Mostly Shorts Festival Slated at Simon's Rock

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Featuring special appearances by producers of the documentary The 11th Hour

GREAT BARRINGTON — The first annual Mostly Shorts Film Festival, organized by the student activities office will take place at Bard College at Simon’s Rock on Saturday, April 19, beginning at 1.

A total of 19 films (selected from public submissions) will be show as well as two special presentations. The festival will also feature the full-length documentary "The 11th Hour," produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio. One of the  film's producers, Stephen McGuire, will be present at the event.

All events are free and open to the public.
 
The schedule:

* 1 p.m. — "The Secret of the White Bird," "The Shower (Re)Seen," "Swim Suit," "I've Met a Wonderful Man," "Hope & Anchor," "Visit from Outer Space" and "Big White Lies."

* Special presentation of interactive arts animation by faculty in music, interactive arts and Asian studies John Myers and his class “Interactive Arts Workshop” at Simon’s Rock.

* 3 p.m. — "That Creepy Old Doll," "13W," "Breaking Up," "Giant," "Weather Report," "The Last Adventure of Superman," "Phantom of the Art Gallery," "Coda" and "Tailored for the Court."

* Special presentation: "Urban Electronic Poetry."

* 7 p.m. — "Fragile," "How to Build a Bio-Swale," "Dinosaurs and Rocketships," followed by the featured documentary "The 11th Hour."
 
"The 11th Hour" features ongoing dialogues with experts from all over the world, including former Soviet Prime Minister Mikhail Gorbachev, renowned scientist Stephen Hawking, former head of the CIA R. James Woolsey and sustainable design experts William McDonough and Bruce Mau in addition to more than 50 leading scientists, thinkers and leaders discussing the most important issues that face our planet and people. The film was released by Warner Independent Pictures in 2007.
 
Thefestival will take place at the Alumni Performance Center of the Livingston Hall Student Union. For more information, contact Valerie Fanarjian at 413-644-4284 or valerief@simons-rock.edu.
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Dalton Counter Sues Berkshire Concrete

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The dispute between Berkshire Concrete and the town has taken another turn as the town pursues a countersuit against the excavation company.
 
On April 13, Berkshire Concrete Corp., a subsidiary of Petricca Industries, launched legal action against the town, seeking damages, the overturning of the Planning Board's denial of its special permit, and additional proposed orders of a court. 
 
The town has responded with a countersuit of its own, seeking a preliminary injunction requiring Berkshire Concrete to fully restore Lot 105-16 and a permanent injunction mandating an effective dust mitigation plan. 
 
The suit also requests that Berkshire Concrete pay all fines assessed against them, along with the town’s legal costs and attorney's fees, and other relief deemed by the court. 
 
The claim explains the timeline of events dating back to 2024 when Berkshire Concrete started mining without town approval on parcel 105-16, clearing trees and vegetation that abuttors claimed acted as a natural barrier. 
 
The removal of this vegetation resulted in the creation of a corridor for wind to carry dust from the lot and onto residential properties in the abutting neighborhood, the suit claims. 
 
Almost a year ago, both the Select Board and Planning Board expressed that they wanted parcel No. 105-16 fully mitigated to abide by the town's bylaws.
 
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