Author, Correspondent to Speak at MCLA Annual Public Policy Lecture Event

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Jamie Ducharme, an author and TIME magazine correspondent, will be Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' 2021 Public Policy lecturer. 
 
She'll speak at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7, at the college's Church Street Center Auditorium. A remote viewing option will also be available, and both options are free and open to the public. 
 
Registration for the in-person event or for the virtual option can be done here.
 
Ducharme covers health and science. Her work has won awards from the New York Press Club, the Deadline Club, and the Newswomen's Club of New York. Her first book, "Big Vape: The Incendiary Rise of Juul" — a deep-dive into the e-cigarette company Juul Labs and an exploration of the complicated search for an alternative to cigarettes — was published by Henry Holt in May 2021. 
 
Ducharme grew up in New Hampshire, earned a journalism degree from Northeastern University, and started her career as a health writer and editor at Boston magazine. 
 
In 2008, MCLA announced the establishment of the Public Policy lecture series, making public policy forums an ongoing part of the college's long-term speaker offerings, in complement to MCLA's major in political science and public policy.  

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Clarksburg Applies for Home Rehab Program, Continues Budget Talks

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The town is applying with New Ashford for $1.1 million that would allow for 14 homes to be rehabilitated. 
 
Brett Roberts, a senior planner with Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, updated the Select Board on Monday about the application for the federal Community Development Block Grant. 
 
"The home rehab program has been going on in Berkshire County for around 15 years," he said. "We do all sorts of housing rehab trying to bring homes up to code. And so we do new roofs, new septic, new wells, lots of new windows, basically anything that a homeowner might need to bring their home up to code."
 
He estimated that there would be about $70,000 available per home to cover 10 homes in Clarksburg and four in New Ashford.
 
The loans would mean a 15-year lien on the property, which would depreciate each year until it falls off. Anyone selling the property before the 15-year term would have to repay the balance at that time. 
 
"This is a really important way to keep low- to moderate-income households in their homes and to stay in community that they love," he said.
 
The board also reviewed budget issues with the Finance Committee. The town budget draft is just under $1.9 million, up about 2.3-2.4 percent. 
 
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