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Daily DigestYuck!
 There's a winter storm warning in effect until 7 a.m. on Thursday with another 1 to 3 inches of snow expected. Could be another messy commute. |
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. |
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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. |
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Celebrations Slated to Honor Dr. KingStaff reports - January 20, 2008
 | | Martin Luther King Jr. |
NORTH ADAMS - Celebrations marking the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will held at several venues in the region tomorrow.
The holiday was created for the third Monday in January in 1983 to honor the slain civil rights leader; in 1994, Congress dedicated the day as a time for volunteer service. The motto of the holiday, marked as A Day of Service, is "A Day On, Not a Day Off."
The holiday is celebrated by all 50 states; federal and state offices and schools will be closed.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of King's assassination; he would have been 79 on Jan. 15.
The North Adams Martin Luther King Jr. Day Committee will present its semi-annual Peacemaker Award to Cheshire resident William Levi at its 14th annual celebaration at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' Church Street Center.
Levi is the founder of Operation NMI Inc., a non-profit Christian relief organization serving the people of Sudan.
The celebration begins at 9 a.m. with refreshments, followed by an interfaith service and speakers. There will also be performances by local groups and will conclude with a luncheon. Community residens are encouraged to attend North Berkshire's honoring of the life and legacy of Dr. King.
Williamstown
Williams College is hosting several events, some in conjunction with the Williamstown Elementary School, "In the Spirit of Unity and Service."
On Monday, the college's multifaith service, "an afternoon of readings and reflection," will be held at 4 in the Paresky Theatre.
The fourth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Dinner will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the Faculty House at the corner of Main and Park streets. The evening will feature readings by Williamstown schoolchildren, the winning entries of the annual Williams Martin Luther King JR. Competition, and a performance by the band Misty Blues featuring Gina Coleman.
Limited tickets will be available at the door for $4, and proceeds will go to a charitable cause.
After the dinner, an evening performance and a vigil will be held at the '62 Center for Theatre and Dance. The performance will be by acclaimed performing artist Awele Makeba: "I'm Not Getting on Until Jim Crow Gets Off: The Untaught History of the Montgomery Bus Boycott." If you haven't picked up free tickets for the event yet, they will be available at the box office for only a half hour beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The vigil will be held at 9 p.m. following the performance.
On Tuesday, Jan. 22, an assembly in the Williamstown Elementary School auditorium at 1:40 p.m. will include poetry and essay readings by fifth- and sixth-graders and performances by Williams dance groups Kusika, Sankofa, Dance Dhamaka, Inish and the Dance Company.
The events are sponsored by the Williams dance department, chaplain's office, Black Student Union and dining services as well as the Williamstown Elementary School.
Pittsfield
In Pittsfield, the Youth Alive step dancing and drumming troupe will kick off the celebrations at 1 p.m. on Monday at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts on Renne Ave. The "I Have A Dream" community celebration will include readings from King's "I Have A Dream" speech. Participants will be able to sample soul food, create prayer flags and make their own pledge for peace and justice.
Admission is $5 adults; $4 seniors; $3 children 3-18, and free to members and children under 3. The celebration runs until 4 p.m.; call 442-2665 for more information.
In Sheffield, an intergenerational program begins at the Bushnell-Sage Library at 2 p.m. Hosted by the library, Senior Center and Historical Society, it will include an overview of local black history and several guest speakers, who will talk about their experiences as black residents growing up in Sheffield. There also will be music and refreshments. The program is free and open to the public.
King's History
King was born on Jan. 15, 1929, in Atlanta, the scion of a family of religious leaders. He skipped several grades and entered Morehouse College at the age of 15, graduating in 1948 with a bachelor's degree in sociology. He was ordained a Baptist minister at age 19 and earned his doctorate in theology from Boston University in 1955.
That year would become a turning point in his life, propelling him into the national spotlight as the spokesman for the Montgomery, Ala., bus boycott sparked by Rosa Parks. Two years later, he founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to fight for civil rights through peaceful protest and community action.
He would be arrested 30 times and threatened many times for his work for equality for all U.S. citizens. He would live to see the 1964 Civil Rights Act passed, the same year he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
King was a prominent speaker at civil rights rallies but is probably best known for his "I Have a Dream" speech that he gave on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., in 1963. Tens of thousands filled the National Mall to hear him.
He was assassinated in 1968 at age 39.
For more information on King, his legacy and his holiday: the Martin Luther King Jr. Center and Martin Luther King Holiday.
Press play to listen to King's "I Have A Dream" speech. |
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