MassDOT Sets Public Meeting on Transportation Needs

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will continue its series of statewide public meetings this Thursday, Oct. 4, from 6 to 8 at the Berkshire Athenaeum.

Legislation passed in August requires the department to host at least six public meetings – "Your Vision, Our Future" – in advance of developing a long-term financing plan for the state's transportation system next year. To ensure that all regions of the commonwealth are represented, MassDOT will hold 15 meetings throughout the state to engage with residents, community leaders and business owners.

Representatives from each division of MassDOT – Registry of Motor Vehicles, Highway, Aeronautics and MBTA/Rail and Transit – will be available to answer questions and provide information. An informational website is active here.

Those who are unable to attend the meetings but wish to submit comments can do so at yourvisionourfuture@dot.state.ma.us.

To ensure area residents can attend the meeting, the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority will extend its hours on Thursday to provide service to the athenaeum. Call 413-499-2782, Ext. 1, for specific route information or go to www.berkshirerta.com/serviceadvisory.php.

Shuttle Service from the Intermodal Transit Center at One Columbus Ave. to athenaeum leaves at 5:30 and 5:45 p.m., and from the athenaeum to ITC 8:00 and 8:15 p.m.

If the meeting runs longer than 9:30, Routes 1 & 2 leave ITC at 8:30.

Route 3 leaving Main Street, North Adams, at 7:25
Route 4 leaving ITC at 8:20 if meeting runs longer 9:20
Route 5 leaving ITC at 8:30 if meeting runs longer 9:30
Route 11 leaving ITC at 8:50
Route 12 leaving ITC at 8:30 if meeting runs longer 9:30
Route 13 leaving ITC at 9:05
Route 14 leaving ITC at 8:40
Route 15 leaving ITC at 9:00
Route 16 leaving ITC at 9:30
Route 21 leaving Prime Outlets, Lee, at 8:30
Route 31 leaving Main Street, North Adams, at 8:40
Route 33 leaving Main Street, North Adams, at 9:00

Tags: Berkshire Regional Transportation Authority,   MassDOT,   public input,   transportation,   

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Greenagers Founder Will Conklin Honored as Business Person of the Year

By Breanna Steele

Casey Pease of state Sen. Paul Mark's office presents William Conklin, right, with a state Senate proclamation.
EGREMONT, Mass. — The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce honored a local businessman and nonprofit leader on Sept. 24 at Catamount Mountain Resort.
 
William Conklin was this year's Business Person of the Year, recognizing his work as founder and executive director of Greenagers, a nonprofit that helps youth and children engage in work in environmental conservation, sustainable farming, natural resource management, and vocational skills building. 
 
Conklin and his family also run Sky View Farm and he is a managing partner of Konkapot Tree and Timber, a small-scale forest products business.
 
"If you spent any amount of time in Southern Berkshire, chances are you've heard his name, whether you realize the connection at the time or not," said board member Sierra King Watson, who emceed the event. "You might be having a conversation about farming, a new barn or structure that was built, students learning hands-on skills in sustainable agriculture, or a family that receives donated firewood to help keep their home warm through a cold Berkshire winter, or maybe you're simply talking about one of those community leaders who somehow manages to show up, support everyone, and seemingly be everywhere all at once.
 
"Well, one name has a way of continuously popping up, and that is Will Conklin."
 
Board President Mark Rulison said the region has more than 1,200 nonprofits. One in four jobs in the county is in the nonprofit sector, which ranks 27th nationally for nonprofit employment. He said the economic impact on the community is huge, thanking those who help.
 
For the event on Thursday, Conklin requested that as much of the food as possible was sourced locally. Most of it came from Greenagers, Sky View Farm, Indian Line Farm and Fancy Feast Supper Club, creative dinner series. 
 
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