Berkshires Beat: Naumkeag Celebrates New Greenhouse With Party
Quite a party: More than 250 guests from the Berkshires and beyond attended The Trustees' annual Naumkeag Garden Party on Saturday, July 22. This year's event was hosted by The Trustees and a Host Committee including several supporters of the organization from the Berkshires and beyond.
The evening featured the celebration of the construction of the new Naumkeag greenhouse complex in Fletcher Steele and Mabel Choate's historic and recently restored gardens as well as the launch of Naumkeag’s new flower fields. Garden inspired libations and bites by Berkshire Mountain Distillers and STARR Catering were served throughout the gardens as guests enjoyed live music by The Limbshakers, roving topiary performances by Boston Circus Guild, as well as sweeping views of the Berkshires at this beautiful National Historic Landmark.
The Trustees would like to thank event sponsors Be Our Guest Linen and Party Equipment Rental, Party by Design, Boston Circus Guild, and Berkshire Mountain Distillers, Inc. as well as the Host Committee and many friends who supported and attended the Naumkeag Garden Party. Event ticket sales support the ongoing engagement and stewardship work this National Historic Landmark which the Trustees preserve for public use and enjoyment.
Suicide awareness: Veterans from throughout Massachusetts who have been impacted by suicide are ruck marching across Massachusetts to bring awareness to the epidemic of veterans suicide and the needs of veterans. Vet Ruck New England will be a 200-mile, nonstop, day and night, ruck march through almost 50 small towns across all of Massachusetts to raise awareness of the needs of veterans.
The team of nine will start at Bates Memorial State Park in Hancock, Mass., at noon on Thursday, Aug. 17, and march 200 miles, finishing at Plymouth Rock at approximately noon on Sunday, Aug. 20.
The march will pass by Park Square in downtown Pittsfield at approximately 2 p.m. on Thursday. Residents are encouraged to gather along the route or at Park Square to cheer on the marchers as they begin the long trek across the state. The route through the Berkshires is as follows (times are approximate): Noon, starting point, Massachusetts/New York state line; 12:35 p.m., Hancock Shaker Village/Pittsfield line; 1 p.m., Ice River Springs; 1 p.m., Soldier On; 2 p.m., Park Square; 2:15 p.m., East and Elm Streets/Providence Court; 2:30 p.m., East Street and Merrill Road; 2:45 p.m., Wohrle's Foods; 3:10 p.m., Pittsfield/Dalton Line; 3:45 p.m., South and Main Streets (Dalton); 4:45 p.m., Dalton American Legion (Route 9); 6:15 p.m., Sangar General Store (Windsor); 8:15 p.m., Stage Road (Cummington).
The latest report from the Veterans Administration indicated that 20 veterans take their own life day. The 200-miles represent 10 miles for each veteran who will take his or her own life that day. While the number has dropped from 22 to 20 per day, one veteran taking their own life is too many, Clark said. Along the way, the team also will be stopping to talk to people, meeting with town leaders and local veterans’ organizations to raise awareness of the needs of returning veterans.
Church campaign: The Dalton United Methodist Church has launched a five-year, $150,000 capital campaign to raise funds to replace the church's heating system. The church's Roof and Restoration Committee, formed a decade ago to replace the church roof, recently made its own pledge, and has begun canvassing the congregation for donations. To date, the campaign has received about $95,000 in pledges, including more than $48,000 in up-front gifts.
According to Bernie Klem, Roof and Restoration chair, the church has the largest weekly Methodist attendance in Berkshire County and has been an important part of the community for more than a century. The church houses the Loaves & Fishes food pantry as well as hosting Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon meetings, yoga groups and many others. It's a popular stop on Dalton's "Light Up the Holidays" walk and hosts the Lenten Music Series, providing a venue for some of Berkshire County's most popular praise and worship groups. The church currently shares its sanctuary with The Living Stone Spanish-speaking church.
The church's first major fund-raising event will be its 11th annual chicken barbecue on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the church Fellowship Hall. The barbecue is a collaborative event with the Dalton Fire Department in which the proceeds are divided evenly. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door ($6 for age 12 and under) and can be obtained by contacting the church at 413-684-0521.
Adult learning: Enrollment is beginning at the Northern Berkshire Adult Basic Education Program for Sept. 11 start of classes. GED and Pre-College Skills, English for Speakers of other Languages and Basic Skills classes are offered. New programs include Career Pathways, offering college and career readiness; Bridge to College, offering academic and readiness skills needed to transition to college; and Distance Learning, offering online GED preparation in and out of the classroom.
A new program offers an introduction to the Personal Care Attendant (PCA) entry level health care position. All classes, books and materials are free and are held in North Adams, Adams and Williamstown. For more information or to enroll call 413-662-5330 or by e-mail.
