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Daily DigestYuck!
 There's a winter storm warning in effect until 7 a.m. on Thursday with 2 to 4 inches of snow expected. Be prepared for a messy morning commute as freezing rain and sleet move through the region. The morning commute will be slippery — drive careful!
Some New York schools, including Hoosick Falls Central School and St. Mary's Academy in Hoosick Falls have already canceled classes.
All North County schools are closed; Pittsfield, Lanesborough, Berkshire Hills, Southern Berkshire and Central Berkshire school districts are closed. |
Duff'em If You've Got'em
 North Adams Regional Hospital went smoke-free Monday — so did all its sister sites, from Sweet Brook to Northern Berkshire Family Practice to the Women's Exchange. No ashtrays, no smoking: No butts about it. |
Wanted: Eagle Eyes
MassWildlife's annual eagle count runs Dec. 31 to Jan. 14. Anyone sighting one of the regal birds in Massachusetts is asked to participate.
Send date, time, location and town of eagle sightings, number of birds, whether juvenile or adult and observer's contact information to Mass.wildlife@state.ma.us. |
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Like to Write?
 iBerkshires accepts submissions about local events, news and opinion pieces. There are openings for freelance work, too, for qualified candidates. E-mail tdaniels@iberkshires.com to find out more. |
ObituariesRegionWhat's PlayingSales FliersColumnists | Independent Investor
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Other StuffMars Rovers Mark 5 Years
 Spirit and Opportunity have been trekking the red planet for half a decade. Spirit hit the 5-year mark on Sunday; Opportunity will on Jan. 24. |
Obama TransitionRelated Stories |
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MCLA Using Music to Engage Prospective StudentsBy Jen Thomas - December 05, 2007
NORTH ADAMS - Five years ago, a young Adams musician wrote a song so sweet and romantic, it convinced the girl of his dreams to dump her boyfriend and go out with the budding Romeo.
Now, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is hoping Travis Cunningham's ballad will convince prospective students to fall in love with the college.
The song - called "10 Minute BreakUp" - will be included in a special end-of-the-semester podcast that features a collection of music from artists in and around Berkshire County. Titled "100 Miles from North Adams," the podcast aims to attract students from within a 100-mile radius of the college, from where much of the school's population comes.
The podcast, which is set to be officially launched on Dec. 13, is just one of many efforts by the college to become an online presence over the last several years. According to Amy Stevens, the college's Web communications manager, the quickest and easiest way to engage the college crowd is to go where they are - the virtual world.
"It's where the students are now," Stevens said. "If we want to be seen, we have to get our name out there. The more places they can see us, the better."
In addition to the weekly podcasts, MCLA has its own blog and is a staple on social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook. Though the interactive content online was originally designed for current students and alumni of the college, the features have evolved into recruiting and community-building tools.
"The blog is mostly talking about what happens on campus and showing that off. It's not just for prospective students and their families but it's geared toward them," said Stevens, adding that the blog is mostly composed of "things that catch my fancy."
Next week, MCLA will also unveil a brand-new admissions Web page, which will offer interactive campus tours and a glimpse of what student life is truly like with candid snapshots of students participating in on-campus activities.
"We'll be showing students in their natural habitat and showing off students who are really happy here, who are thriving," said Stevens.
For Cunningham, any opportunity to get his music to a new audience is a positive one.
"I think it's an awesome idea to include local music in a podcast. In this area, it's hard to get your local music out, and lately, it's been really stale. Being included is another way to feel supported by your community," said Cunningham, 22.
Now a sociology major at MCLA, Cunningham still spends much of his spare time recording acoustic songs, though not all of them are as "public-friendly" as "10 Minute BreakUp," he said. His other greatest venture – as guitarist and vocalist for metal/hard-core band Subluxation – means working on a comeback tour and relegating the lovelorn poetics to the back burner. |
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