Junior Rangers Program at Mount Greylock

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Mount Greylock State Reservation announced the Junior Ranger program for children ages 8-12.

The program is free and is held at Mount Greylock State Reservation, Pittsfield State Forest, Clarksburg State Park, Natural Bridge State Park, Savoy Mountain State Forest, and Mohawk Trail State Forest, on specific Thursdays in July and August from 10:00am to noon. 

Space is limited to fifteen participants. All participants must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  

Work toward earning a Junior Ranger Patch and Certificate by attending programs and completing the activities in the Junior Ranger Activity Guide. Each week, participants will explore different topics that promote outdoor recreation and appreciation of the natural world. Led by Park Interpreters, Junior Ranger activities may also include easy hikes that  explore the water, geology, climate, plants, and animals at the respective parks.  

Children must wear appropriate clothing for the weather. Sturdy walking shoes, water, a snack, sun screen and insect repellent are recommended. Parents, guardians and siblings are encouraged to participate.  

Program sessions take place during a seven-week period where participants will meet at alternate parks that offer a unique theme and activity. Participants are required to attend a minimum of two programs (first and last) and complete the Junior Ranger Activity Guide to qualify for the Junior Ranger patch and certificate.  

Session #1 on July 13th will be held at:                                                                                              

Pittsfield State Forest Ski Lodge 

1041 Cascade St., Pittsfield, MA 01201 

Phone: (413) 442-8992 - Please call for directions.                           

Robert.Rando@mass.gov

Session #2 on July 20th, and Session #7 on August 24th  will be held at:                            

Mount Greylock State Reservation Visitor Center 

30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough, MA 01237 

Phone: (413) 499-4262 - Please call for directions. 

Michael.W.Whalen@mass.gov  

Session #3 on July 27th, will be held at: 

Savoy Mountain State Forest Nature Center  

260 Central Shaft Road, Florida, MA 01247 

Phone: (413) 663-8469 – Please call for directions. 

Alicia.Cellana@mass.gov

Session #4 on August 3rd,  will be held at: 

Natural Bridge State Park Visitor Center 

McAuley Road, North Adams, MA 01247 

Phone: (413) 663-6392 - Please call for directions. 

Geeg.Wiles@mass.gov  

Session #5 on August 10th, will be held at:                                                                                      

1199 Middle Road, Clarksburg, MA 01247

Clarksburg State Park Nature Center 

Phone: (413) 664-8345 - Please call for directions. 

Kristen.Maybe@mass.gov

Session #6 on August 17th, will be held at:  

Mohawk Trail State Forest 

P.O. Box 7, Route 2, Charlemont, MA 01339 

Phone: (413) 339-5504 – Please call for directions. 

Christian.Drake@mass.gov

Certificates and patches are awarded to those who attend at least two sessions, complete the Junior Ranger Activity Guide, and show outstanding participation. The Mount Greylock Visitor Center is located at 30 Rockwell Road, 1.5 miles from North Main Street and Route 7 in Lanesborough. Sponsored by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Registration forms are available at the Visitor Center in Lanesborough or call (413) 499-4262 for more information and session locations. 

WWII Veteran Reflects on D-Day at VFW Post Induction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
12:25PM / Saturday, June 06, 2026

The members in the picture are Bret Miller, Coast Guard, Desert Storm; Hank Morris, Army, Vietnam; Brad Havill, Navy, Global War on Terror; VFW Post 448 Vice Cmdr. Mark Pompi, Army, Global War on Terrorism, Afghanistan; Post Cmdr. Arnold Perras, Korea; Joe Difillipo, Army, Vietnam; Teri Billington, Navy, Desert Storm; and Carmen Ostrander, Air Force, Afghanistan.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Anthony Salatino Jr. says his memory is getting a little foggy about his time in the Army. 

But he remembers how terrible D-Day was, and feeling lucky he wasn't among those in the initial invasion force 82 years ago. 

 

"One of the most horrible things was in Normandy. We went shortly after D-Day. I got lucky, very lucky on D-Day. We went to a staging area the night before … and at the very end, somebody called, I was in headquarters, they called all the headquarters personnel at the center," the 103-year-old said. "We did not go. There's about 30 of us. The rest of the battalion was gone, and the reason for that was because there was another battalion coming from the States, and they had no headquarters. 

 

"We stayed back, but we did go to Normandy shortly after that, and when we went to Normandy, it was all over."

 

Salatino was attending an induction ceremony on Thursday at the Lt. John N. Truden VFW Post 448. Joseph Texidor, who served in the Army for 17 years with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, was sworn in as the post's newest member. 

 

Salatino served in the Medical Corps and wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, a World War I veteran wounded at Verdun. Salatino was in the Army for about three years.

 

"The whole memory is what I just told you, very, very alive to me," he said. "That is, I can never forget, never forget that."

 

D-Day on June 6, 1944, was the start of Operation Overlord, and the largest invading force to cross the English Channel since 1066. Their goal: to liberate Europe from Nazi Germany.