Community Wellness Program Berkshire 150 Returns

Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD,  Mass. — The Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) Wellness Program wants area residents to spring into the new season and improve their health and well-being through the fourth year of Berkshire 150.

Berkshire 150 is a community wellness program promoting exercise over a 5-week period, with the goal of exercising at least 150 minutes a week. That’s the number of minutes recommended by the Centers for Disease Control to help maintain a healthy lifestyle, in addition to eating the right foods.

Berkshire 150 runs from Sunday, April 13th to Saturday, May 17 and registration opens on April 1, 2025. Individuals can register at any time, even after the program starts, while teams must be registered by Sunday, April 13.

To register, visit the Berkshire Health Systems website at www.berkshirehealthsystems.org/berkshire150.

Individuals and teams can begin submitting their minutes on April 19 using a form that can be found on the BHS website. The final day for submitting minutes exercised is Tuesday, May 20.

Participants can join Berkshire 150 as an individual or form a team. Participants can keep track of the number of minutes exercised daily on their phone, a calendar, or by using a fitness tracking app. Each week, participants submit the total number of minutes they exercised using the Berkshire 150 online submission form. They will also be able to submit minutes for any previous weeks they may have missed at any point during the duration of the program.

"Our Wellness team is here to support all of the participants throughout the program, whether they need assistance registering, have questions about exercises, or want to learn more about healthy living," said Maureen Daniels, BHS Director of Wellness and Community Health. "Remember to stay hydrated, have fun, and work within your fitness level while exploring new activities. As always, please speak with your primary care provider before starting a new exercise program."

For more information, visit the BHS website or contact the Wellness Team at wellnessatwork@bhs1.org.


Tags: BHS,   BMC,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Dalton Police Facility Report Complete; Station Future Still Uncertain

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee's final report is complete but the future of the station remains uncertain. 
 
Several members of the committee attended the Select Board meeting last week, as co-Chair Craig Wilbur presented four options delineated in the presentation — build on town-owned land, build on private land, renovate or repurpose the existing buildings, and do nothing. The full report can be found here
 
According to the report, addressing the station's needs coincides with the town facing significant financial challenges, with rising fixed costs and declining state aid straining its budget. 
 
These financial pressures restrict the town's ability to fund major capital projects and a new police station has to compete with a backlog of deferred infrastructure needs like water, sewer, roads, and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.
 
In June 2024, Police Chief Deanna Strout informed the board of the station's dire condition — including issues with plumbing, mold, ventilation, mice, water damage, heating, and damaged cells — prompting the board to take action on two fronts. 
 
The board set aside American Rescue Plan Act funds to address the immediately dire issues, including the ventilation, and established the Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee to navigate long-term options
 
Very early on it was determined that the current facility is not adequate enough to meet the needs of a 21st-century Police Facility. This determination was backed up following a space needs assessment by Jacunski Humes Architects LLC
 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories