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Daily Digest
Steve Decker cleans up in front of BankNorth on Wednesday.
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More Snow
The Berkshires received several inches of snow this morning, but not enough to close schools, unlike yesterday's sleety mess. Temperatures will drop into the 20s this afternoon. A few more snow showers are expected through the weekend. |
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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Fair Housing Center Awarded 3-Year Grant - January 20, 2008
PITTSFIELD – The Massachusetts Fair Housing Center, the city's newest tenant at the Pittsfield Neighborhood Resource Center, has received an $825,000, three-year performance based grant from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The grant, funded through HUD's Fair Housing Initiatives Program, will be used to investigate allegations of housing discrimination in Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Worcester counties. Focusing on minority and immigrant communities in particular, MFHC will conduct fair housing workshops, first time homebuyer, and predatory lending training sessions.
"The success of Pittsfield’s revitalization efforts must include striking a balance between the needs of the business community with the needs of its citizens and housing is one of the most basic needs," said Mayor James M. Ruberto. "Mass Fair Housing has many of the same ideas and goals that were outlined in my inaugural address, including turning renters into first-time home buyers."
Over the next three years, MFHC will provide education and outreach workshops for the public, including individuals with limited English proficiency and persons with disabilities about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act in order to promote equal housing opportunities.
According to Kim Kendrick, HUD's assistant secretary for fair housing and equal opportunity, "Today's announcement is another step toward ensuring that residents of central and Western Massachusetts have equal access to safe and affordable housing."
HUD awarded 88 grants totaling $17.1 million to recipients in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Thirty-Nine of HUD's more than 100 FHIP agencies are high performers and will receive multiyear funding.
"This funding will allow us to expand our services in Berkshire County in order to educate first-time home buyers and homeowners of the potential pitfalls of predatory loans," said Jamie Williamson, executive director of the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center. "We are looking forward to working with the mayor to improve neighborhoods and creating safe and affordable housing in the city of Pittsfield."
The Pittsfield Neighborhood Resource Center is at 314 Columbus Ave. For more information, www.massfairhousing.org. |
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