Letter: Fireworks Costly, Dangerous & Toxic

To the Editor:

I wrote the paragraph below on the Williamstown Facebook page regarding this year's fireworks plans. My comments are just as applicable to every town in the county and every city across America that plans a fireworks display.

The experience of Canadian forest fires' smoke-filled air blocking out the otherwise sunny sky above should give us all pause about how we have historically celebrated the 4th with fireworks. Everything about life as we had come to expect it is now in flux: hotter summers, warmer winters, more frequent and more severe weather, rising sea levels, worsening air quality, more global pandemics. We are a caring, educated and progressive community and, as such, as we observe the disruptions to the planet that human activity is causing; isn't it time to ban the use of fireworks due to the smoke and noise pollution as well as the toxins including lead that are released into the air and which then enter our lungs, enter the ground and our water both surface and underground.

The Mount Greylock wells were contaminated by the annual fireworks displays that used to be held there. Now the college is hosting fireworks at the Taconic Golf Course. Surely the damage being done is hardly worth the expense or the hour of thrills (?) the few who attend experience. There are better totally safe and more enjoyable ways to celebrate such as a light show. The Chamber (supported by local businesses and our taxes) and the Select Board (using our tax dollars) which are paying for the show should make this the last year for fireworks and plan on a healthy, responsible, planet-friendly alternative in the future.

It is my hope that readers will recognize this appeal is to our better selves. It is not anti-American, it is pro-health, pro-environment, and pro-gressive (time for change).

I am hoping readers throughout the county will join in the effort and movement to end the costly, dangerous, and toxic displays. Many household pets are terrified of the sound and of course the wildlife in our surrounding forests are as well but they have no voice. If they could speak, they would say how damaging it is to their sensitive hearing, how terrifying for them and their young, and how badly it smells that they forage and eat plants and drink water that have been contaminated from the fallout.

What of some of those who have fought in wars for our freedom and come home with PTSD? Some of them find the loud noise and bright lights bring back traumatic memories.

In other words, there is probably only a small minority of citizens who actually enjoy the fireworks and thrill to the sounds and light. There are safe alternatives. We should honor and celebrate in a manner that doesn't add to the harm being done to the planet, wildlife, and even ourselves.
 

Paul A. Harsch III
Williamstown, Mass.

Williamstown Board Opts to Negotiate with College on Water St. Lot

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:04AM / Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Newly elected board member Nate Budington, far left, participates in his first in-person meeting along with, from left, Matt Neely, Stephanie Boyd, Peter Beck, Shana Dixon and Town Manager Robert Menicocci.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday decided to enter into negotiations with Williams College on the sale of the vacant town-owned lot at 59 Water St.

 

But the board members made it clear that the college's proposal to acquire the lot is a starting point, not a final deal that the elected officials would accept.

 

"For the sake of continued conversation, I'm in favor of [awarding Williams the site], but if this process wasn't continued with the opportunity for further negotiation, I wouldn't vote to continue this," Peter Beck said. "I think that next step is necessary for us to get to a yes on this."

 

"I think there's wide agreement on that," Matthew Neely said just before the 5-0 vote to enter talks with the college.

 

Williams was the sole respondent to a town-issued request for proposals to develop the former town garage site, currently a dirt lot.

 

The college's stated intent is to build a new Facilities office and create up to 170 parking spaces at 59 Water Street. That use will allow the college to redevelop the current Facilities building site and parking lot as part of a reconception of the school's indoor athletic and recreation facilities.

 

Under the terms of the RFP, the college's proposal was subjected to review by an ad hoc advisory committee to the town manager, who brought the question to the Select Board. That board will have the final say on any purchase and sales agreement.