Lake treating: Onota Lake will be chemically treated with a USEPA/MA registered aquatic herbicide on Tuesday, Aug. 15, to control invasive nuisance aquatic vegetation. The entire lake will be closed to all water uses, including swimming, fishing and boating, on the day of treatment. These uses may resume on the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 16.
Use of the lake water for irrigation (watering lawns, gardens or plants of any kind) is prohibited for five days post treatment; drinking and cooking is prohibited for three days post treatment, and watering livestock (i.e. cattle, horses, etc.) is prohibited for one-day post treatment. Printed posters warning of these temporary water use restrictions will be posted around the lake shoreline in advance of treatment.
The work at Onota Lake will be performed for the City of Pittsfield by the state-licensed firm, Solitude Lake Management, Inc., of Shrewsbury, Mass., pursuant to a License to Apply Chemicals from Mass DEP and an Order of Conditions permit from the Pittsfield Conservation Commission.
Testing discount: Berkshire Community College is offering a special discount to students who register for the College Level Examination program (CLEP) exam during the month of August, offered in part as part of the CLEP 50th anniversary. Students who take the CLEP exam are eligible to get a buy one exam, get a second exam half-off discount all month long. BCC is also planning a walk-in day, where students won't need to make an appointment to take a CLEP exam, on Friday, Aug. 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The CLEP exam tests knowledge gained through independent study, employment or life experience, and allows individuals to earn college credit through examination in 35 different subjects. The CLEP is now offered via computer, with students receiving their copy of the score report immediately after testing, except for the English Composition with Essay examination. BCC students are encouraged to speak with an advisor prior to registering for the CLEP to ensure that the examination will meet the requirements of their program. The CLEP exams are given monthly and cost $100; however, the second exam would be offered at half-price.
To be eligible for this discount, students must take one CLEP exam during the month of August in order to receive the 50 percent off discount when they sign up for a second exam in August. Students will need to enter the code 'CLEP50' when they check out to purchase their second CLEP exam. The code can only be applied to one CLEP exam and can only be used one time per customer. For more information about Testing at BCC, head online.
Feeling low: The MassDOT Registry of Motor Vehicles is issuing a reminder that applications for the 2017 Low Number Plate Lottery are now being accepted online https://secure.rmv.state.ma.us/myPlateLotto/ or by U.S. mail but must be post-dated or received by Aug. 25.
This year, there are 162 plates that are part of the low plate lottery. In 2016, the Registry received approximately 8,600 applications, for 183 plates, an increase of 2,600 applications from the prior year. There have been fewer applications than expected this year. Available low plate numbers for this year's lottery include 4455, 8888, 33E, 8J, M88, and X1.
The winners are: The Berkshire Athenaeum has announced the winners of the 39th annual children's and 20th annual young adult short story writing contests. Each year the short story contests honor and celebrate the talents of young writers in our community. A ceremony and reception will be held for all entrants and their guests at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18. The event's invited speaker will be Jana Laiz, a local published author of children's books. Special guest Dr. Jason "Jake" McCandless, superintendent of Pittsfield Public Schools, will be presenting the awards.
Judges for this year's contest included Marilyn Manning and Mary Kinnas, both retired high school English teachers; Bea DaSilva, retired elementary school teacher; and Sandra Gero, a retired nurse. The winners are:
Children's: Age category 5-6, first place winner, Jocelyn Coco Gilardi, "Once upon a Penguin," secnd place winner, Riley Burks, "Montecor (AKA. School Tiger)" and honorable mention, Vincent Hines, "I'm Sledding"; age category 7-8, first place winner, Natalie Hines, "The hole in the Wall," second place winner, Matthew Hurley, "The Mouse," honorable mention, Sydney Caropreso, "A Little Puppy That Was Very Small"; age category 9-10; first place winner, Gabrielle Mott, "The Dreaded Ball of Honor," secnd place winner, Sandhya Ganesh, "The Merpup and the Swimmer" and honorable mention, Terra Lim, "Dandelion."
Young adult: Age category 11-12, first place winner, Teagan Maxymillian, "A Game to Remember," second place winner, Madeleine Grace Rocheleau Holmes, "A Musical Spirit," honorable mention, Ava Maffuccio, "The Amazing Power"; age category, 13-14, first place winner, Keely Rose O'Gorman, "The Good Fight," second place winner, Ben Prescott, "Red Stains," honorable mention, Bronwyn Dix, "Caged"; age category 15-18, first place winner, Kailey Sultaire, "The Way of the Clouds," second place winner, Sarah Stroud, "The Song of Kirkwood Hall."
