Milne Library Hosts a Community Eco-Fair in Honor Climate Preparedness Week

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -—On Sunday, Sept. 21st from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. the Milne Public Library will host an outdoor, Community Eco-Fair, to raise awareness about changing climate in honor of Climate Preparedness Week and to celebrate the many Berkshire groups working towards social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

Because September is also National Preparedness Month, staff will provide guidance on making "Go Bags," to prepare attendees for weather-related disasters, with the help of the Williamstown Police and Fire Departments and the Central-Western Massachusetts Red Cross.

Attendees can also learn more about initiatives in Williamstown, including Energize Williamstown, the Town's Net Zero Plan, and the sustainable features of the new Fire Department building and The Williams College Museum of Art.

There will also Food, live music, lawn games, a bouncy house and a seed bomb craft table. 

Stop by and meet these local organizations:

  • Energize Williamstown/COOL Committee

  • Williamstown Garden Club

  • HooRWA

  • Rural Lands

  • Purple Valley Trails

  • Berkshire Grown

  • Second Chance Composting

  • Coral Crochet Project

  • The Plant Connector

  • Menstrual Justice Initiative

  • Williams College Zilkha Center

  • Williams College Museum of Art

  • Bee Friendly Williamstown

  • Remedy Hall

  • ABC Clothing Store

  • Buy Nothing Williamstown

  • Goodwill

  • The Tamarack Hollow Nature and Cultural Center

  • Williamstown Police and Fire Depts.

  • Central-Western Massachusetts Red Cross

  • Milne Public Library: "Go Bag" guidance

  • Milne Public Library: The Thingdom (Library of Things)

  • Milne Public Library: Seed bomb-making for kids

In case of bad weather, the event will take place inside the library.

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

Williamstown, Five Other County Towns Receive Seasonal Community Grants

Staff Reports
BOSTON, Mass.  — Five months after Williamstown's town meeting opted into the commonwealth's Seasonal Communities program, the town has received its first grant from the state under the program.
 
Gov. Maura Healey Tuesday announced nearly $2 million in Seasonal Community Grants to help all 24 municipalities in the program statewide.
 
The funding helps communities advance housing projects with the potential to support 594 year-round homes, including affordable housing developments, infrastructure improvements and planning efforts that will help unlock future housing opportunities.
 
"From the Berkshires to Cape Cod and the Islands, our seasonal communities are an important part of what makes Massachusetts special," Healey in a news release. "But we know these communities face unique challenges, especially when it comes to housing for the people who live and work there year-round. That's why we created the Seasonal Communities designation and are backing it up with funding to help local leaders build more homes, support their workforce and keep their communities strong for generations to come."
 
That list of awardees includes six Berkshire County towns:
 
• Egremont — $60,687 to support septic and well construction for Phase II of Town Hall Housing, adding affordable housing units (20 units).
 
• Great Barrington — $84,731 to conduct a housing needs study, develop a Housing Production Plan and support the design and engineering of roadway and streetscape improvements near Reed Street and Main Street.
 
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