Northern Berkshire MLK Jr. Day of Service

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Committee invites the public to the annual Northern Berkshire MLK Jr. Day of Service to celebrate the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with this annual day of volunteering. 

Gather Monday, Jan. 15, as the Northern Berkshire community celebrates the life, principles, and ideals of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by participating in a "Day of Service." A celebratory luncheon will follow.

The celebration begins at 8:30 a.m. at MCLA's Church Street Center with coffee and pastries. Volunteer site service will take place from approximately 9:30 a.m. to noon. 

This is a family-friendly event and there are projects appropriate for all ages and abilities. Participants will choose from numerous sites to provide service to the community, including: Louison House, Sweetwood, Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires, weatherization for homes, meal prep/delivery sites, ROOTs Teen Center, as well as projects onsite at the Church Street Center, like mitten, blanket and card making.

Participants will return to the Church Street Center at 12:30pm to share a free luncheon and community celebration, enjoy local entertainment and hear uplifting words in the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. The annual Peacemaker Award will be presented during the lunchtime celebration. 
 
This year, the MLK Jr. Day of Service announced the annual Peacemaker Award will be given to Reverend Mary Frances Curns.
 
This "A Day On, Not a Day Off" event is free and everyone in the community is encouraged to volunteer and celebrate our Northern Berkshire community. Volunteers can pre-register online at https://bit.ly/MLK_day_2024 or by calling the NBCC at 413-663-7588.

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North Adams Schools Reviewing Greenhouse Program

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — School officials plan to review the greenhouse program, which is being used for life skills education for older students.
 
The cost of the program was raised during review of the fiscal 2027 budget by the Finance and Facilities committee last week. Three or four students aged 18 to 22 are being served through the special education program at the greenhouse on South Church Street.
 
The discussion came up during the committee's final review and recommendation of a  fiscal 2027 budget of $22,396,047 that will be offset by the transfer of $1,448,692 in school choice funds for a total of $20,947,355.
 
The school district is responsible for educating students up to age 22. The current staffing is a greenhouse manager, a special education teacher and one or more teaching assistants. 
 
"The greenhouse manager is in charge of operations of the greenhouse itself, but not teaching the students, although the students can work with the greenhouse manager," said Superintendent Timothy Callahan. "Almost like an internship, even though these are students with significant disabilities."
 
Committee member David Sookey asked if the life skills program service these children at Drury High School as a "better utilization of resources we already have at the high school."
 
Callahan rsponded that it's a possible model for next year, describing the greenhouse as an adult version of the CASTLE (Collaboration for Autism Spectrum Teaching, Learning and Excelling) program, an individualized special education program for children with autism and communication disorders. 
 
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