Towns to Talk Walking, Cycling Improvements Around Tanglewood

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LENOX, Mass. — The town of Lenox and Stockbridge are seeking to improve walking and cycling connections around the area of Tanglewood and nearby institutions. 
 
Stakeholders in the two towns have been working with Berkshire Regional Planning Commission and its technical consultant, Beta Group Inc., to explore what an expanded pedestrian and bicycle network could look like in the vicinity of Route 183, Hawthorne Road, Hawthorne Street, and Old Stockbridge Road.
 
Community members, particularly residents and neighbors of those areas, are invited to learn more about the recent planning efforts at an open house on Wednesday, Sept. 17, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Lenox Town Hall auditorium. 
 
At the open house, visitors can view potential concepts and cost estimates for different components of the study, such as sidewalks and independent cycling/walking paths. Beta Group will host a brief discussion of the materials at 4:30 p.m. 
 
Opportunities to provide comments and questions will also be available. Materials will be available online here starting on Sept. 17.
 
The study aims to identify potential future projects that can better link the vicinity of Tanglewood with other surrounding institutions, neighborhoods, and amenities. 
 
No decisions have been made or will be made regarding any projects at this time; this study works to illustrate potential projects and their costs for future consideration by the respective towns. Residents are encouraged to participate to learn more and share how the project concepts could benefit their household, organization, or business.

Tags: bicycling,   pedestrians,   Tanglewood,   

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BCC Sees $1M in Federal Funds for Trades Academy

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal secured $995,000 to begin design and construction of the academy. The congressman had earlier attended the Norman Rockwell Museum business breakfast, which celebrated Laurie Norton Moffatt's 49 years leading the institution.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College was awarded nearly $1 million in federal funds to support a Trades Academy. 

On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal visited the college to highlight the $995,000 he secured through congressionally directed spending. Executive Director of Workforce and Community Education Linda Clairmont said BCC can be a destination for adults who want to learn a skilled trade. 

"I want to join up with the amazing work that Taconic and McCann (vocational high schools) are doing to prepare people for these really specific skills, helping people become confident professionals with a direct path to high-wage, high-demand jobs," she explained. 

"And we're also addressing the labor shortage that exists in this county, around the state, and around the country, in the skilled trades." 

The federal funding will support a feasibility study of an existing vacant building on campus, as well as the evaluation and abatement of any hazardous materials at the location, because it was once a power plant. 

BCC will dip its toe into the skilled trades with its first HVAC training program, for which it received $1.2 million from the state in support. The $995,000 in federal funds will go toward creating the academy in a building located on the main campus, and the HVAC heat pump training program will be funded by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. 

The $1 million in federal monies will get the college to construction documents, maybe fund some construction, and help identify the necessary equipment and other learning space needs for a skilled trade, Clairmont reported. 

The funding is part of more than $14 million in congressionally directed spending secured by the congressman to support economic development, workforce training, and community infrastructure across the Berkshires.

Neal said there are about 6.5 million jobs in the United States that go unanswered every day.

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