Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church Appoints New Reverend

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church in Pittsfield welcomed the Rev. Dr. Nina Ranadive Pooley as the parish's new rector. 
 
She assumes her leadership role this month.
 
The Rev. Dr. Pooley has a BA in Religion and a BA in Psychology from The College of William and Mary and a Master of Education from the University of Virginia. She was formed for ordained ministry at The School of Theology, University of the South and was awarded the M.Div. in 2004. After ordination to the priesthood, she served for two
years as Associate Rector of Church of the Good Shepherd, Lookout Mt., Tenn. 
 
After Good Shepherd, Pooley served as Associate Chaplain at St. Paul's School, in Lutherville, Md. for a year (2006-2007).
 
In 2007 Nina was called to be Rector of St. Bartholomew's, Yarmouth, Maine and provided that congregation with 13 years of faithful leadership. During her service in Yarmouth, she began work on a D.Min. at The School of Theology in 2009 and was awarded the degree in 2014.
 
Upon accepting the call of the parish's Search Committee and Vestry, Rev. Pooley wrote:
 
"There are so many reasons I feel St. Stephen's is a good fit for me. But at the top of the list are your commitment to social justice, your active investment in local mission and ministry, and your genuinely inclusive welcome of all of God's people."
 
At the announcement of Rev. Pooley's selection, parish Co-Wardens Tom Dillon and Erin Sullivan shared with the church:
 
"We are excited to have Nina guide us on the next part of our journey as a congregation. She has energy, vision, compassion, and an empathic way of relating to others."
 
Pooley, her husband Ken, adult daughters, Mackenzie and Channing, dog Finn, and a few cats will live in Hinsdale.

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Healey Gives Municipalities Say on Data Centers, Pittsfield Eyes Moratorium

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Last week, Governor Maura Healey signed an executive order that gives municipalities the power to say 'no' to data centers. 

Pittsfield is drafting a moratorium that bans the facilities until more research can be done.  Holyoke became the first in Massachusetts to ban new data centers in July. 

Healey, during a press conference at the State House on Tuesday, Sept. 8, announced that if a data center proposal doesn't have local approval, state permitting agencies will not advance it.  

"Unless a community says yes to a data center, we are saying no," she said. "We're giving communities a voice and laying out the rules for what needs to happen in Massachusetts. I'm also making sure these data centers use clean energy, and that we protect people from higher energy costs – including by returning money directly back to ratepayers."

The city's Community Development Board has agreed to go forward with a data center moratorium.  City Planner Kevin Rayner told the board in July that he has been working with the city solicitor on a proposed document, which said Pittsfield could allow a data center if it is proven self-sufficient with its own power source. 

Rayner is skeptical of the facilities' power and water usage, as well as heat generation. 

"In my opinion, the smart way to go is just to put a wall, moratorium, up and think about it," he said during the board's meeting on July 7. "We can always take the wall down."

Board member Gary Levante agreed. 

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