PITTSFIELD – The Berkshire Museum will celebrate recent updates to its popular Berkshire Backyard gallery with a family day on Saturday, Oct. 20, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Visitors will be able to explore the natural science collection with hands-on activities.
From 10 to 2, visitors may learn about "Citizen Science" programs in the area. Craft activities include making an animal mask inspired by one of the animals on view or making prints with leaf shapes and real leaves. At 2 p.m., Tom Ricardi will present a Birds of Prey demonstration featuring live bald eagle, hawks, owls and other birds. Tickets to the demonstration in the theater are $10 adults, $7 children ages 3-18 ($5/$3 members), and include museum admission. All other Berkshire Backyard Family Day activities are free with museum admission of $8 adults, $6.50 seniors, and $5 children 3-18, free to members and children under 3.
Tom Ricardi operates the Western Massachusetts Bird of Prey Facility at his home in Conway, where he rehabilitates dozens of injured hawks and owls annually. He offers educational presentations featuring live, non-releasable raptors across the state. Ricardi spent 39 years in the Division of Environmental Law Enforcement before retiring in 2001. He worked his way through the ranks overseeing three western regions as captain and then, as major, was responsible for all inland enforcement.
Berkshire Backyard highlights the birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, fish, and amphibians of the Berkshires. Cases of taxidermy specimens include 40 mammals, such as bear, bobcat, and raccoon, and 327 birds ranging from sparrows and blue jays to common loon and bald eagle. At interactive stations, visitors can listen and identify birdcalls, learn to identify animals by their tracks and scat, and more. Recent updates to Berkshire Backyard include cases of salamanders, frogs, snakes and other reptiles and amphibians; highlights include a snapping turtle and rattlesnake. The activity corner includes games and books for families to enjoy together.
The museum is at 39 South St. on Route 7. The galleries are open Monday through Saturday, 10 to 5, and Sundays noon to 5. For more information, contact the museum at (413) 443-7171, Ext. 10, or visit berkshiremuseum.org.
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Pittsfield ConCom OKs Weed Treatment for Pontoosuc
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pontoosuc Lake will be treated for weeds with a contact herbicide on Thursday, June 17.
Last week, the Conservation Commission OK'd a request for Diquat treatment on 53 acres of the lake.
"We have four non-native and invasive species, three of which we are controlling with the use of herbicides, and if we didn't do that control, the weeds would take over the lake and the shore," explained Lee Hauge, president of the Friends of Pontoosuc Lake and Lanesborough's harbormaster.
"All the shorelines would be unusable for swimming and even fishing, and you'd only have the center half of the lake, where you could do any boating or swimming if you could get out there."
Pittsfield and Lanesborough equally share the management of the lake and associated costs.
Hauge explained that underwater weeds were harvested for almost 20 years, and it was successful in making the lake accessible for swimming and boating, though over the years, he said, the process favored the propagation of Eurasian milfoil, which spreads by fragmentation.
"And so the result of that 20 years of harvesting control was the lake being choked by Eurasian milfoil, and the native desirable weeds were choked out of being able to grow because of the proliferation of the milfoil," he said.
The application is for 53 acres, and Pontoosuc will need to be treated again in August. This will require permission from the ConCom.
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Pittsfield High School graduated 154 seniors on Sunday into a new chapter of their lives, and they were encouraged to take opportunities both exciting and frightening. click for more
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