Womens Imaging Center Wellness Program

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PITTSFIELD - The Women's Imaging Center at Berkshire Medical Center is presenting an eight-week wellness program for those who have undergone breast cancer treatment, featuring exercise, nutrition information and stress reduction techniques.

The program is being offered twice, from September 9th through October 28th and repeated from January 6th to February 24th. Each program will be held on Tuesdays during those time periods from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Private Dining Rooms, ground floor, Berkshire Medical Center, adjacent to the BMC Café.

Facilitators for the program are Deborah MacDonald, MS, a certified Kripalu yoga instructor who works in the BMC Rehabilitation Department; Marsha Schulte, Registered Dietitian at BMC; Dianne Pennetti, RN from the Behavioral Health Department at the hospital; and Susan Sacchetti, RN, BSN, from the Women's Imaging Center at BMC.

The program will stress weight stabilization, reduction of discomfort, healthy eating habits, stimulating the immune system, handling stress and increasing energy, while making new friends and having fun. Each program will feature six weeks of exercise, one week of nutrition information and one week of stress-reduction education.

The cost for the eight-week program is $30, with financial assistance available. Class size is limited and pre-registration is required. To reserve a space for either the fall or winter session, call Kathy Hart, RN, or Susan Sacchetti, RN, at the Women's Imaging Center at BMC, 413-395-7965.

This program is funded in part by a grant from the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Council Advances Toter Contract to Final Vote

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council has taken a move toward toters, preliminarily approving a five-year contract with Casella Waste Management.

After hours of deliberation, councilors on Monday gave the initial OK for an agreement that uses automated collection instead of unlimited trash pickup.  A final vote will be taken next week.

"I think people are nervous of change, people don't like change, toters are a scary thing — carts as you call them. There's hills everywhere, there's one-way streets everywhere, there's snow everywhere. It gets figured out in other places. There will be hiccups, there will be problems," Councilor at Large Earl Persip III said, adding that he is hopeful about Casella providing the service because they have been "a great team member."

"I am encouraged that you are actually rolling out our toter program if it passes."

The city currently spends about $5.2 million on trash per year and the new contract would trim the budget by about $600,000 to $4.6 million.

Pittsfield's nearly 17,400 households produce about 1,800 pounds of trash per household annually, collectively generating close to 20 tons as a community.  The proposal aims to reduce each household's waste to 1,370 pounds annually.

Casella representatives Stephen Haeder and Kilian Flynn answered queries ranging from customer service and pickup times to a $120 yearly sticker that allows residents to access the Hubbard Avenue transfer station and have free recycling and yard waste.

"Every transfer station that I've run or every transfer station that has a drop-off, throughout Berkshire County and throughout the area, has paid a sticker and it fluctuates anywhere from $85 to $150," Flynn said when told the $120 price tag was high.

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