PITTSFIELD - Elder Services of Berkshire County Inc. will conduct training for new SHINE new volunteers in September and October.
The nine-session course for Serving Health Information Needs of Elders will familiarize volunteers with the basics of Medicare coverage, including Medicare D, Medigap insurance, and public benefit programs including MassHealth.
At the end of the training, volunteers will be qualified to assist Berkshire County elders with their health insurance choices. Volunteers work in community settings such as local councils on aging, and may also make home visits or assist with phone work. Meetings are held monthly to update information and share experiences.
An orientation meeting will be held at Elder Services, 66 Wendell Ave., on Thursday, Sept. 6, at noon. A light lunch will be provided, and current volunteers will be available to answer questions. Attendance at the orientation does not obligate anyone, but registration would be appreciated. Training will be held in Pittsfield beginning Sept. 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is no charge for the training.
Prospective volunteers do not need any previous experience in health care, insurance or law. They do need to fill out a volunteer application and be screened through the state's CORI criminal background check. An ability to listen, a willingness to learn and a commitment to elders and their needs are the primary requirements.
For more information on the program or to receive an application contact Margie Ware, regional SHINE coordinator, at Elder Services, 413-499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242, Ext.109.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
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Former Harry's Supermarket Under Construction for Restaurant
Late last month, the Conservation Commission greenlit some tree pruning on the property. New windows and a new door can be seen in the front of the building.
"It's a substantial renovation that's currently underway here," Brent White of White Engineering said, speaking on behalf of the applicant and owner, Huajie Zhu.
A fire gutted the longtime Wahconah Street supermarket in 2023, and the following year, Zhu purchased the property for $460,000 two years ago to build a restaurant with hibachi in the existing footprint of the more than 100-year-old building.
White explained that the project has been ongoing for over a year, and the Community Development Board granted the property a waiver to reduce the minimum required number of parking spaces so that additional spaces aren't needed.
He noted that, looking at the site plan, there is very little room to do so. A mirror will be installed near the sharp turn on Bel Air Avenue to alleviate traffic concerns.
Pruning will be done on trees in the southeast corner of the existing paved parking lot, as a number of branches are hanging over. The new owners also intend to patch, sealcoat, and re-stripe the parking lot.
A fire tore through the building less than an hour after the supermarket closed for the day three years ago. An automatic sprinkler system is required for the new use.
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