Letter: Protect Our Water

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To the Editor:

Have you heard about the proposed industrial logging project at our forested public drinking-water reservoir in North Adams? In the late summer there was quite the hubbub (rightfully) after the Conservation Commission recommended that herbicides not be sprayed ... next to Notch Reservoir. It seems ridiculous it was ever a plan supported by Mass Audubon. After nearly two years of secretive planning this was the first time most of us heard about this project.

Were you at the Conservation Commission meeting in September where Friends of Notch Forest packed the room, overflowing into hallways, lining the street in protest? Were you one of the 2,000-plus people locally, regionally and internationally who signed our Save Notch Forest petition?

North Adams deserves more than to be used as an experiment by Mass Audubon and its new industrial-logging partners, which seek to unnecessarily replace a mature diverse forest with a tree-seedling farm that cannot enrich the City, nor benefit its human and wildlife residents. We have a vision — not just to stop the logging project to protect our forest, beloved Bellows Pipe hiking trail, and our drinking water — that could financially benefit the City and our environment for generations to come.



In the last few months the Friends of Notch Forest and the Bellow's Pipe Trailhead have been hard at work, learning, collecting information, and taking action to stop this project. We are happy to keep you up to date and invite you to join our vastly expanding group.

Join us on Friday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church, 59 Summer St., for an informational meeting.
More information: www.savenotchforest.com.

Devin Raber
North Adams, Mass.

 

 

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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

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