Unity Youth Leadership Program Teens to Host Forum

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Teenagers from the Unity Youth Leadership program will host this months Northern Berkshire Community Coalition's forum, discussing the struggles with teenage depression.

• Engage in dynamic, respectful intergenerational dialogue about an issue that UNITY teens have identified as critical for their age group.
• Learn how to recognize signs of teen depression and identify differences between teen and adult depression.
• Develop a greater understanding of what kinds of mood changes are developmentally appropriate for teenagers and what changes to be concerned about.
• Hear from UNITY youth about their generation’s experience of depression.
• Brainstorm strategies for helping young people who are struggling with depression.

Williamstown Fire Committee Talks Station Project Cuts, Truck Replacement

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:17AM / Friday, April 26, 2024

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Prudential Committee on Wednesday signed off on more than $1 million in cost cutting measures for the planned Main Street fire station.

 

Some of the "value engineering" changes are cosmetic, while at least one pushes off a planned expense into the future.

 

The committee, which oversees the Fire District, also made plans to hold meetings over the next two Wednesdays to finalize its fiscal year 2025 budget request and other warrant articles for the May 28 annual district meeting. One of those warrant articles could include a request for a new mini rescue truck.

 

The value engineering changes to the building project originated with the district's Building Committee, which asked the Prudential Committee to review and sign off.

 

In all, the cuts approved on Wednesday are estimated to trim $1.135 million off the project's price tag.

 

The biggest ticket items included $250,000 to simplify the exterior masonry, $200,000 to eliminate a side yard shed, $150,000 to switch from a metal roof to asphalt shingles and $75,000 to "white box" certain areas on the second floor of the planned building.

 

The white boxing means the interior spaces will be built but not finished. So instead of dividing a large space into six bunk rooms and installing two restrooms on the second floor, that space will be left empty and unframed for now.