Berkshires Beat: NBCC Looking for 'Neighborlies' Nominations| 11:13AM / Monday, October 24, 2016 | |
 The spring Neighborlies honored a crowd, and NBCC hopes the fall event will do the same. |
Feeling neighborly: The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (nbCC) will host the Fall Neighborlies celebration on Wednesday, Nov. 2, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue, 53 Lois St. Due to limited parking at the Synagogue, overflow parking will be available at the Stop and Shop on Route 2 (the side closest to Williamstown).
Twice a year, nbCC's Northern Berkshire Neighbors welcomes residents to consider people of all ages who have performed acts of kindness or made a positive difference in their lives, in their neighborhoods or in their community. Anyone may nominate individuals or groups in one or more of the following categories: neighborly acts, young people taking the lead, business/agency support, groups pulling together on a project or health and wellness.
To make a nomination, please visit nbCC’s website or fill out a nomination form at nbCC, 61 Main St., Suite, 218, North Adams. Each nominee will receive a certificate of appreciation presented by Mayor Richard Alcombright and Coalition staff. Nominations will be accepted through Oct. 26. Call Liz Boland at (413) 663-7588 for more information.
Parade road closures: The city of Pittsfield’s 72nd annual Halloween Parade will be held 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28. The parade route will begin on Tyler Street at the corner of Tyler and Smith streets and end at Woodlawn Avenue. The following roads will be closed beginning at 5 p.m.: Tyler Street from First Street to Pine Street; Burbank Street from Smith Street to Morningside School; and Second Street from Orchard to Burbank Street.
The remainder of the route, Tyler Street from Pine Street to Woodlawn Avenue, will be closed at 6 p.m. The Woodlawn Avenue Bridge will be closed as well. There will be no parking on these streets as well as on Tyler Street Extension to Harvard Street after 5 p.m.
In addition, trick-or-treat in Pittsfield is scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31. Please leave your lights on if you plan to participate in the festivities.
.jpg)
NAMI Member of the Year
Lee Watroba, right
NAMI meeting: The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Berkshire County held its 32nd annual meeting on Sept. 28 at Hilton Garden Inn. Awards given out include the Euince Zorbo Awards: Member of the Year to Lee Watroba from Austen Riggs Center and Citizen of the Year to Donna Sorensen from Berkshire Pathways.
In addition, Dr. Alex Sabo from Berkshire Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry, as he was awarded the 2016 Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from NAMI National. This award is given to psychiatrists who make extraordinary contributions to improve the lives of people whose lives are affected by mental illness.
Election of the 2016-2017 Board of Directors also took place during the meeting. Deborah Sadowy-Dargie was elected to a second term as president. The following changes have been made to the Members at Large: Bear McHugh was elected to a second term, and Dawne Cowhey, Dr. Andrew Gerber, Chris Haley and Carrie Zurawik were elected as new members.
It's all natural: The second annual Berkshire Natural History Conference, which will feature presentations by local and regional naturalists as well as acclaimed authors, will take place on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' Church Street Center in North Adams. The event, which will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will appeal to naturalists and residents of the Berkshires, as well as visitors.
The conference will feature researchers Joan Edwards and Alyssa Bennett, in addition to local field biologists and naturalists. Bennett is the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s Small Mammal Biologist. She specializes in the management, conservation, and recovery of Vermont’s nine bat species. Bennet's presentation, "Cave Bats of New England," will bring the audience up to date on the fascinating and remarkable animals. Edwards is a biologist at Williams College. Her main interests consider the evolution of plant-animal interactions, particularly flowers and their pollinators. In her work she has looked at a group of plants that have "exploding" flowers including the Bunchberry, a wide-spread plant in the forests of Berkshire County. Intricate studies and measurements of bunchberry show it opens explosively (the fastest movement of any plant so far recorded on earth) and catapults its pollen into the air or onto pollinators.
Other programs on the agenda include: Pam Weatherbee's introduction to Amos Eaton, a local botanist, geologist and educator; Berkshire Hawks with Ron Rancatti; Salamander Mimicry with Steve Tilley; Berkshire Geology and Landscape with Paul Karabinos; Migrant Saw-whet Owls with Drew Jones; Aquatic Insects with Kelly Nolan; and Go Botany Web: A Great Berkshire Resource with Elizabeth Farnsworth. The event will also include exhibits, a book sale and a raffle.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students. Admission includes lunch, and access to all of the natural history presentations. Register in advance online.
|
MEMBER SIGN IN
