Police Caution Residents To Avoid Black Bears

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This bear wandered back into woods but hadn't left the immediate neighborhood around Brayton School by Friday evening.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Black bears have been coming closer to homes around the region this spring. The most recent siting has been near Brayton Elementary School over past few days. 

Neighbors in the area reported seeing the bear in the brook behind the school and he (most likely) was spotted on Friday in a tree near the Northern Berkshire YMCA.

Police are urging people to stay calm if they see a bear and to back away from it slowly.  Black bears are not particularly hostile but can be dangerous if frightened, or over food or cubs.

Bears are attracted by food, so police say:

• Never feed bears and make sure no food, dirty grills, bird feeders (bring them in at night) or accessible trash containers are around to attract them, especially at night. Garbage containers should be frequently washed with a disinfectant solution to remove odors.

• For those with fruit or nut trees, removing fallen fruit or nuts will minimize bear activity in your yard.

The department has more information on its Facebook page.


Tags: bears,   wild animals,   

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Six Running for Four Seats on Mount Greylock School Committee

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Voters will have choices for all four Mount Greylock School Committee seats on the Nov. 3 ballot.
 
Three Lanesborough residents, including one incumbent, have submitted signed nomination papers for the two seats up for grabs for residents of the town.
 
In Williamstown, both incumbents and one newcomer have submitted papers for two of that town's four seats on the four-member committee.
 
Curtis Elfenbein returned papers to Lanesborough Town Hall by Tuesday's deadline to run for a four-year second term on the committee. He first joined the body in 2020 when he was chosen to fill the last two years of an unexpired term, and he was elected in his own right two years later.
 
He is joined on the ballot by newcomers Melissa Zuroff and Jodi Szczepaniak-Locke.
 
All three prospective Lanesborough candidates' nomination papers will be certified when Town Clerk Ruth Knysh returns from vacation on Aug. 3.
 
In Williamstown, all three candidates' nomination papers have been certified by Town Clerk Nicole Beverly.
 
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