 Hotels, Meals Tax in Williamstown Shows Impact of PandemicTown Manager Jason Hoch reported those statistics to the Select Board on Monday night to demonstrate how much the local economy has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  @theMarket: Market Cyclicals Take the LeadIt was a good week for investors, which is not surprising since Thanksgiving week has been kind to investors in the past. The question is, will December fulfill its role as one of the year's best months for stocks?  Wells Presented Superintendent's Award at Mount GreylockMcCandless' first awardee in this Northern Berkshire community was Mount Greylock senior Jacqueline Wells, who was formally recognized with the award at Monday's School Committee meeting.  Pittsfield Looks to Adopt Alternate Side ParkingThe city of Pittsfield is working to refine snow emergency parking in two steps. The first step is the adoption of a new snow emergency regulations for alternate side parking, and the second is to repeal overnight parking regulations so that residents can park on the street all year long.  The Retired Investor: Pandemic Has Been Good to Pet IndustrySales are increasing wherever you look in the pet sector. Toys, beds, grooming products, leashes, day care, you name it; the pet industry is experiencing double-digit increases in revenue. Better yet, there are few signs that consumer spending in this area will slow down anytime soon.  How Do You Cook a Turkey?: From the Mouths of 5-year-oldsEach year, the kindergartners in Robin Poirot's class at Hoosac Valley Elementary School offer their estimations on how long it takes to cook a turkey — in sizes ranging from three to 100 pounds. Their Thanksgiving recipes are always amusing and sometimes enlightening, particularly the choices of stuffing, but we must strongly caution against following any of their directions as a matter of public health  Greenagers Offers Youth Nature-Based Work Amidst PandemicGreenagers has continued its commitment to outdoor programming amidst the novel coronavirus pandemic to offer teenagers and young adults nature-based work and socially distant connections.  Sheriff's Office Delivers Thanksgiving Turkeys to Christian CenterThis has been a long-standing tradition between the sheriff's office and the Christian Center. For the last decade, staff and inmates at the Berkshire County House of Corrections have prepared Thanksgiving meals for hundreds of people at the center under the guidance of Food Service Director Richard Millis.  North Adams Fire Chief Meranti to RetireMeranti and Mayor Thomas Bernard announced the chief's retirement after more than three decades working with the city. His last day will be Jan. 26, 2021.  Adams to Begin Preliminary Interviews for Police ChiefInterim Chief Troy Bacon is participating in the search committee to find his replacement after informing the town he would not be seeking the permanent position and returning to Indiana. Bacon had been hired in the summer on the retirement of Richard Tarsa.  Mount Greylock Making Winter Plans for High School SportsOn Monday, Athletic Director Lindsey von Holtz proposed a plan to the School Committee for four competitive varsity teams in the upcoming season: boys and girls basketball and boys and girls cross country skiing.  North Adams Council OKs Mohawk Trail Property as SurplusThe mayor's remarks were largely to remind residents of the virtual tree-lighting ceremony being broadcast on Northern Berkshire Community Television starting at 6 p.m., that City Hall offices will be closed Thursday and Friday and as will the transfer station.  Mount Greylock 'Snow Days' Will Be Remote DaysOn Monday, newly installed Superintendent Jason "Jake" McCandless told the School Committee that he has decided to use snow days for remote learning in the PreK-12 district until after the February vacation.  Mount Greylock School Committee Again Postpones Decision on Turf FieldBut Business Manager Joe Bergeron informed the committee that despite his best efforts to prod the Boston firm, it sent its proposal to the district just after 2 p.m. on Monday, and the committee agreed it did not have enough time to review the proposal for $44,000.  Pittsfield Schools Subcommittee OKs Policies on Education StabilityThe policies are to ensure that these students are receiving proficient education and that they are immediately enrolled upon entering the district.  Williamstown ZBA Approves Cannabis Operation's Demolition RequestSparkboro Wellness in August sought and received a special permit to open a location at 1017 Simonds Road (Route 7) just south of the Vermont state line.  Holiday Hours: ThanksgivingThanksgiving will be observed on Thursday, Nov. 26.  SVHC Fundraiser Features Virtual Grand Raffle & DrawingsThe centerpiece of the event is a grand raffle. It includes 10 packages worth $1,300 to $5,000 each. Prizes include $5,000 cash and a vacation in the French Riviera, with no expiration date, along with packages including dining at 13 restaurants, a diamond bracelet, golf at 10 courses, and much more.  Commonwealth Urges Residents to Do What It Takes to 'Get Back'The hashtag "GetBackMass" is part of the latest public awareness campaign launched by the commonwealth. The focus of television and digital advertising will be to promote the idea that "normal" activities can only resume after the threat of the novel coronavirus has subsided.  Pittsfield Aims to Make Lower-Income Neighborhoods GreenerStudies have shown that low-income neighborhoods are more concrete or "gray" than higher-income neighborhoods, which can have a deleterious effect on the health of residents, Senior Planner Allison Egan told the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission on Thursday.  Community Thanksgiving Meals Turn to Takeout, Continue ServiceBut while they know this year will look very different, they could not let a pandemic stop them from plating up turkey and the fixings for those in need.  Williamstown CPC Seeks Requests; Big One Is on the WayThe Affordable Housing Trust, which has received CPC funds from town meeting each year since its inception in 2012, decided on Wednesday to this winter submit a request for $175,000 in new funding.  Pittsfield Gets $3M MassWorks Grant for Tyler Street ImprovementsWith these funds, the city will be fixing the problematic intersection of Tyler Street and Woodlawn Avenue and doing streetscape improvements on roads, sidewalks, and crosswalks.  Clarksburg Board Confirms Closure of Public Buildings for InterimRobert and Lauren Norcross, who have become involved in the Senior Center, objected that keeping the community/senior center closed was doing a disservice to the town's elderly.  BMC Therapy Dog Program Offers Benefits to PatientsAt the time, Cormier didn't think that BMC would allow dogs, so she joined forces with another employee to contact organizations and hospitals to find out how they adopted pet therapy programs. Her year-old Newfoundland passed an assessment to become the program's first therapy dog. |
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