WILLIAMSTOWN - People across the Berkshires - and across the nation - are urged to "step it up" this weekend and pressure lawmakers to take a stand on curbing the effects of climate change.
On Saturday, rallies in Lenox and Williamstown will target local politicians, asking them to address three priorities to help stop global warming. Called "Step It Up Day 2007," these rallies call for the creation of 5 million green jobs, a reduction of carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050 and the prevention of any future coal-burning power plants.
Williams College senior Julia Sendor co-coordinated Step It Up events and activities in town and said Saturday is an opportunity for students to mix education with political awareness.
"The focus is on political pressure," said the Chapel Hill, N.C. native. "We want to capitalize on educational opportunities to pressure political change and the power we have to shape political issues."
As a member of an on-campus global warming awareness group called Thursday Night Grassroots, Sendor said she hoped the national day of recognition would draw both locals and college students. With appearances by Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, and COOL committee chairwoman Jane Allen, the rallies are an attempt to draw attention to a national issue that affects every community.
"It's really important to be connected to the national movement. We want to join in solidarity and send a clear message," said Sendor.
In Lenox, the Climate Crisis Coalition will host a public forum called "The Climate Crisis: Will the U.S. Respond In Time?" featuring Congressman John Olver. The 10 a.m. event is an opportunity for the public to share concerns about global warming and U.S. legislation intended to address climate change.
For Sendor, an environmental studies major, the more attention these rallies receive, the more likely lawmakers will respond - both nationally and locally.
"We want people to come and get inspired by what others are doing and see how much their voices really matter. We want people to critically examine their role in politics and become educated on the issues," she said.
Held exactly one year before the 2008 presidential elections, Step It Up Day is also a chance to brush up on the environmental stance of your favorite candidate. At Williams, handouts on each presidential hopeful will be available.
Schedule of Events
In Williamstown, festivities kick off at 9:30 a.m. at Caretaker Farm, located at 1210 Hancock Road. The global warming awareness event will feature food, educational activities, and work on the farm along with talks about sustainability, green cleaning options and vegetarian meals. Over chai and bread, visitors will learn about an environmentally-sound lifestyle.
Children are welcome, as there will be stories and other kid-friendly activities.
Please call a friend and carpool to the farm and please bring your own mug for a hot beverage.
Williams College events begin at 11 a.m. on the front steps of Chapin Hall. Downing and Allen will be featured speakers and tables will be set up for petition and postcard signing, information on the positions of presidential candidates and artistic displays of global warming impacts. (Rain location is First Congregational Church.)
At 12 p.m. , refreshments will be served and at 12:30 caravans will head to Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Hancock for personalized tours of "Zephyr," the mountain's wind turbine. Accompanied by the vice president of sustainability at Jiminy, tours will commence at 1 p.m.
The Lenox public forum with Rep. John Olver will take place at 10 a.m. at Lenox Town Hall.
For more information about the three priorities and other national events, visit www.stepitup2007.org
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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The face of and driving force behind the town's community access television station will retire this summer.
At Monday's Select Board meeting, the president of the board of WilliNet announced that longtime Executive Director Debby Dane will leave the non-profit on June 30 and move to California, "following her 5-month-old granddaughter."
"The search committee has begun its work to find a replacement hire," Mary Strout told the Select Board. "Deb will be hard to replace, however the board is confident we will find an individual well suited to move the organization forward."
"Now, I'm speechless," Chair Stephanie Boyd replied on hearing of Dane's departure.
Earlier, before Strout made news, Boyd praised the town's Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) Access station, founded in 1994.
"As everybody knows, WilliNet holds our community together, gets our town meetings and committee meetings online as well as all of the work in the town," Boyd said. "I know, after looking at so many towns' public TV stations over the last month that we're very close to the best. Maybe we even are the best.
"I can't say enough good things about WilliNet, the website, the programming, the professionalism. It's really, really incredible. We should all be very grateful for the hard work of Deb [Dane] and Jack [Criddle] and the rest of the team."
It is unknown just how steep, but Superintendent Joseph Bergeron tried to prepare the School Committee at its January meeting on Thursday.
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The Teacher of the Month series, in collaboration with Berkshire Community College, features distinguished teachers nominated by community members. You can nominate a teacher here.
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Preparation for the event began in early December, with students crafting bells to accompany their singing. The handmade cards were completed last week.
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