Campaign Urges Citizens to Take Charge of Energy Use

By Justin SaldoiBerkshires Intern
10:06PM / Thursday, August 14, 2008Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS — With rising energy costs and winter on the horizon, a local initiative is offering residents the information necessary to make minimal-cost actions that will make their homes more efficient, comfortable and affordable to live in.

The North Adams Public Library hosted the launch of the Take Charge task force. Take Charge is a movement in North Adams and, hopefully, in the Northern Berkshires to conserve energy and money.

Mayor John Barrett III, Kathy Keeser of Northern Berkshire Community Coalition and Marie Harpin of Berkshire Community Action North came out to support the campaign to save energy with coordinator of the Take Charge task force, Morgan Goodwin.

"I am not an integral part of making this happen," said Barrett "We need the support of community to make this work."

Photos by Justin Saldo

Morgan Goodwin, left, at the launch of the Take Charge program at North Adams Public Library on Thursday.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Energy, within the last three years the price of heating oil has increased from $2.10 to $4.30 and the cost of natural gas increased from $2.49 to $3.92

"There are going to be a lot of bad stories this winter and if we want to prevent them in this community we need to be proactive in this cause and educate future generations as well," continued Barrett. "Because of this, we are a proud partner in this [program]."

Goodwin, an intern at NBCC, supported the mayor's statements with some of his own.

"The time is past when we can wait for experts and technology to solve this problem," said the Williams College graduate. "We need to take the steps we can as a community and as individuals."

Though the city has not pledged any financial support to the program, members of Take Charge were pleased at that the City Council approved a resolution supporting the program on Tuesday night.

"The mayor and the City Council's resolution is an excellent form of support in this campaign because of their influence in the community," said Goodwin in an interview.

Mayor John Barrett III checks out energy-efficient lightbulbs; below, a meter shows how they stack up against regular bulbs in energy use.

"I like to start from the big picture and work backwards," he said. "Energy consumption is a global problem, but the best way to facilitate change is on a individual level and it doesn't need to be a drastic change either; if we all just change our consumption habits in small ways we can make a big impact worldwide."

Senior resident Edith Taskin has been using energy-efficient light bulbs for two years and planned to take charge by having her windows inspected and lowering her thermostat and putting on a sweater. Taskin also encourages people to use public transportation.

Another resident of North Adams, 64-year-old Judy Lepel, pledged to turn the power off when she leaves rooms and encourage family members to take charge as well.

Librarians Marcia Gross and Marion Grillon are also taking charge with energy-efficient lighting in the library in complement to the building's photovoltaic array and geothermal heating systems. On a personal level, Gross has changed the appliances in her house to more energy-efficient models.

Take Charge has a permanent display at the library and is promoting the campaign in the Hoosac Bank lobby. Future plans include another booth during the Mayor's Downtown Celebration, educational workshops in the fall and collaboration with the Williamstown COOL Committee.

"The coalition is looking for ideas, suggestions and volunteers for the program from members and the community," said Goodwin.

The Take Charge task force consists of 15 members and attained about 100 pledges on its launch with the intention of having 1,000 by November. It signed up 60 at National Night Out last week. Those who sign up receive an energy-efficient lightbulb or a clothesline.

For more information, contact Goodwin at morgan.goodwin@gmail.com or call Al Bashevkin at 413-663-7588.

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North Adams Council Looks to AG for Assurances on Federal Grant

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:35AM / Wednesday, October 14, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — City officials want to know if the attorney general will defend them if they refuse to abide by certain provisions in a federal grant for the Police Department.

The City Council on Tuesday voted to postpone action until Nov. 10 on a fiscal year 2025 Edward Bernard Memorial Justice Assistant Grant after an hour of debate and hearing from more than a half-dozen audience members in opposition.

"Let's take all the time that we have. Let's wait for them to actually do their due diligence and fight these provisions and, hopefully, win, and then it's not a problem at all, and everybody's happy, and we take care of it," said Council President Ashley Shade. "And if they don't get the provisions out, let's make sure that they're willing to defend us if we accept it. And if they are, let's fight them. Let's fight them on this."

The U.S. Department of Justice grant for $14,231 is to update the department's overstuffed evidence room to aid its accreditation process. But new requirements within the contract about active or passive cooperation with federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, have raised fears within the council and community.

Mayor Jennifer Macksey and Police Chief Mark Bailey had explained the need for an evidence room two weeks ago and assured that Police Department didn't deal with civil matters like immigration, but the council rejected the grant. Shade motioned for it be reconsidered for discussion, which passed.

Audience members spoke out in opposition to accepting the grant, often to applause.

"We cannot trust that they aren't attaching strings that we think, in good faith, could not happen," said Sarah Farnsworth from North Adams. "That they could not make us do things that we are protected from in the Constitution. And we have seen over and over that somehow that manages to happen."

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