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Daily DigestMercury Spill
The Berkshire Eagle is reporting a minor mercury spill at Hillcrest Educational Centers in Great Barrington.
Do you know what's happening? Tell us at info@iberkshires.com. |
New Contest!
 Try for an awesome ski package at Ski Butternut! Scroll down the page to iBerkshires Trivia! |
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. |
Meetings
The Drury High School Council meets Tuesday, Jan 13, at 6:30 in the conference room. Agenda items include AYP, school grant, laptop initiative and PowerSchool updates. |
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. |
Work at the State House
Sen. Benjamin Downing is looking for college-level interns to assist at his State House office this semester. Send your resume and cover letter to Bethann Steiner, chief of staff, Office of Sen. Benjamin Downing, State House, Room 413-F, Boston, MA 02133. |
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Obama TransitionOther 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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Schoolchildren Ensure Happy Thanksgiving for Local FamiliesBy Tammy Daniels - November 27, 2008
iBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — More than a few North County households are passing the peas today thanks to the efforts of local schoolchildren.
From preschool to middle school, pupils in various grades have been collecting and bagging food for Berkshire Community Action Council North over the past few weeks. Last week, the youngest ones delivered boxes of food that were bagged up days later by older grades.
"This is wonderful. It made my Thanksgiving for people," said Marie Harpin, head of NBCA. "It's the community that has made Thanksgiving happen for so many families this year."
There was enough for 25 Thanksgiving dinners with all the trimmings and extra food to be doled out over the winter months — and for Christmas.
The children's involvement has grown out of the push for community service learning, strongly backed by Superintendent James Montepare. Classes at all grade levels have been encouraged to volunteer — from running food drives to reading to younger grades.
 In addition to an estimated 2,000 pounds of food collected by Brayton Elementary preschoolers, Wal-Mart and Hoosac Bank donated gift cards and turkeys. Plus, the children raised more than $100. Nonperishables collected locally by the National Association of Letter Carriers a few weeks ago totaled more than 8,000 pounds.
On Friday, Sullivan School third-grader Jacob Pontier was busy giving orders to his classmates filling boxes full of bagged goods at NBCA offices at 85 Main St.
In nearby rooms, the rest of Joy Demayo and Anna Saldo-Burke's third-grade classes were putting together vegetables, fruits, stuffing and other ingredients for a Thanksgiving feast. "Make sure you're not putting all one item in a bag," cautioned Saldo-Burke as the children moved the packages along an assembly line.
"It's to give back to the community," said Demayo. "It's to show that even this small contribution can help our city."
Third-grader Darlene Ellis said she just wanted to help people; for Kirk Sumner it boiled down to a simmple fact: "To give people food."
 A few days earlier, the Brayton preschoolers dropped cans and boxes they had collected into seperate piles in the hallway outside BCAC North.
"It proves that preschoolers can do community servicee learning," said teacher Dina Poplaski. "This is our second successful service lesson."
(Poplaski and Michelle Nicholas' preschoolers last year had put together a book and CD on getting ready for kindergarten.)
Harpin said the lesson was a particularly good one because the children were in a position see people coming in and out of the office.
"I'm really for this type of community involvement," said an appreciative Harpin. "The children really see it put into practice."
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| You guys always seem to make things happen!All the kids look great!I miss seeing you guys!Happy Thanksgiving! | | from: Beth Thomas | on: 11-27-2008 |
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