Guest Chef Youth Initiative...YUM!

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Railroad Street Youth Project, Pearl's Restaurant, Red Lion Inn, and Berkshire Living Magazine have teamed up to provide a culinary program for local high school students. The students gain a hands-on learning experience with some of the top chefs in the area. They will learn everything from basic knife skills to menu planning to event execution. The classes span two months, coinciding with the school year, and culminate with three Guest Chef Dinners that will be open to the public. The Guest Chef Dinners as well as all the classes will be held at Pearl's. The dinners will be three course meals plus 1-2 hors d'oeuvres with a cash bar. The guest chefs will prepare the meal with the kids giving them exposure to different styles and personalities. The students will then help to serve the meal, which will be served on long community tables to encourage socializing and interaction amongst the diners. All proceeds from these dinners will go back into the RSYP and especially the culinary program. Many local purveyors will also be helping out by providing goods to the program. The dinners will be $50/dinner Tim Buchanan of Pearl's would like to extend a 10% discount to Southern Berkshire Chamber members to come to the dinners. This means you could purchase a ticket for $45! Please note that the offer is not to be combined with the use of BerkShares, but BerkShares are accepted! Details The dinners will be on three consecutive Monday evenings at Pearl's: Monday, February 26th - Peter Platt of the Old Inn on the Green Monday, March 5th - Sean Boyle of White Devil Sushi at Guido's Monday, March 12th - Douglas Luf of Spice Restarant If you are interested in buying tickets or would like more information please contact General Manager Tim Buchanan directly either at Pearl's 413-528-7767 or via email at tbuchanan@pearlsrestaurant.com . Two Menu Previews Peter Platt: Old Inn on the Green Vanilla Scented Cauliflower Soup with watercress foam Winter Greens Salad w/bacon, walnuts, apple, bleu cheese, and red wine vinaigrette Braised Lamb Shank w/Italian carnaroli risotto, roasted vegetables, and white truffle essence Warm Vermont Bijou Chevre on Toasted Brioche w/roasted red and yellow beets, micro arugula, and walnut vinaigrette Bittersweet Chocolate Tart w/raspberry coulis Sean Boyle: White Devil Sushi at Guidos Tuna Tartare with Fried Gyoza Beef Negamaki Cucumber Sunomono Salmon Teriyaki with Tempura Vegetable Maki w/baby bok choy and soy bean puree Ginger Crème Brulee Program Questions? Contact: Dahlia Bousaid Executive Director Railroad Street Youth Project phone: 413-528-2475 fax: 413-528-5837 www.rsyp.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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