News & Notes: Merchants Support Berkshire Museum

By Larry Kratka - April 23, 2008
Berkshire News Network

Downtown Merchants Support GE Money for Museum

PITTSFIELD — A steady parade of supporters, many of them businesses owners in the downtown made it clear at Tuesday night's City Council meeting that they wanted the full $500,000 of GE Economic Development Fund money for the Berkshire Museum and not the $250,000 a council subcommittee recommended last week. 

The council didn't take long to think about it and voted to send the mayor's proposal to Community Development, which will have its next meeting on May 8. But the Berkshire Museum needs the $500,000 by May 1 to qualify for a matching challenge grant awarded by the Kresge Foundation last fall. The museum will have to ask the Kresge Foundation for an extension on the deadline.

Don't Ignore Brush Fire Warnings

PITTSFIELD — Despite a ban on burning brush and leaves in many communities some residents continue to do so and, as a result, several small brush fires developed Tuesday. 

Firefighters had to put out fires in Southern and Northern Berkshire County and in Pittsfield. No injuries were reported and some residents in areas where a burning ban has been implemented received stern warnings from fire officials for burning brush anyway. One brush fire near the Otis Ridge Ski Area late Tuesday morning brought out firefighters from Otis, Becket and Great Barrington.

Unemployment Figures released

PITTSFIELD — The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development has released the latest unemployment figures for major communities in the Berkshires and things are not looking too bad.

Pittsfield's and North Adams' unemployment figures went down a little while Great Barrington's numbers went up a slightly. The numbers went something like this:

• Pittsfield had a 5.1 percent unemployment figure in March 2007 but dropped to 5 percent this past March. 
• North Adams had a 6.4 percent rate in March 2007 but that dropped to 6.2 percent in March 2008. 
• On the other hand, Great Barrington's unemployment rate went from 4 percent in March 2007 to 4.3 percent this year.
  

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