St. Stanislaus School benefit, 9 to 4 in Kolbe Hall, Adams. Bake sale, snack bar, games, Chinese auctions, money raffle, crafts, and pierogi.
Blackinton Union Church, 1373 Massachusetts Ave., North Adams; 10 to 2. Crafts table, bake sale, Chinese auction, the Christmas table, and kid's grab bag. Lunch $4, $2 kids.
First Congregational Church, North Adams, 9-2.
Nov. 28 Becket Federated Church, Route 8, holiday bazaar from 9-3. Lunch, crafts, baked goods, holiday and other items. Information: Mary Peltier, Parish House, 413-623-5217.
Dec. 5
Holiday Fair at First Congregational Church, 25 Park Place, Lee, from 10 to 3; handcrafted items, raffles, children's shop, bake sale, cut Christmas trees and lunch from 11 to 1. Includes angel-themed goods from SERRV. Information, 413-243-1033 or www.ucc-lee.org.
Dec. 12-13
North Adams Country Club, crafts 9-4; food from That's a Wrap from 11-2. Information: Sheryl Morehouse at 413-822-3329.
Planning a bazaar this season? Submit information to info@iberkshires.com to have it listed here.
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Send press releases and announcements to info@iberkshires.com. Need to contact someone at iBerkshires? Here's how.
Mammography Dispute The government's issued controversial new guidelines stating that women shouldn't get annual mammograms until age 50, rather than age 40.
iBerkshires will be meeting with local medical experts Monday. Have a question you'd like answered on this issue? Send it info@iberkshires.com with "mammogram" in the subject line.
"Zephyr" is the latest effort by Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort to utilize green technology.
HANCOCK - Only three years after Jiminy Peak President and CEO Brian Fairbank first dreamed of using wind power at his mountain resort, a 386-foot wind turbine rises above the horizon at the popular Berkshire destination.
At a dedication ceremony for the turbine - named “Zephyr” - on Wednesday, Fairbank addressed hundreds of Berkshire residents and emphasized his commitment to environmental sustainability and green technology.
“Jiminy’s longstanding efforts to be better environmental stewards will not end here,” Fairbank said. “We’re going to continue to ask ‘What can we do better than we’re doing today to preserve our environment for future generations?’ Together, we can make it a better tomorrow and I truly believe that.”
Gathered beneath the 1.5 megawatt turbine located at the summit of the mountain, onlookers watched as the three 123-foot blades began to spin in the wind, despite the weak August breeze.
“Please, please work,” Fairbank pleaded.
As part of the “Windsday” festivities, dedication attendees could purchase “Got Wind?” T-shirts or pick up colorful pinwheels, along with the assortment of informational materials available on the benefits of wind power.
A renewable energy summit took place before the dedication ceremony and the public was treated to a picnic at J.J.’s Lodge after words by Fairbank, his business partner Joseph J. O’Donnell and National Ski Areas Association President Michael Berry, with a rendition of “God Bless America” sung by Dave Malachino, a conference sales manager at Jiminy Peak.
Brain Fairbank addresses the crowd at the dedication ceremony on "Windsday."
Freedom, Independence and Commitment
“Using wind power is great for our environment, for our world for one thing. And also, it’s great for Jiminy Peak. It just makes downright good sense,” said Rep. Denis Guyer (D-Dalton) who attended the ceremony.
Zephyr will produce approximately 1/3 of Jiminy Peak’s annual energy needs and will be used to power snowmaking, lifts and some buildings, including the core of the Country Inn. At full production, Zephyr’s output is 2,000 horsepower, enough to run 600 houses.
“Zephyr is a symbol to me of freedom, independence and commitment,” said Fairbank of the $3.9 million project. “You can follow dreams and make them a reality.”
The wind turbine symbolizes the freedom to “freely pursue an initiative that promotes environmental sustainability” and the freedom to “think globally and act locally,” while lessening U.S. dependence on fossil fuels and foreign oil.
“Zephyr symbolizes commitment because this project has been a challenge and a half,” said Fairbank. “We pushed, we pulled, we went through the mud and we went through all sorts of challenges to get it up here. It’s been quite an experience.”
With help from General Electric, Co. - who provided Zephyr after five other companies refused to sell a single turbine to Jiminy - Fairbank was able to realize his dream of using renewable energy at the resort.
“[Fairbank] led a charge that I thought was going nowhere,” said O’Donnell. “He set an example for the rest of the country in the recreation and leisure business.”
“There will be wiser people doing this afterward,” said Fairbank.
Jen Thomas may be reached via email at jthomas@iberkshires.com or at (413) 663-3384, ext. 23.
