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Something Fishy Is Happening In The Ocean| 11:26AM / Wednesday, February 22, 2012 | |
 WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Oceans Symposium at Williams College will show the film "A Sea Change, Imagine a World without Fish," which follows the travels of retired history teacher Sven Huseby as he attempts to uncover the mystery of what is happening to the oceans, specifically the rise in acidity and its effect on the fish population.
The showing is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. in Thompson Biology, Room 112, and is free and open to the public. A Q-and-A format discussion, led by The New Yorker's Elizabeth Kolbert, will follow the screening of the film.
The film's website notes that Huseby became "obsessed with the rising acidity of the oceans" and how 1 CommentRead More >> |
Bylaws To Save Williamstown Farms Still DebatedBy Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
11:35PM / Tuesday, February 14, 2012 | |
 WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A zoning amendment to help farms is still in flux after the Planning Board asked to add more regulations to it.
The proposal is broken into three town meeting articles that would allow farms to host weddings, celebrations and concerts as well as add exercise, yoga, art or crafts classes. The proposal is coming as a citizen's petition from Cricket Creek Farm. However, planners asked farm representatives on Tuesday to consider making the uses by special permit instead of by right so town officials have a stronger say over individual cases.
The proposal will not just apply to Cricket Creek Farm but all farms that are looking to make an extra buck in order to stay 12 Comments
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Williams College Hosting Oceans Symposium| 04:02PM / Monday, February 13, 2012 | |
 WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Throughout the spring semester, the Williams College Center for Environmental Studies, biology department, political science department, maritime studies program, and lecture committee will sponsor a symposium on oceans.
The goal of this interdisciplinary symposium is to raise awareness about current environmental issues associated with the oceans and its inhabitants and about the challenges associated with human stewardship of the oceans.
The seven lectures in this series will occur on Feb. 17, Feb. 21, Feb. 27, March 6, April 10, April 17, and April 24. The first lecture will take place at 2:30 p.m. in Wege Auditorium, Thompson Chemistry. The remaining lectures 0 Comments
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MassWildlife Offering Grants for Habitat Management| 05:13PM / Tuesday, January 10, 2012 | |
 WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife is offering incentives for landowners who want to help wildlife thrive on their properties.
Property owners who want to actively manage their property can apply for a Landowner Incentive Program grant. The program is designed to reimburse private landowners up to 75 percent of the total project cost of managing lands to improve habitat for declining wildlife species.
Individuals, sportsmen's clubs, land trusts, and other conservation organizations are encouraged to apply. Federal, state and municipal agencies are not eligible.
"Due to the extremely limited funding available, it is important for potential applicants to 0 Comments
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Lookout For Eagles & Other Feathered Friends| 04:02PM / Tuesday, December 20, 2011 | |
 NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There's still time to participate in the annual Christmas Bird Count, and to get ready for the January eagle count.
The bird count started Dec. 14 but runs to Jan. 1. Bird lovers throughout the state participate in the nation's longest running wildlife survey, now in its 112th year.
Northern and Central Berkshire held their counts this past weekend but a Southern Berkshire group will be counting on Sunday, Jan. 1. The fee is $5 and the contact is Rene Laubach.
The data collected by bird observers over the past century have allowed researchers, conservation biologists, and other interested individuals to study the long-term health and status of bird populations 0 Comments
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Geminids Meteor Shower To Peak On WednesdayStaff Reports, iBerkshires
09:32AM / Tuesday, December 13, 2011 | |
 NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The last and most intense meteor shower of the year will be visible all week.
The Geminids shower will peak on Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning and even though a waning gibbous moon is expected to obstruct the view, if the skies are clear up to 40 meteors per hour can be seen, according to NASA.
The shower is considered the best one of the year because typically between 80 and 120 meteors can be seen an hour. The shower comes from a point in the constellation Gemini.
The meteors are pieces of debris from Phaethon, which sciencetist have not quite defined. Phaethon has the brightness similar to a comet but its orbit is like an asteroid, according to 0 Comments
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Berkshire 4-H Presents Annual Awards & Recognitions| 01:06PM / Thursday, December 08, 2011 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Some 100 people gathered at St. Stephen's Church on Sunday to celebrate and honor the accomplishments of 4-H members and volunteers for the 2010-11 4-H year.
The annual gathering of the Berkshire County chapter recognized volunteers for their years of service and Friends of 4-H, and presented awards to 4-H members for their achievements in various categories.
The Key Award, which is presented by the state association for leadership, citizenship and community service
went to Angelina Mangiardi of Pittsfield.
The Top H Awards, which can only be won a maximum of two times, were awarded to Charlotte Smith of New Marlborough, as Junior Top H, and Aliza Ahlen of 0 Comments
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Guest Column: Lessons Learned — Embracing the Clean Energy EconomyBy Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, Guest Column
09:38AM / Tuesday, November 29, 2011 | |
 With a state unemployment rate hovering around 7 percent and the long-term specter of climate change it is easy to understand why many public officials, myself included, tout the potential for green jobs.
Training our work force to perform as solar installers, home weatherizers, etc., helps put people to work while getting us on the path to an energy-efficient clean energy economy.
Recently, high-profile missteps on the state and national level – Evergreen Solar in Massachusetts and Solyndra in California – have lead some to doubt the strategy of investment in energy efficiency and clean energy. These are the wrong lessons to take from these two cases, but there are lessons to 6 Comments
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Hoosick Falls Marking Next Step in Hoosic Greenway| 09:15AM / Tuesday, November 29, 2011 | |
 HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. — A groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the beginning of construction on the Hoosic River Greenway will be held on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 1 p.m. off Carey Avenue near the old waterworks plan.
A 2.5 mile-long abandoned railbed was purchased from Pan Am Railways by the village in 2009, largely with funds raised locally. The event will provide an opportunity to thank those who contributed to the purchase of the Greenway lands.
The village and the Hoosic River Watershed Association have been working since 2005 on developing a Greenway along the river through the village. A conceptual design for the Greenway was produced in 2010.
The groundbreaking event marks the start of 0 Comments
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Agricultural Officials Kick Off Tree Season in Hancock| 02:10PM / Monday, November 28, 2011 | |
 HANCOCK, Mass. — Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner Scott J. Soares joined local legislators, town officials and community members on Friday at the Ioka Valley Farm to kick off the holiday season by harvesting a Massachusetts-grown Christmas tree.
During the annual Christmas tree cutting event, Soares encouraged Massachusetts residents to buy locally-grown trees from one of the commonwealth's 200 Christmas tree farms.
"Going out to a local Christmas tree farm to harvest my own tree is one of my favorite traditions and I’m renaming today 'Green Friday' in honor of this ceremony," said Soares. "In addition to being the freshest trees possible, locally 0 Comments
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