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Berkshire United High School Rugby Seeks Players

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- Berkshire United High School Rugby Club is seeking new players for the 2017 season.
 
No experience is necessary. Berkshire United practices Monday,Tuesday and Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Osceola Park in Pittsfield.
 
Berkshire United has both high school girls and boys teams and needs 15 new players for the each team this spring.
 
Players must be in high school grades 9-12. Berkshire United High School Rugby Club has been comprised of players from Monument Mountain, Taconic, Pittsfield High, Mount Everett, Wahconah, Mount Greylock, Drury and Hoosac Valley.
 
Players from all Berkshire County schools are welcome.
 
Berkshire United competes in the Massachusetts Youth Rugby Organization and the Capital District Youth Rugby Organization.
 
The boys team has been in the last six MYRO High School Club Division State Championship Finals. The boys also have placed fourth (2015) and fifth (2012) at the USA Sevens High School Rugby Challenge, the high school seven-player championships.
 
The girls are four-time MYRO Girls Division State Finalst and placed eighth in the 2014 15-player National Championship.
 
Players interested in joining the club can come to practice this Monday, April 3, at 5:30 at Osceola Park on Osceola St. in Pittsfield or email berkshirerugby@gmail.com or call 413 281 3643 for more information.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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