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 CPC Sends Eight of 10 Applicants to Town Meeting
By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Community Preservation Committee on Wednesday voted to send eight of the 10 grant applications the town received for fiscal year 2027 to May's annual town meeting.
Most of those applications will be sent with the full funding sought by applicants. Two six-figure requests from municipal entities received no action from the committee, meaning the proposals will have to wait for another year if officials want to re-apply for funds generated under the Community Preservation Act.
The three applications to be recommended to voters at less than full funding also included two in the six-figure range: Purple Valley Trails sought $366,911 for the completion of the new skate park on Stetson Road but was recommended at $350,000, 95 percent of its ask; the town's Affordable Housing Trust applied for $170,000 in FY27 funding, but the CPC recommended town meeting approve $145,000, about 85 percent of the request; Sand Springs Recreation Center asked for $59,500 to support several projects, but the committee voted to send its request at $20,000 to town meeting, a reduction of about two-thirds.
The two proposals that town meeting members will not see are the $250,000 sought by the town for a renovation and expansion of offerings at Broad Brook Park and the $100,000 sought by the Mount Greylock Regional School District to install bleachers and some paved paths around the recently completed athletic complex at the middle-high school.
Members of the committee said that each of those projects have merit, but the total dollar amount of applications came in well over the expected CPA funds available in the coming fiscal year for the second straight January.
Most of the discussion at Wednesday's meeting revolved around how to square that circle.
By trimming two requests in the CPA's open space and recreation category and taking some money out of the one community housing category request, the committee was able to fully fund two smaller open space and recreation projects: $7,700 to do design work for a renovated trail system at Margaret Lindley Park and $25,000 in "seed money" for a farmland protection fund administered by the town's Agricultural Commission.
The Community Preservation Committee last Wednesday heard from the final four applicants for fiscal year 2027 grants and clarified how much funding will be available in the fiscal year that begins on July 1. click for more
The Mount Greylock Regional School Committee is grappling with the question of how artificial intelligence can and cannot be used by the district's faculty and students. click for more
News this week that the Williamstown Theatre Festival will go dark again this summer has not yet engendered widespread concern in the town's business community. click for more
The Community Preservation Committee on Tuesday heard from six applicants seeking CPA funds from May's annual town meeting, including one grant seeker that was not included in the applications posted on the town's website prior to the meeting.
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