BOSTON — The Department of Environmental Protection has extended a statewide air quality alert effective until midnight Thursday. The initial alert had been set to expire Wednesday night.
The hazy skies and acrid smell are coming from more than 400 forest fires in Canada. The haze has covered much of the Northeast and while the worst of the smoke is running through western and central New York State southeast to the Atlantic Coast, much of New England is feeling the effects.
The smoke is expected to impact the air quality of Western Mass on Wednesday. Air quality is expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups that include people with heart or lung disease such as asthma, older adults, children, teenagers and people who are active outdoors. People with either lung disease or heart disease are at greater risk from exposure to ozone.
MassDEP is advising that people in sensitive groups should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion, take more breaks, do less intense activities, follow asthma action plans, and keep quick relief medicine handy. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. The state air quality site can be found here.
Everyone else should avoid strenuous activities and spend less time outdoors.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is rating air quality in the Berkshires as "unhealthy" for sensitive groups with North Berkshire having an air quality index of 150 and Central and South Berkshire 175. An air quality index over 200 is considered unhealthy for everyone.
The Tri-Town Boards of Health is recommending those with respiratory issues contact their physician.
Properly fitted N95 masks can filter out airborne particles such as dust, smoke and pollutants.
— New York Metro Weather (@nymetrowx) June 7, 2023
What's the smoke forecast?
* Another big plume will move into NYC this afternoon
* Could reach DC tonight into Thurs AM
* Another big plume in western Pa/Ohio may reach Mid-Atlantic Thurs night/Fri am
* Conditions may slowly improve after that
More: https://t.co/LgjN7mxogbpic.twitter.com/xPSlL6F78K
— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) June 7, 2023
Worst air quality I've ever seen locally now in the western Catskills, Mohawk valley, and Capital Region, CODE PURPLE, Very Unhealthy. Limit time outdoors, keep windows closed pic.twitter.com/81eeLmYR9z
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Cost, Access to NBCTC High Among Concerns North Berkshire Residents
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
Adams Select Chair Christine Hoyt, NBCTC Executive Director David Fabiano and William Solomon, the attorney representing the four communities, talk after the session.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Public access channels should be supported and made more available to the public — and not be subject to a charge.
More than three dozen community members in-person and online attended the public hearing Wednesday on public access and service from Spectrum/Charter Communications. The session at City Hall was held for residents in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg and North Adams to express their concerns to Spectrum ahead of another 10-year contract that starts in October.
Listening via Zoom but not speaking was Jennifer Young, director state government affairs at Charter.
One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly.
"I don't know if everybody else feels the same way but they have a monopoly," said Clarksburg resident David Emery. "They control everything we do because there's nobody else to go to. You're stuck with with them."
Public access television, like the 30-year-old Northern Berkshire Community Television, is funded by cable television companies through franchise fees, member fees, grants and contributions.
Spectrum is the only cable provider in the region and while residents can shift to satellite providers or streaming, Northern Berkshire Community Television is not available on those alternatives and they may not be easy for some to navigate. For instance, the Spectrum app is available on smart televisions but it doesn't include PEG, the public, educational and governmental channels provided by NBCTC.
One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly.
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This spring weekend, there are a variety of events in and around the Berkshires, including Spring Celebrations, music, cleanups, and more.
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More than 300 students from area high schools entered their work in 12th annual Teen Invitational at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. click for more
Backed by a $750,000 federal grant for a planning study, North Adams and Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art are looking to undo some of that damage.
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