is what is causing his sneezing. He can now go home with cats, a cat-savvy dog and children.

"He has had two dentals since being with us. Due to the palate fracture he will be sneezy for the rest of his life, not contagious sneezing, but that doesn’t stop him from living a perfectly happy life. He should be on wet food with chunks due to this and since he has had many teeth removed," Howland said.

Grey Boy loves to play with toys and enjoy treats. He would also love to have a window to lounge or bird-watch in.

"He is not afraid of anything. He's very curious, so I'm sure he'd love if you have windows for him to look out of. He still plays, even though he's 10 it does not stop him. So any home would be a good fit for him."

Now that he is ready to be adopted, he is excited. When you walk into the room with him he will rub up against your leg introducing himself and asking to be pet.

"Usually, I would say, when you're walking, he'll bonk into you so he might catch you off guard a little bit. He constantly is rubbing against you," Howland said. "He really, I would say he's lazy when you want him to be, and he's active when you want him to be. He'll play with toys. He's usually lounging away. And then when he comes out he'll play. He loves it. So, very friendly, easy going cat."

He is now perfectly healthy with his dentals all done and veterinary care up to date and is ready to find his forever family.

"I would say the friendliest, easiest cat you could have. He's just, he's just gonna be a little sneezy sometimes, but that doesn't stop him from doing anything," she said.

Grey Boy's adoption fee is sponsored by Rooted in Balance Counseling LLC.

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