Berkshires Beat: Berkshire Towns Receive Complete Streets Community Funding Awards

Mission complete: A ceremony was held at the Massachusetts State House on Jan. 27 to distribute a total of $5.5 million to 15 communities, including three Berkshire County towns, in funding for the Complete Streets Funding Program. A "complete street" is one that provides safe and accessible options for all travel modes and for all people, taking into account the ages and abilities of individuals. In September 2016, the Baker-Polito Administration announced the first round of awards from the Complete Streets Program to 11 communities which totaled over $4.4 million.

The Complete Streets funding awards will be used to fund local, multi-modal infrastructure improvement projects, as identified in each municipality’s submitted Complete Streets Prioritization Plan. Examples of projects that can be addressed through the program include improved street lighting, radar speed signage, intersection signalization, new shared bike paths, designated bicycle lanes, ADA/AAB compliant curb ramps, transit signal prioritization, and transit pedestrian connection improvements such as ramps, signage, and new signals at crosswalks.

Dalton will receive $400,000 in funding for improvements to existing sidewalks and construction of new sidewalks on High Street. This project will enhance safety on one of the most heavily used pedestrian routes in the town that is often traveled by those walking to the Pinegrove Park recreational area and Dalton Senior Center. The project context area and neighborhood is also listed as an environmental justice population.

Egremont will receive $58,933 in funding for projects that improve safety for bicyclists, pedestrians and other travelers throughout the town. These projects will include the installation of “your speed” signs that encourage drivers to decrease their speeds, installation of signage alerting drivers to the presence of hikers and pedestrians, and the installation of additional bicycle parking spaces and a bicycle repair station.

Hinsdale will receive $400,000 in funding for constructing new sidewalks, replacing degraded sidewalks, installing new crosswalks at intersections, and implementing traffic calming measures at priority locations. The new sidewalks and crosswalks will be constructed along Longview and Commonwealth Avenues, the sidewalks will be replaced and a new crosswalk installed along Church and Goodrich Streets, and there will two new "your speed" feedback signs to calm traffic on Longview Avenue.
 

Good dog: The 2017 dog licenses are available in the Williamstown Town Clerk's office. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The current fees are $5 for neutered and spayed dogs and $12 for all others.

All dog owners must provide proof of current rabies vaccination in order to obtain their dog license.  Such proof must be in the form of a slip from a veterinarian, rabies tag or from last year's license. Residents may renew their dog licenses by mail if they send in a current rabies certificate, a check for the correct amount and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Anyone who does not renew their dog license before June 15 will be subjected to a $10 late fee charge. Residents who have questions regarding dog licenses should call the Town Clerk's office at 413-458-9341.
 

Local residents March for Life in Washington, D.C.

Marching for life: Fifty-six area residents made the trek to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 27 on a bus sponsored by the North Adams Chapter of Mass Citizens for Life for the 44th annual March for Life. The annual event commemorates the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision.

The local participants in the march were largely young people. Marya Makuc of Monterey was one of the students who attended and had this to say: "What stunned me about the March for Life this year, was the strength in the diversity of our marchers. We marched alongside people from all over the world, with unique backgrounds and from different walks of life, and yet it was clear that all of these people had the same vision of a world that values each and every human life." Teresa Denault of Stamford said, "It was very moving, especially seeing all the young people who marched. Very encouraging!" John Hayes of Pittsfield said of the crowds, "You just gotta be here to believe it!"

Gabe Starcweski of Great Barrington wrote this: "The March for Life is definitely a young person’s event. Gathering by the Washington Monument reminded me that this is a national battle, not just to make abortion illegal, but to make it unthinkable. We stood in unison with hundreds of thousands of youths whose passion was evident in their faces. I believe this event will be enough to cause a tidal wave of change to sweep across the country and awaken our culture to this great injustice of abortion. History will show that we are in this generation’s civil rights movement."

Robin Loughman, chairwoman of the North Adams Chapter of Mass Citizens for Life, noted that this was the 39th trip that the chapter has sponsored, having gone no matter what the weather, even in blizzards like last year.

Pittsfield Celebrates Robert 'Bob' Presutti on Arbor Day

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:33PM / Friday, April 26, 2024

Bob Presutti, right, is presented the Hebert Award in 2017 for his volunteer efforts at Springside Park. He died in 2023 at age 88.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A tree has been planted next to the Berkshire Athenaeum in honor of local "giant" Robert Presutti.

Officials celebrated Arbor Day on Friday by installing a commemorative plaque next to the American elm sapling. This is a tree that James McGrath, the city's park program manager, said Presutti would have been particularly proud of.

"Today is a day where we yes, celebrate trees, but today is also a day where here in the city we intentionally try to acknowledge the good work of folks in our community who spend their time and their efforts and their talents to make Pittsfield a more beautiful place," he said to a crowd of about 20 people.

"Today we are honoring a longtime community volunteer named Bob Presutti. I'm sure a lot of you here know Bob and know his contributions to the city, not only when it comes to trees and parks but also to the Retired Senior Volunteer Program."

The longtime volunteer passed away last year at the age of 88. He contributed more than 10,600 hours to RSVP and had great impacts on the Parks Department over the years from sharing his knowledge and talents to ensuring that workers were safe when working on trees.

"This morning I went through my emails to see how many emails Bob Presutti sent me since the year 2001 when I started with the city. Bob Presutti sent me 14,000 emails and nearly every single one of those was about trees," McGrath said, prompting laughter and smiles from attendees.

One thread struck him as particularly important because it showed Presutti's empathy when it comes to the safety of city workers while caring for trees.

"There were multiple emails from Bob about the need to get the Parks Department maintenance guys into a program learning about chainsaw safety and learning about ladder safety. He was really into making certain that our city workers were well cared for and had all of the instruction that they needed and in fact, he even offered his own time and services after he became certified to teach our city workers," McGrath said.