News & Notes: Inkberry Blotted Out; Stamford Sets Election
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Inkberry, an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering the literary arts, is closing its doors.
In a press release sent to the Berkshire News Network, co-founder Rachel Barenblat said that although the organization is financially solid, the organization has been unable to raise enough funds to maintain a paid staff. It also has been unsuccessful in recruiting replacement board members. Several board members will be stepping down next month.
The decision to close its doors came on Tuesday after having exhausted all options, said Barenblat. Inkberry was launched in January 2001 by three Williams College graduates, who now have the unhappy job of moving out of their offices and arrange for continuation of the organizations programs.
The closure means the loss of two nonprofit cultural groups in Western Gateway Heritage State Park. Northern Berkshire Center for the Arts will be going on "hiatus" as of Nov. 30, also because of funding difficulties. The community art school has found it "more challenging than ever to bring in enough revenue to support its operations," co-President Mary Lou DeWitt said last week.
The school's board will consider its future with the goal of reopening. There's no indication Inkberry, which occupied offices in the same building No. 1 as NBCA, will do the same. The phone number listed on the group's Web site is no longer in service.
Stamford School to Fill Board Seat
STAMFORD, Vt. — Stamford Elementary School is seeking to fill a vacant three-year school director seat that expires in 2012.
The petition of nomination papers and consent of candidate papers for a school director are available at the town office.
The required signatures are 1 percent of the registered voters, or at least seven signatures. The deadline for filing these petitions with the town clerk is Monday, Nov. 30, at 5 p.m. for the Jan. 5, 2010, special election.
The deadline to register to vote for the election is Dec. 30. The town office will be open that day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Keeping an Eye on Heating Oil Prices
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With winter approaching and throughout the winter months, the Berkshire News Network will take a weekly look at home heating-oil prices throughout the Berkshires to give you some idea what you can expect when you order fuel for you home or business.
Prices are obtained from the NewEngland Oil.com, which is linked on the home page of iBerkshires.com. Anyway you look at it, oil prices are cheaper then gasoline. In North Adams, oil is going for $2.49 a gallon with the same price seen in Pittsfield. Great Barrington home heating oil is going for $2.50 a gallon with the highest price seen in the town of Dalton at $2.58 a gallon — still cheaper then gasoline.
The Berkshire News Network, including stations WNAW and WUPE, are media partners of iBerkshires, which contributed to this report.
