Berkshire Immigrant Center to be Honored at MIRA Thanksgiving Luncheon

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. - The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) will recognize Brooke Mead, Program Coordinator of the Berkshire Immigrant Center, for her outstanding advocacy and leadership in making Massachusetts a better place for immigrants and refugees to live.

She will be one of two distinguished honorees at MIRA’s annual Thanksgiving luncheon on November 17th, 2009 in the Great Hall of the Massachusetts State House in Boston.
 
“The individuals we choose to honor are strong, determined leaders who value our country’s New Americans,” stated Eva Millona, Executive Director of MIRA. “Brooke has shown true commitment and passion for furthering immigrant initiatives and providing outstanding service to the immigrants of Berkshire County.”
 
The MIRA Thanksgiving event is entitled “Celebrate the Immigrant Family” and provides an opportunity for all to remember and rejoice in the immigrant journey. This year’s event will be highlighted by the public release of the New American’s Agenda by Governor Deval Patrick who commissioned the report from the Governor’s Advisory Council for Refugees and Immigrants in joint partnership with the Massachusetts Office of Refugees and Immigrants and MIRA. The report consists of 131 policy recommendations to better integrate immigrants and refugees into the civic and economic life of the Commonwealth. These policy recommendations recognize that immigrant families form a vital cornerstone in our communities, and that their hopes and needs deserve respectful attention and response.
 
Brooke Mead has been employed at the Berkshire Immigrant Center since 2002. The Center, a program of Berkshire Community Action Council, provides citizenship assistance, immigration information, advocacy, referrals and counseling to the growing immigrant communities in Berkshire County. For more information, please call 445-4881 or email info@berkshireic.com.

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Multiple Departments Respond to Lanesborough Structure Fire

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Multiple fire departments responded to a structure fire off Narragansett Avenue on Wednesday afternoon. 

The Fire Department received a call from the owner of 6 Bangor St. reporting a smoke and flames at around 1:44 p.m.

Firefighters arriving on scene reported heavy smoke emanating from the the 1940s single-family ranch home in the thickly settle neighborhood.

The blaze was brought under control in less than an hour and there were no civilian or firefighter injuries. 

"The homeowner was outside doing some work, evidently, opened the door when she came back in the house, and there were flames and smoke, so she backed out and called us, and that's all we know right now," Deputy Fire Chief Glen Storie said around 2:35 p.m. 

The fire was out at that time, and first responders observed "quite a bit of damage" to the home. The cause is still under investigation. 

Lanesborough, Cheshire, and Pittsfield departments responded to the scene, and Hancock covered the station during the call. 

"The first crew in knocked the fire right down with the first engine," Storie said. 

Smoke could be seen coming from the back of the home. Part of Narragansett Avenue and Bangor Avenue were blocked off while firefighters battled the blaze. 

 

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