Northern Berkshire District Court Collecting Food Donations

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Trial Court is holding its 8th annual Cultural Appreciation Week this week and will be collecting non-perishable food items for the Al Nelson Friendship Center Pantry on Eagle Street.
 
Collection boxes have been set up at Northern Berkshire District Court. Court-users, court employees, and members of the general public are welcome to participate by dropping off non-perishable food items.
 
The drive coincides with Cultural Appreciation Week, which this year has the theme "Diverse Threads, One Tapestry-Strength of Connections."
 
"The courts and probation are part of the community and as neighbors we want to make sure that we address the needs of people living here. Coordinating this food drive is something we we wanted to do to give back and help those who are food insecure," said Chief Donald Wright.
 
Northern Berkshire is one of more than 70 courts that will celebrate culture and diversity in the courts and community. This statewide celebration in the courts in community is believed to be the largest of its kind in any U.S. court system.
 
A celebration was to be held Thursday, Oct. 24, at Northern Berkshire District Court. The event included Berkshire Juvenile Court and the Pittsfield Community Justice Resource Center and Pretrial Services Unit. State, local, court, education leaders addressed the  audience, local school children perform and cultural dishes.
 
The following is a list of the most needed items:
 
Ground regular coffee
Vegetable stock
Canned Black Beans
64-ounce juice bottles
Biscuit mix
Chicken stock
Canned kidney beans
Olive oil
Beef stock
Lemon juice
Diced tomatoes
Canned chickpeas 
 
Gift cards and certificates may be dropped off to the Probation Department.

Tags: food drive,   food pantry,   

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Mount Williams Donates Flowers to Spruce Up Fire Department Yard for 9/11 Ceremony

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — In preparation for the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, the Fire Department wanted to clean up the side yard where it typically holds a remembrance ceremony.

"We wanted to make it look nicer because we are going to do a 9/11 ceremony here, so all of us got together, we cleaned it up, did all the stone work," said John Marlowe, firefighters' union president.

Marlowe said after their initial cleanup, the yard was still pretty bare, so they called Mount Williams Greenhouse for a quote on some plantings.

Instead, the business offered to donate the flowers and labor.

"They decided they wanted to do it for free," Marlowe said. "So they are donating all of the flowers and labor. They are a great group and great family. Great community members."

Monday afternoon, firefighters helped carry flowers and, other than supplying some water, let Mount Williams do its thing.

Flowers were planted in the circular area around the flagpole. Mount Williams planted New Guinea impatiens, regular impatiens, geraniums, ageratum, and salvia.

Marlowe said the department will hold its 9/11 ceremony on Sept. 11 at 8:46 a.m., the exact time when the first plane struck the Twin Towers. Police and EMS will also be present.

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