News & Notes: Bus Routes Set to Change; Robber Sentenced
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority Advisory Board has decided to proceed with a recommended overhaul of its route system, especially in the Southern Berkshires and Pittsfield.
The board voted last week to create circular loops in the two communities and eliminate some route and stops. The Pittsfield Gazette reports in this week's issue that the timetable for the route changes will go into effect sometime after an Oct. 1 meeting of the advisory board. BRTA Administrator Gary Shepherd said the agency needs time to get the new schedules out and inform the public.
President Obama to Visit Troy on Monday
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — President Obama is making a visit to the Capital Region of New York on Monday. The White House has confirmed that the president will be speaking at Hudson Valley Community College. His speech, set for 11:30 a.m. to a closed group, will focus on education, the economy and high-tech job creation.
The school is located in Troy, across the Hudson River from Albany. Vice President Joseph Biden visited Shenendehowa High School in Saratoga County in July to tout the federal government's economic stimulus program. The last sitting president to visit Troy was Bill Clinton.
Cumberland Store Robber Sentenced
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The North Adams man who was found guilty Wednesday for robbing the Cumberland Farms store in North Adams two years will be spending some time in state prison.
Judge John A. Agostini sentenced Anthony D. Chambers Jr., 23, to serve 8- to 12-years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction for armed robbery.
Chambers was found guilty by a Superior Court jury on Wednesday of multiple charges connected to the armed robbery of the Cumberland Farms convenience store on the Mohawk Trail on Dec. 2, 2007.
He was also sentenced to concurrent 4- to 5-year state prison terms for larceny more than $250 and a concurrent 3- to 5-year term for conspiracy to commit armed robbery while masked.
Berkshire Bank, Berkshire Insurance Teaming Up for Hunger Month
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In support of National Hunger Action Month this September, Berkshire Bank and Berkshire Insurance Group are conducting a companywide food drive through their Employee Volunteer Program. The drive will run from Sept. 21 through Oct. 2 and the food collected will be given to local food pantries and food banks in the regions served by the entities.
Last year, approximately four tons of food was collected and the goal is to surpass five tons this year. Food collection boxes are located at all bank branches and insurance offices throughout the Berkshire Bank system in Massachusetts and nearby New York and Vermont.
WUPE and WNAW are media partners of iBerkshires.com.
