Berkshire Visitors Bureau acting President and CEO Ray Smith celebrates a new partnership with WGBY-TV.
PITTSFIELD - WGBY-TV is moving into the Berkshires.
On Tuesday night, at a reception at Spice Restaurant, the public television station for Western Massachusetts announced the installation of a WGBY Berkshire County Bureau, housed at Hancock Shaker Village.
"It’s important for WGBY to have eyes and ears on the ground in the Berkshires," said Ellen Spear, president and CEO of Hancock Shaker Village. "This provides a great opportunity to present what we know and love to the rest of the state."
As part of an ongoing effort to develop more community programming in the county, WGBY decided to establish a permanent location in the area to better serve a larger audience. With the nearest station located in Springfield, WGBY needed a closer connection to Berkshire County and its residents.
"We’ve been trying to do more programming for the residents of the Berkshires but it isn’t enough. We have to be in the community," said Russell Peotter, WGBY’s general manager. "Having a regular, ongoing, physical presence with people on the streets, in the coffee shops, going to shows - that’s the key. That’s when people will approach us and tell us about what’s happening in our community."
According to Spear, WGBY has already showcased its commitment to the Berkshires by highlighting some important events at the village.
"It’s not just words with them. From what we have seen with their help on the upcoming 10th annual Country Fair, I can say they're the genuine article. They’re committed partners and they’ve already demonstrated that they can put the resources into the community."
Calling Hancock Shaker Village "a microcosm for the best of the Berkshires," Spear said she hopes the station will learn a lot about the county through the collaboration she called "a partnership of shared values."
"It’s an opportunity to get to know the Berkshires and at Hancock Shaker Village, we have breathtaking landscapes, a blending of arts and culture, historic buildings and a group of really deep thinkers, people who celebrate the life of the mind," she said.
Another partnership
A second announcement from the station will aid the region in attracting valuable tourism to the area.
"The Berkshire Visitors Bureau and WGBY are going to work together to capture footage here in the Berkshires for use on our Web site," said Ray Smith, acting president and CEO of the Berkshire Visitors Bureau.
Additionally, WGBY will also help create small productions for the bureau.
"These short productions will focus on the creative fabric of the Berkshires. The wonderful part of the Berkshires is the breadth and depth in the tourism, recreation and hospitality sectors but the community is the lifeblood," said Smith. "We want to get behind the scenes and record the human element."
In addition to a strengthened relationship between the two parties, the Visitors Bureau will receive quality productions at a reduced cost. Even with help from a $100,000 grant for Web site development last year, the bureau is set to benefit from pairing up with WGBY.
"Because of costs, we were looking at higher expenses. Now, we're getting experts in historic, cultural productions for less," said Smith.
WGBY is a Public Broadcasting Service station whose most popular shows include "Making It Here," "Reflections Through Watercolor" and "The State We’re In." Covering Western Massachusetts, Southern Vermont and northern Connecticut, WGBY concentrates on community programming and outreach, as well as education for kids, parents and teachers.
"We can do a lot more than public television," said Peotter. "But we have to earn it and we’re going to do it by continuing to be in the community."
Jen Thomas can be reached at jthomas@iberkshires.com or at (413) 663-3384, Ext. 23.
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
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