NCCC's UNITY Program Announces 2015-2016 Teen Programs

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The UNITY Program of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition has announced its 2015-2016 youth development programs.

UNITY’s popular and long-running Youth Leadership Program (YLP) and Teen Writing Workshop (TWW) will again be offered and facilitated by nbCC staff Jessica Sweeney and Adam Tobin. They are still accepting any sign ups for this year’s program, and are available to answer any questions over the phone, over email, or in person.

YLP engages teenagers in developing leadership skills through creative, youth-led community service projects. Activities that address communication skills, diversity, decision-making, and team building are also central to the program. Participants can expect to make new friends in a fun, and supportive environment. The group meets Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. beginning Oct. 7.


TWW brings together young writers of all levels and genres to develop their creative work with the guidance of two professional writers in a safe and supportive enviornment. In addition to participating in weekly writing sessions, students have the opportunity to publish their work in the TWW student journal, “Somewhere Between”, and share their work in public readings. TWW meets on Tuesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. beginning Oct. 6 and running through April.

UNITY will once again co-coordinate the spring 411 in the 413 Youth Conference for Berkshire County teens, along with the Pittsfield Prevention Partnership and Railroad Street Youth Project. UNITY also participates in events outside of programming, including hikes, visits to colleges, theater performances and community days of service.

All UNITY programs are free and open to young people ages 14-19 that attend school or live in northern Berkshire County. They are held at the NBCC Conference Room at 61 Main St., unless otherwise indicated. Transportation is available upon request. For more information, contact Adam Tobin or Jessica Sweeney, UNITY Program associates, at 413-663-7588 or atobin@nbccoalition.org, jsweeney@nbccoalition.org or visit www.nbccoalition.org.

 


Tags: NBCC,   teenagers,   

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Clarksburg FinCom, Select Board Agree on $1.9M Town Operating Budget

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The town is looking at an operating budget of $1,859,413 for fiscal 2025, down a percent from this year largely because of debt falling off.
 
Town officials are projecting a total budget at about $5.1 million, however, the School Committee is not expected to approve a school budget for two more weeks so no final number has been determined.
 
Town officials said they've asked the school budget to come in at a 2 percent increase. Finance Committee member Carla Fosser asked what would happen if it was more than that. 
 
"Then we would need to make cuts," said Town Administrator Carl McKinney, adding, "I'm a product of that school. But at the same time, we have a town to run to and, you know, we're facing uncertain weather events. And our culverts are old, the roads are falling apart. ... ." 
 
The assessment to McCann Technical School is $363,220, down about $20,000 from this year.
 
The major increases on the town side are step and cost-of-living raises for employees (with the exception of the town clerk at her request), the addition of a highway laborer, an increase in hours from 16 to 24 for the town accountant, and insurance and benefits that are about $70,000. There is a slight increase for employee training and supplies such as postage.
 
Select Board Chair Robert Norcross at Wednesday's joint meeting with the Finance Committee, said the town's employees are hard-working and that wages aren't keeping up with inflaction.
 
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