Election 2009: Bianchi Challenges Ruberto to Debates

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Ward 6 City Councilor and mayoral candidate Dan Bianchi announces that he will challenge incumbent Mayor James Ruberto to three debates before the Nov. 3 election.

The three debates that Bianchi has challenged Ruberto to participate in are on Monday, Oct. 26, at 8 p.m. at Berkshire Community College hosted by the Pittsfield Gazette; on Thursday, Oct. 29, to air on WUPE Radio hosted by Larry Kratka, and a debate hosted by The Berkshire Eagle at a date to be determined and to which Bianchi has agreed to participate.

"These three debates, along with my aggressive campaign schedule, will provide the citizens of Pittsfield with ample opportunity to hear from each of us about our vision for Pittsfield and make their decision on Election Day accordingly," said Bianchi.

If a scheduling conflict arises between Ruberto and the previously scheduled dates for the debates, Bianchi has offered to work with Ruberto to reschedule the debates at a time that is mutually convenient.

"I look forward to a healthy exchange of ideas over the next several weeks of this campaign," he said. "I also look forward to speaking with the citizens about my vision for moving Pittsfield forward and tackling some of the tough issues that our community faces."

Submitted by the Campaign to Elect Dan Bianchi
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EPA Seeks Applicants for Environmental Education Grants

WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced up to $3.2 million in funding for environmental education grants to support local, community-driven projects that help Americans protect their water, health, and natural surroundings.

EPA expects to award up to 16 grants nationwide, ranging from $200,000 to $250,000 each through the Environmental Education Grant Program.

The Environmental Education Grant Program is designed to give Americans the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions about their environment; from protecting local waterways to supporting responsible stewardship in their own backyards. These grants support hands-on projects that help people better understand environmental challenges in their own communities and take practical steps to address them. Projects supported under this program emphasize real-world learning, community engagement, and solutions that can be applied at the local level.

The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is now posted on www.grants.gov and the Environmental Education Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity webpage and applications are due on March 3, 2026.

EPA's Environmental Education and Stewardship Division will host a webinar on February 5, 2026, to provide a general overview of the current NOFO, discuss how to write a competitive application, and answer commonly asked questions. Webinar registration details will be available on https://www.epa.gov/education/grants#webinar.

Stay up to date on all environmental education grant information, including announcements related to upcoming webinar registration, by subscribing to the Environmental Education listserv

 

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