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Steel Rail Races Return Sunday

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. – The MountainOne Steel Rail Races will be held on Sunday, May 18, beginning at 7:30 a.m. with a Boston Qualifying Marathon followed by a Half Marathon at 8:30 and an 8K race at 9.
 
The events will start and finish at the Crane Avenue entrance to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail.
 
Route 8 access to the Route 8 Connector Rd will be closed from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The runners begin in Pittsfield following the rail trail north, then will cross Route 8 in Cheshire as they continue to Adams and back.
 
Race directors ask the community to expect delays in traffic.
 
More than 650 registered runners from 23 states including runners traveling over 2,600 miles to take part in events this weekend hosted by the Berkshire Running Foundation and sponsored by MountainOne.
 
The Berkshire Running Foundation produces the event as part of its nonprofit in which it creates and advances the positive impact the running community has on the neighborhoods in which we live.
 
Since conception of the event, more than $60,000 has been donated back to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. This year, the Foundation races will surpass $300,000 dollars donated back to the communities in the Berkshires. 
 
The Foundation will next host the Lions Club Memorial Day 5K in Lee on Monday, May 26.  More information on the Foundation can be found at their website www.berkshirerun.org.
 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Affordable Housing Initiatives Shine Light, Hope

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Housing Secretary Edward Augustus cuts the ribbon at The First on Thursday with housing officials and Mayor Peter Marchetti, state Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The holidays are here and several community members are celebrating it with the opening of two affordable housing initiatives. 
 
"This is a day to celebrate," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said during the ribbon-cutting on Thursday. 
 
The celebration was for nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at "The First" located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. A ceremony was held in the new Housing Resource Center on First Street, which was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. 
 
The apartments will be leased out by Hearthway, with ServiceNet as a partner. 
 
Prior to the ribbon-cutting, public officials and community resource personnel were able to tour the two new permanent supported housing projects — West Housatonic Apartments and The First Street Apartments and Housing Resource Center
 
The First Street location has nine studio apartments that are about 300 square feet and has a large community center. The West Housatonic Street location will have 28 studio units that range between 300 to 350 square feet. All units can be adapted to be ADA accessible. 
 
The West Housatonic location is still under construction with the hope to have it completed by the middle of January, said Chris Wilett, Hearthway development associate.
 
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