Clark Art: Spore Into Specimen Workshop

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — On August 17 at 1 pm, the Clark Art Institute's Andrea Puccio, director of the library, and Terri Boccia, collections development librarian, lead a tour of rare books in the Clark library's collection featuring mushrooms. 
 
The workshop takes place in the scholars' seminar room, located in the Manton Research Center.
 
Jan Rolin from Mycoterra Farm (South Deerfield, Massachusetts) teaches participants about the mushroom lifecycle and how to harvest their own mushrooms using a grow-at-home kit. Learn how mushrooms can help us both environmentally and physically as you discover how to pick, store, and cook the mushrooms you grow.
 
Mycoterra Farm is a leader in sustainable mushroom cultivation, dedicated to producing high-quality, gourmet mushrooms. Located in the heart of Western Massachusetts, they pride themselves on innovative farming techniques and a commitment to environmental stewardship. In addition to their farm operations, Mycoterra Farm collaborates with Mass Food Delivery to ensure fresh, locally-grown mushrooms and other produce reach communities across the region.
 
Tickets $30 ($28 members). Includes one mushroom growing kit. For accessibility concerns, call 413 458 0524.

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Williamstown Housing Trust Agrees to Continue Emergency Mortgage, Rental Programs

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The board of the town's Affordable Housing Trust at its December meeting voted to extend its mortgage and rental assistance programs and discussed bringing in some consultants early next year before embarking on any new programs.
 
Chair Daniel Gura informed the board that its agreements with Pittsfield's Hearthway Inc., to administer the Williamstown Emergency Rental Assistance Program and Williamstown Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program was expiring at the end of the year.
 
Gura sought and obtained a vote of the board to extend the programs, born during the COVID-19 pandemic, through the end of January 2026, at which time the board plans to sign a new long-term agreement.
 
"In 2024, we distributed $80,000," through the programs known as WERAP and WEMAP, Gura said. "This year, to date, we gave $16,000, and Ihere's $17,000 left. … It's a little interesting we saw a dropoff from 2024 to 2025, although I think there were obvious reasons for that in terms of where we are in the world."
 
Gura suggested that the board might want to increase the funding to the programs, which benefit income-qualified town residents.
 
"If you look at the broader economic picture in this country, there's a prospect of more people needing help, not fewer people," Thomas Sheldon said in agreeing with Gura. "I think the need will bump up again."
 
The board voted to add an additional $13,000 to the amount available to applicants screened by Hearthway with the possibility of raising that funding if a spike in demand is seen.
 
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