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BFAIR & Greylock Federal Distribute 250 Bicycle Helmets

BFAIR's Tara Jacobson and Christine Meiklejohn hold signs at the trailhead off the Connector Road. Last year, the organization was able to distribute 200 helmets. 

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Saturday's word of the day was "safety" at the Ashuwilliticook Rail Trail as two organizations partnered to distribute hundreds of free helmets in honor of National Brain Injury Awareness Month. 

Stationed at the trailhead on connector road, representatives of Berkshire Family and Individual Resources and Greylock Federal Credit Union handed out 150 helmets for ages 6-13 and 100 helmets for those 14 and older. 

"This is our second annual bike helmet distribution in honor of Brain Injury Awareness Month, which is in March but we wanted to do it in April because the bike trail was open and more people are out here," BFAIR's Director of Development Tara Jacobsen said. 

"We are able to distribute these helmets through funding through Greylock Federal Credit Union and this year, we have about 250 helmets that we're going to be distributing today and I think they're going to go pretty quickly." 

The event ran from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and community members were lined up for helmets even before the event kicked off. 

Jennifer Connor-Shumsky, Greylock's vice president of community support and events, said the credit union values its partnership with BFAIR and that, hopefully, the distribution will prevent as many injuries as possible.  

"We're just delighted to be here," she said. "[BFAIR] is a community gem and they are one of our many partners and we're proud of what they do. They provide such valuable services to our community so we're delighted, we have been working with them for a long time." 

BFAIR works with people who have developmental disabilities, autism, and acquired brain injuries. There are six residences dedicated to acquired brain injuries, which happen after birth and can be the result of a trauma impact, degenerative disease, and toxins. 

The helmets aim to prevent any possible injuries from impact and came with a complimentary fitting to ensure the best protection possible. 

Jacobsen explained that an ill-fitting helmet is "like a car without brakes." 

"So we want to make sure that not only we're supplying resources to the community but we're actually giving them resources that they can use," she said. 

Last year, BFAIR partnered with the non-profit organization All Out Adventures Inc. in Northampton to hand out around 200 helmets. 

"It was just such a rousing success because I think helmets are one of those things that people don't always think about or don't always have the resources or the means to get," Jacobsen said. 

"And so being able to provide it to the community to help promote healthy and safe brains is really something we're looking forward to."

Demonstrators Demand Home Depot Condemn ICE Activity

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:33PM / Thursday, February 19, 2026

A counter-demonstrator showed up with megaphone and a T-shirt that read 'Don't Attack, Don't Resist, Don't Get Shot.' 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Community members want Home Depot's leadership to take a stand against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids around their stores.

On Monday, Presidents Day, dozens of people approached the big-box chain in Berkshire Crossing with "ICE out" signs, chanting "Love not hate makes America great." They took a lap through the aisles and bought symbolic items such as ice scrapers, which they would later return.

Bob Van Olst, of Indivisible Berkshires, said Home Depot's corporate policy has been "very complicit" with masked border patrol agents. Activists say the company removed diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives from its website last year, and that ICE agents have been arresting tradespeople without due process in Home Depot parking lots.

"We understand that over 70 percent of these people have no criminal records, have no gang affiliation. They're just hard-working members of the community trying to make a living, being scooped up and sent off to who knows where," Van Olst said.

"So we're asking Home Depot to cease their cooperation with ICE."

Robin O'Herin, of Stand Up Berkshires, said that to protect immigrant employees, workplaces need "employees only" signs for restricted areas so that ICE can't enter.

"They have none of that. They refuse to put them up," she said. "… and their parking lot is private, and they are happy that Home Depots all over the country plan staging to grab hard-working people and disappear them from Home Depot parking lots."

ICE has focused on the home improvement stores because day laborers often gather there to pick up work, particularly in southern or western states. Home Depot has stated it does not cooperate with ICE, but also cannot prohibit federal officers from entering its stores and parking lots. 

Van Olst can hardly believe that, at 78, he is still protesting against the infringement of civil rights.