Joe Kennedy delivers heating oil to Pittsfield

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Joseph P. Kennedy II made a delivery of discount heating oil today to a Pittsfield grandmother to highlight the availability of fuel assistance to families in need.
Pittsfield - Citizens Energy Chairman Joseph P. Kennedy II made a delivery of discount heating oil today to a Pittsfield grandmother to highlight the availability of fuel assistance to families in need. Kennedy was joined at the Linden Street home of Ethel Sayers by Mayor Jim Ruberto, along with key partners in the heating initiative, including Rich Hayes, energy director of the Berkshire Community Action Council, and Steve Bailey, owner of SavMor Fuel. "This could be the toughest winter the poor ever faced," said Kennedy. "Heating oil prices are up 40% over last year but federal fuel assistance has remained flat. With colder weather on the horizon, our most vulnerable citizens are facing the winter freeze without enough help." Etta Graham, who lives alone in her Pittsfield home, has exhausted her federal fuel assistance allotment and has turned to Citizens Energy for a delivery of low-cost heating oil. The Oil Heat Program provides once-a-season deliveries of up to 200 gallons of heating oil at a 40% discount to households who have exhausted their federal fuel assistance allotment or fall just outside the eligibility level for the federal benefit. An estimated 75% of fuel assistance households have already run through their benefit with the remainder expected to do so over the next few weeks. In partnership with CITGO Petroleum, Citizens Energy is providing discount oil this year to federal fuel assistance households. Corporate donations are being used to expand the number of households served who do not qualify for federal aid or who can't afford to pay anything at all. Here's how the Oil Heat Program works: * Households receiving federal fuel assistance automatically receive a letter from Citizens Energy authorizing them to contact their local heating oil dealer to receive a delivery of discount fuel after their federal benefit runs out. * Callers to the Citizens Energy hotline (1-877-JOE-4-OIL/1-877-563-4645) who haven't applied for the federal benefit will be directed to their local fuel assistance agency to apply. * Callers who don't qualify will be mailed a one-page application to fill out and return to Citizens Energy, which will send out authorization letters. The Oil Heat Program works with 26 local Community Action Programs to identify households in need. Over 350 local heating oil dealers deliver the discount fuel. Key media partners include Massachusetts TV and radio stations that have donated airtime to public service announcements and outdoor advertising firms that have donated billboard space.
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Lanesborough Fifth-Graders Win Snowplow Name Contest

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — One of the snowplows for Highway District 1 has a new name: "The Blizzard Boss."
 
The name comes from teacher Gina Wagner's fifth-grade class at Lanesborough Elementary School. 
 
The state Department of Transportation announced the winners of the fourth annual "Name A Snowplow" contest on Monday. 
 
The department received entries from public elementary and middle school classrooms across the commonwealth to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows that will be in service during the 2025/2026 winter season. 
 
The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during winter operations. 
 
"Thank you to all of the students who participated. Your creativity allows us to highlight to all, the importance of the work performed by our workforce," said  interim MassDOT Secretary Phil Eng.  
 
"Our workforce takes pride as they clear snow and ice, keeping our roads safe during adverse weather events for all that need to travel. ?To our contest winners and participants, know that you have added some fun to the serious take of operating plows. ?I'm proud of the skill and dedication from our crews and thank the public of the shared responsibility to slow down, give plows space and put safety first every time there is a winter weather event."
 
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