MCLA Environmental Studies Department 2025 Green Living Seminar

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — MCLA's annual Green Living Seminar Series returns with a series of lectures on the theme of "Rewilding Our World." 
 
Presentations occur every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation (FCSI) Room 121.  
 
Every semester the Green Living Seminars center around a different topic, timely and relevant in current sustainability issues. The series, which runs through April, will kick off on Jan. 29 with Chief Scientist of Conservation Science, Inc. Dr. Reed Noss and his talk "What is Rewilding?"  
 
Future Green Living Presentations include: 
 
January 29: What is Rewilding?; Dr. Reed Noss, Conservation Science, Inc., Chief Scientist (via Zoom) 
 
February 5: Urban Rewilding; Sarah Greenleaf, Massachusetts DCR Greening the Gateway Cities Program, Urban Forester 
 
February 12: Restoring Forests to Reduce the Spread of Disease; Dr. Paula Prist, Forest and Grasslands Unit, IUCN, Senior Programme Coordinator (via Zoom) 
 
February 19: Rewilding in an Unlikely Landscape: The Recovery of the Northern Forest of the Northeastern United States; Jon Leibowitz, Northeast Wilderness Trust, President and CEO 
 
February 26: The Future of Wolves in the Northeast Renee Seacor, Project Coyote, Carnivore Conservation Director 
 
March 5: Restoring Old-Growth Characteristics to the Forest in New England, Paul Catanzaro, University of Massachusetts, Professor and State Extension Forester 
 
March 12: Land Conservation for Wildlife in Massachusetts; Andrew Madden, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Western District Supervisor 
 
March 26: Land Protection from the Indigenous Perspective; Paula Peters, Native Land Conservancy, Communications and Programs Coordinator (via Zoom) 
 
April 2: Restoring Rivers and Rewilding Wetlands in Massachusetts; Beth Lambert, Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, Director 
 
April 9: Green Roofs: Rewilding our cities; Mark Winterer, Recover Green Roofs, Co-Founder and Owner 
 
April 16: Rewilding for Pollinators; Amy Meltzer, MA Pollinator Network Steering Committee, Co-Chair 
 
April 23: Rewilding to Combat Climate Change; Dr. Os Schmitz, Yale School of the Environment, Oastler Professor of Population and Community Ecology 
 
Each presentation is free and open to the public. Podcasts will be posted online following each presentation.  
 
All lectures will be recorded and can be replayed on the MCLA ENVI Youtube Channel and broadcast on Northern Berkshire Community Television Channel (NBCTC) 1302 at the following times: 
  • Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. 
  • Fridays at 4 p.m. 
  • Saturdays at 3:30 p.m. 
  • Sundays at 11:30 p.m. 
  • Mondays at 5:30 p.m.  
Community members can find up-to-date information about the schedule at mcla.edu/greenliving

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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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