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BRTA Seeking Feedback on Employment-Based Transportation

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority is releasing the results of a study down on the need employment-based transportation. 
 
The survey, done in conjunction with transportation planning consultant McMahon Associates, looked at employment issues related to the lack of public transportation after the buses stop running at 6 p.m. in Berkshire County.
 
It included identifying where the employment centers are, what the various shifts are, and how to connect these employees to their jobs oncepublic transportation ends.
 
Berkshire County residents are invited to attend a public meeting to hear the aspects of the study and to provide feedback on this conceptual idea. These public meetings will be held in North, Central, and South Berkshire located on a bus route during public transportation hours.
 
The meetings are as follows:
  • Wednesday, Nov. 8, from 10 to noon at The Green, 87 Main St., North Adams
  • Wednesday, Nov. 8, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Intermodal Center, 2nd floor boardroom, 1 Columbus Ave., Pittsfield
  • Thursday, Nov. 9, from 10 to noon at the Great Barrington Fire Station, 37 State Road
For additional information, contact the BRTA at 1-800-292-2782.

Tags: BRTA,   public hearing,   public transportation,   

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Toy Library Installed at Onota Lake

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Feel free to use or leave a toy at Onota Lake's newest infrastructure meant to foster community and benefit kids.

Burbank Park now has a toy library thanks to Wahconah Regional High School senior Alexandra Bills. Located along the wall at the beach area, the green and blue structure features two shelves with sand toys that can be used to enhance children's visits.

The Parks Commission supported Bills' proposal in February as part of her National Honors Society individual service project and it was installed this month. Measuring about 4 feet wide and 5.8 feet tall, it was built by the student and her father with donated materials from a local lumber company.

Friends and family members provided toys to fill the library such as pails, shovels, Frisbees, and trucks.

"I wanted to create a toy library like the other examples in Berkshire County from the sled library to the book libraries," she told the commission in February.

"But I wanted to make it toys for Onota Lake because a lot of kids forget their toys or some kids can't afford toys."

Bills lives nearby and will check on the library weekly — if not daily — to ensure the operation is running smoothly.  A sign reading "Borrow-Play-Return" asks community members to clean up after themselves after using the toys.

It was built to accommodate children's heights and will be stored during the winter season.

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