Woodlands Partnership to Host 'How Do Forests Grow?' Webinar

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Woodlands Partnership of Northwest Massachusetts is scheduled to host a free Zoom webinar titled "How Do Forests Grow? (Up, Down & Sideways!)" on Thursday, June 12, from noon to 1 p.m. This event marks the first in a series of educational webinars focusing on forests.
 
Tom Worthley, an Extension Professor in Forestry from the University of Connecticut, will serve as the guest speaker. Worthley is slated to "offer a primer on forest ecology including factors influencing tree growth and forest biomass, changes in forests through time and ecosystem services provided by forests," as stated in the announcement.
 
Individuals interested in registering for the webinar can visit https://tinyurl.com/d573y6nz or contact Lisa Hayden via email at lhayden@newenglandforestry.org.
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
 
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