Berkshire Green Drinks: A New Vision For Protecting The Environment

08:11AM / Tuesday, December 09, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) staff members will share updates from their work in 2025 at the December Berkshire Green Drinks event on Tuesday, Dec. 16.

This free hybrid event will take place online via Zoom and in person at BEAT's Environmental Leadership and Education Center, 20 Chapel St, Pittsfield, MA.

The in-person social gathering will begin around 5:15 PM; the presentation and Zoom meeting will start at 6:00 PM.

Executive Director Brittany Ebeling will share BEAT's new vision statement, developed collectively by BEAT staff, and will introduce new Deputy Director Melanie McCarthy.

No Fracked Gas in Mass Program Director Rose Wessel will provide updates on pipeline expansions and climate legislation. Chelsey Simmons, Drake Reed, and Andrew Ferrara will review the progress made in the past year on campaigns centered on stewardship, education and outreach, and watchdogging, including invasive plant removal, the annual Biodiversity Day, air quality monitoring, stopping the practice of non-native fish stocking, and more.

BEAT staff will also share their plans for working upcoming in the new year as they continue to celebrate the legacy of recently retired Founding Executive Director Jane Winn by working with the Berkshire community and beyond to protect the environment for wildlife in support of the natural world that sustains us all.

Learn more and RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/Dec-2025-Berk-Green-Drinks.

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Pittsfield Man Facing Charges in Hit-and-Run

Staff Reports 07:57PM / Tuesday, December 30, 2025

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A city man is facing charges in Vermont related to a hit-and-run crash that seriously injured a pedestrian.

The Bennington (Vt.) Banner reports that Nelsin Martin, 21, is facing a felony charge in the May 8 incident. He could face up to 15 years behind bars if found guilty.

The crash occurred on Route 7 near the intersection with Route 346 at about 6:38 a.m. A witness and video from a Pownal school bus indicated that two vehicles were driving south down the highway nearly side by side at an excessive speed. The witness said they appeared to be racing, according to the Banner. A third vehicle was mentioned by it was not clear if it was involved.

The pedestrian, 37-year-old Adrienne Formel of Pownal, was struck by the vehicle in the far right lane, which was either trying to pass in the breakdown lane or was "bumped" by another vehicle, according to witnesses.

The victim was taken to Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, including a broken arm, and had to have her right leg amputated.

Vermont State Police identified two vehicles, a white Chevrolet Silverado and a white Volkswagen sedan, which both fled the scene south into Massachusetts and were last seen on North Hoosac Road in Williamstown. By the end of the day, they had identified both the vehicles and the drivers.

Martin is expected to be arraigned next week.

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