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Snow, Freezing Rain, Plummeting Temps for Christmas Weekend

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You don't have to dream. Christmas this year is expect to be white — as well as icy.
 
The National Weather Service in Albany, N.Y., has issued a winter weather advisory until 5 a.m. Friday, particularly for Pittsfield and North County, Southern Vermont and eastern New York. 
 
Snow will start falling this afternoon and early evening before turning to rain overnight. Isolated pockets of freezing rain are possible. 
 
The snow, sleet and windy conditions are expected create slippery roads and reduced visibility across the county. Strong winds beginning this evening could cause tree damage overnight. 
 
A flood watch is also in effect and minor flooding has been forecast along the Hoosic River in Williamstown over the next 48 hours. 
 
A strong cold front moving through Friday afternoon could bring a quick coating of snow and a potential flash freeze as temperatures drop significantly and rapidly following the cold front passage.
 
Temperatures could plummet to 13 degrees below zero. 
 
National Grid and Eversource say they are positioning crews and equipment in preparation of freezing temperatures and wind gusts that could result in downed power lines. 
 
National Grid says it has 645 crew and nearly 2,000 personnel ready to respond, with crews coming from as far as Texas, Florida and Mississippi. 
 
Eversource say it is closely monitoring weather forecasts and bringing in hundreds of outside crews to assist its regular complement of contractors. 
 
Customers are encouraged to prepare for the storm by assembling or restocking a storm kit which should include essentials like flashlights, batteries, water, non-perishable foods, pet food and any needed medications. In addition, make sure cell phones and devices are fully charged, create an emergency plan with family members and prepare to check on elderly neighbors and friends.
 
Downed wires should be avoided and reported immediately to 911. Outages can be reported to Eversource by calling 877-659-6326 or to National Grid at www.nationalgridus.com or 1-800-465-1212.
 
Accuweather says this massive storm system is expected to dump more than a foot of snow across the Midwest, freeze the Northeast and put the Texas power grid to the test. 
 
The storm is already disrupting transportation during one of heaviest travel times of the year. 
 
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency says it is coordinating with more than 500 local public safety partners and utilities. 
 
The president even weighed in, encouraging people to heed their local warnings and let his own staff leave early. 
 
"It's not like a snow day when you were a kid," he said from the Oval Office. "This is serious stuff. ... if you all have travel plans — leave now."
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MCLA Class of 2024 Told 'This Is Your Time'

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

Commencement speaker Shannon Holsey shares some advice from her father: 'My dad always said if you're not hitting a few guardrails, you're not going fast enough.' See more photos here.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts awarded 175 degree and certificates at the college's 125th commencement ceremonies on Saturday. 
 
Keynote speaker Shannon Holsey, president of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans, said past graduations have occurred during periods of peace with little fanfare. But not so for the class of 2024. 
 
"Your class has come of an age and a moment of great conflict in our nation and for the world," she said. "A rare inflection in points in history where the size and scope of the challenges before us require that we remake our world to its renewed promise. That we align our deepest values and commitments to the demands of the new age. It's a privilege and responsibility afforded a few to a few generations. And for that task that you're now called to fulfill is huge."
 
Holsey told the class not to wait to share their opinions or ideas or to shape the world. Punctuated by applause at several points, the Native American leader said this is a world that "aches under the weight of violence, instability and threats to global order" and invests more in wars and weapons than education and health care. 
 
She referenced the experience of her own nation, dispossessed from the very land that she stood on and reduced from thousands to hundreds as they were forced to move farther west.
 
"This day of all days, is one of my birthright and seems most fitting that this place is a perfect space to celebrate and honor my ancestors who sacrificed so much to be here," Holsey said. Past leaders had seen education as a countercheck for "adapting and understanding a complex system that wasn't necessarily designed for indigenous people."
 
"I have learned that diversity in human experience gives rise to diversity in thought, which creates distinct ideas and methods of problem solving. The power of differences can make us smarter and more creative. If we accept the differences are OK," she said. "The world doesn't need more people trying to fit in like a cookie-cutter sameness."
 
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