OLLI at BCC Series to Present 'How We Got to ICE'

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College (OLLI at BCC) presents the next installment of its Distinguished Speakers Series on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. 
 
Former Professor Tom Gerety and Professor Mai Ngai will present, "How We Got to ICE: A Conversation with One of America's Premier Historians of Immigration." The talk is free and open to all, and a Zoom link will be provided upon registration.  
 
As part of OLLI's series of discussions of laws and Constitution under President Trump, Tom Gerety will join Mae Ngai of Columbia University to explore the precedents, particularly as events unfolded in Minnesota.     
 
This event will be recorded and posted to the YouTube channel OLLI: The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College. 
 
Professor Mai Ngai holds the Lung Family chair in Asian American Studies and History. She started her career as a labor organizer and teacher in New York City and earned her PhD at Columbia University under the direction of abolition historian Eric Foner. She has written several notable books on immigration to America, including "Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and Making of Modern America" and "The Lucky Ones: One Family and the Extraordinary Invention of Chinese America." Ngai has won numerous awards, including the Frederick Jackson Turner prize and a Guggenheim Fellowship.  
 
Tom Gerety taught constitutional law through most of his career. He retired as a Collegiate Professor of law and humanities at New York University. He headed up the Brennan Center for Justice and was president of both Trinity and Amherst Colleges. He has law and philosophy degrees from Yale.  
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Pittsfield Traffic Commission OKs Stop Signs, Parking Requests

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Traffic Commission granted stop signs and downtown parking requests during its recent regular meeting. 

A petition from Ward 7 Councilor Kathy Moody to install stop signs at the corner of Thomas Road and Thomas Island Road was approved. One sign will be installed at Thomas Road and Thomas Island Road, and one at the corner of Thomas Island Road and Pecks Road. 

Moody said for some reason, people don't understand they need to stop at the "very clear" intersection into the neighborhood alongside Onota Lake off Peck's Road. 

"It's really difficult to see right there. Because of the corners, people are not stopping, and I have several phone calls from constituents that live on Thomas Island who have nearly been in very bad accidents there," she explained about the corner of Thomas Road and Thomas Island Road. 

"If we could put a stop sign there, that would be terrific. It would help improve the safety of the neighborhood. It's a very small neighborhood. The roads are narrow. There are pedestrians everywhere. Having a stop sign to protect people at that almost blind corner would be very useful." 

Police Sgt. David Hallas couldn't recall any significant vehicle accidents in that area, but said that speeding on that section of Peck's Road is "quite an issue." 

Other commissioners commented that the roads on the island are very narrow, and it is one of the few places with mirrors so that drivers can see around corners. 

Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren's request for a stop sign at the intersection of Partridge Road and Oak Hill Road was also approved. He said it is a similar situation to Thomas Island. 

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