The Lenox Housing Authority voted at its Wednesday, Oct. 2 meeting not to go forward with a proposal to put cellular antennas on the chimneys of the Curtis Building and cell equipment in the basement, according to Chairman Edward J. Roche Jr.
Roche declined to say why the LHA made this decision, but said the board reserves the right to revisit the issue in the future. Abutters and residents in the Curtis had met and circulated a petition against the project, that week and the week before.
AT&T Wireless originally proposed the installation to give coverage to downtown Lenox. The Curtis would link up with a proposed extension of the cell tower at the Lenox Fitness Center. The Zoning Board of Appeals asked, at the Sept. 10 hearing on the proposal, that the LHA request the special permit for the antennas at the Curtis. Robert McNinch explained that the the LHA planned to put the project out to bid, and AT&T might not win the bid. The LHA, as the owner of the building, should make the proposal.
Roche simply said the LHA did not wish to make the request for proposal (RFP) for this project. AT&T will withdraw this petition if the LHA does not go forward. Marty Nee, a spokesman for AT&T Wireless, said A&T would look at alternative sites in the Lenox downtown area. AT&T has not entered into any formal negotiations yet; it was too soon for him to say what sites might be considered.
AT&T will go forward with the proposal to extend the fitness center tower by 20 feet, from 120 to 140 feet. This tower will cover Route 7 & 20 north and south of the fitness center, but will not cover the downtown area well, Nee said. Antennas typically cover 1 to 3 miles, but the distance varies dramatically depending on the character of the landscape. AT&T came before the ZBA Oct. 8.
Sept. 25 Edward Acker, who lives next to the Curtis, held a meeting in the Town Hall to address the proposed cell antennas on the Curtis roof. He hoped to hold the meeting at the Curtis, but the Curtis is a private residence; public meetings are not allowed there.
Of the 25 people who came to this meeting, 12 were Curtis residents. Many Curtis residents did not know about AT&TÕs proposal, Acker said; it had been in the newspapers, but they had not been individually notified. He added that the LHA effectively provides the building for events like fire drills.
Bill Curry, a physicist from Chicago, came to the meeting to discuss microwave radiation Ñ the kind emitted by cell antennas. Curry is an expert on microradiation who travels and lectures on the effects of cell towers. Acker said he brought a meter and took the participants out to the Lenox Fitness Center tower, to monitor its activity. They took readings a the fitness club and at the Arcadian Shop across the street.
The tower was very active, Acker said. Curry told Acker he would not want to live nearby. Residents of the LHA were chiefly worried, not about radiationÕs possible long-term effect on the brain, but about its possible short term effect on health devices: hearing aids, electric wheelchairs, and pacemakers. Many residents of the LHA are elderly or disabled, and use these things. Microwave radiation demonstrably interferes with all of them, Acker said; cell phones are not allowed in hospitals.
Acker and several LHA residents began circulating a petition opposing the Curtis cell tower proposal. Acker said he asked to put up posters at the Curtis, and pass out flyers; this is not allowed either. As of the following Wednesday, the petition had nevertheless gathered 100 signatures. 40 were LHA residents Ñ out of approximately 60 apartments in the building.
Acker said he also had help from June MacFarland. The MacFarlands brought Sarah Clarke, a health activist, to the Sept. 10 ZBA hearing, to discuss the possible dangers of living or working near a source of cellular radiation. Clarke in turn helped Acker to get in touch with Curry. Acker added that a woman called him to say she had moved out of her house in Boston after three cell towers went up in the area; she began having headaches and memory problems.
Nee said if the LHA had chosen to go forward with its proposal, AT&T would have addressed any concerns the residents had about the radiation.
AT&T has never had any problems at any of its tower sites, he said. ÒWe have them on the roofs of most hospitals in the greater Boston area.Ó
Hospitals are high buildings, and they use their own radio frequencies to communicate over radio.
AT&T is licensed to offer coverage throughout the Berkshires, Nee said. They are expanding their coverage throughout the county.
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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.
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.
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.
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