Year-Long BHS Diabetes Prevention Program Seeking Participants

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Diabetes Education Program at Berkshire Health Systems is launching a year-long intensive program to help participants to prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes.

Space for this program is limited, and successful applicants will be accepted through a risk-assessment questionnaire. The program begins in September.

The classes are being held in Pittsfield, with 16 weekly sessions over six months, followed by six monthly sessions held for the remaining six months. It is open to those 18 and older, with priority given to applicants who have a weight loss need of 20 pounds or more and with a diagnosis of pre-diabetes.

To be eligible, applicants must be willing to attend all of the sessions and be willing to log food eaten and activity minutes. A representative of the program will take the applicant’s information and complete a pre-diabetes risk assessment questionnaire with the applicant. A lifestyle coach will then contact the successful applicants and discuss and confirm their acceptance into the program.

This Diabetes Prevention program is covered by Medicare. To apply, please call the BHS Diabetes Education Program, at 413-395-7942. The Berkshire Health Systems Diabetes Education Program is recognized by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


Tags: BHS,   diabetes,   

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Pittsfield CPA Committee Funds Half of FY24 Requests

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A few projects are not getting funded by the Community Preservation Committee because of a tight budget.

The projects not making the cut were in the historic preservation and open space and recreation categories and though they were seen as interesting and valuable projects, the urgency was not prevalent enough for this cycle.

"It's a tough year," Chair Danielle Steinmann said.

The panel made its recommendations on Monday after several meetings of presentations from applications. They will advance to the City Council for final approval.  

Two cemetery projects were scored low by the committee and not funded: A $9,500 request from the city for fencing at the West Part Cemetery as outlined in a preservation plan created in 2021 and a $39,500 request from the St. Joseph Cemetery Commission for tombstone restorations.

"I feel personally that they could be pushed back a year," Elizabeth Herland said. "And I think they're both good projects but they don't have the urgency."

It was also decided that George B. Crane Memorial Center's $73,465 application for the creation of a recreational space would not be funded. Herland said the main reason she scored the project low was because it didn't appear to benefit the larger community as much as other projects do.

There was conversation about not funding The Christian Center's $34,100 request for heating system repairs but the committee ended up voting to give it $21,341 when monies were left over.

The total funding request was more than $1.6 million for FY24 and with a budget of $808,547, only about half could be funded. The panel allocated all of the available monies, breaking down into $107,206 for open space and recreation, $276,341 for historic preservation, and $425,000 for community housing.

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