Raffle Tickets for
Red Lion Inn Overnight Stay
and Dinner for Two
$10 a Ticket
to Benefit the
Center Pond Weed Project
Tickets available at Becket Country Store next to the Post Office, Action Sports & Travel on North Street in Pittsfield, or send a check to CPWP, PO Box 424, Becket, MA 01223.
The Center Pond Weed Project is a grassroots non-profit that has been hand-pulling the invasive weeds there since 2002. Our goal is to reduce and ultimately eliminate the use of chemical applications to this very beautiful and healthy lake.
Eurasian Milfoil and Curly-leaf Pondweed are the invasives within the lake. Scuba divers pull these plants out by the roots and remove the plants from the lake. Skimmers in canoes and kayaks skim the pieces of the plants that break off from the surrounding water.
Purple Loosestrife and Phragmites are the invasives along the shoreline. We found these before they had spread throughout the lake, and we are digging them out or cutting them every year so their numbers are decreasing.
This Project has had support from the Town of Becket at Town Meeting for many years, and more recently by the Center Pond Preservation & Protection Foundation. Last year we also received a grant from the Toxics Use Reduction Institute. This year we need additional support. The Red Lion Inn has generously donated a Gift Certificate for an overnight stay and dinner for two in their main dining room which will be good for one year.
We invite you to attend our meeting where we will do a slideshow of our Project and announce the results of our project to date, and draw the winning ticket:
Public Meeting November 16 at 7PM at Becket Town Hall
Any outright donations to help fund this project would be greatly appreciated. Please get in touch to find out how you can make a tax-deductible donation!
Thank You for your Needed Support !!!
centerpondweedproject@yahoo.com
Mercedes Gallagher, director (413) 623-2169 (after 10am)
HELP FUND NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR SUPPORT IN BECKET!
Dear Becket friends-
We have a rare opportunity to help our neighbors in need. The Central Berkshire Fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation is offering a challenge grant to the residents of Becket. For every $1.00 that Becket residents raise, the CBF will contribute $7.00, up to a total of $14,000.
That means if we raise $2,000, we get $14,000, making a total of $16,000 that will be earmarked for emergency assistance to Becket residents who may be having financial problems.
The funds will be dedicated to the Neighbor to Neighbor program to provide various kinds of help- transportation, utility or medical bills, short term housing assistance, etc.
The terms of the grant are that we must raise at least $2,000 from at least ten Becket residents (hopefully many more!) and that it must be done by December 31.
Make your checks payable to the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and in the memo line write CBF- Becket. Every dollar we raise will benefit Becket residents.
Please mail your checks to:
Central Berkshire Fund
c/o Becket Town Hall
557 Main St.
Becket, MA 01223
CET seeks homeowners and businesses for Green Building Tour
Energy efficiency and solar technologies are among the highlights of the 2009 Green Buildings Open House Tour, slated for Saturday, October 3. During a time of heightened awareness about energy, this eighth annual green buildings event gives the public the chance to tour homes and businesses in the Berkshires to see clean, renewable energy at work and discover the ways people are conserving energy, saving money and protecting the environment.
Owners of homes or businesses that feature green building techniques and who are interested in participating in this year’s tour are encouraged to contact CET at 413-445-4556 ext. 25 or cynthiag@cetonline.org as soon as possible. Registration deadline to be included in the tour is September 1.
Progressive Dinner
To benefit the
Saturday, August 29, 2009
(RSVP by August 8 with your name, check or called in charge card)
RSVP August 8 to Joan Terry Drucker at 413-623-6411 or skylineridge@aol.com
All checks must be sent to the Becket Arts Center or call in your credit card info to (413) 623-6635
End the busy summer season with friends from the Becket Arts Center.
A progressive dinner typically takes place in a neighborhood where you walk from home to home with a glass of wine in hand. Since walking in a neighborhood in much of Becket means putting on a pair of hiking boots and walking in the dark, we have simplified the process.
We will start at the Becket Arts Center at 6 p.m. where the hors d'oeuvres will be served. The people responsible for the hors d'oeuvres would need to arrive 30 minutes early to make sure everything is in place when everyone else arrives.
We will then proceed to a private residence(s) for the main course vegetables, starch, bread and salad. Depending on how many people have signed up we may even move to another private residence for the dessert course.
The price is $25 each person plus an hors d'oeuvre, or vegetable, salad, starch, bread course. The 2 individual hosts pay no fee, however, are responsible for providing their residence (or board member residence) and the main course for 8-10 people. A single host is responsible for 4-5 people. Multiple hosts can have their gathering at one home if space permits. The hosts will meet with the chairperson one time to put together a game plan for their dinner as they serve as the coordinator of their 4-5 couples in their group.
This is the first year that we are putting together this event. It is a great way to spend a social evening with friends in the Berkshires. All are welcome
SUMMER MEDIA PROGRAM
for children in grades 4-8
Through the Media Apprenticeship Program, children will have the opportunity to work with a professional television producer/editor, making creative local history documentaries. Students will work in small groups, using the latest professional grade equipment and software. This means, participants will use the very same cameras, computers, and practices used to make your favorite television shows and independent films, and have fun doing it! The Becket Athenaeum is proud to offer this program free of charge.
We are currently accepting applications for 2 summer sessions.
JULY SESSION
Wednesdays and Fridays 10-12
July 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31
(Last two dates are optional, for students who wish to participate in the editing process.)
AUGUST SESSION
Wednesdays and Fridays 10-12
August 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28
(Last two dates are optional, for students who wish to participate in the editing process.)
This is an inclusive, equal opportunity program. No previous video experience is required, but a desire to learn is.
Ask your friendly librarian for an application!
Comprehensive Hazardous Waste Collection and Waste oil paint/motor oil scheduled
On July 11, the South Berkshire Household Hazardous Waste Collaborative will hold a comprehensive hazardous waste collection for the 15 towns that comprise the Collaborative. The collection will run from 9 a.m. to noon at the Stockbridge Recycling Center, 1 West Stockbridge Road.
Only residents of these 15 towns are eligible to participate. The towns include Alford, Becket, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlborough, Otis, Richmond, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham and West Stockbridge. Registration is required.
From the workbench and garage, acceptable materials include: oil-based paints, stains and varnishes, wood preservatives, paint strippers/thinners, solvent adhesives, lighter fluid, acid, fuels/gasoline/kerosene, antifreeze, degreasers, driveway sealer, brake fluid/carburetor cleaner, transmission fluid, car wax, polishes, roofing tar, pool chemicals, and fluorescent lamps.
From the yard and house, materials include: poisons, insecticides, fungicides, fertilizers, weed killers, moth balls, flea control products, rubber cement, airplane glue, fiberglass resins, photo chemicals, chemistry sets, floor and metal polish, oven cleaner, drain and toilet cleaner, spot remover, rug and upholstery cleaner, hobby/artist supplies, mercury thermometers, thermostats, button batteries and rechargeable batteries.
Televisions and computers will be accepted for a fee of $15 and up, depending on size. No console or big screen televisions will be accepted. Products that contain mercury, such as fever thermometers and button batteries, found in watches and hearing aides, may also be brought to the collection. There will be a digital fever thermometer exchange (one per household) for mercury fever thermometers brought to this collection.
Rechargeable batteries, such as those used in cell phones and tools, will be accepted as well. Alkaline batteries may be disposed of with ordinary household trash.
Waste oil paint, motor oil collection planned in Lenox
On Wednesday, July 29, the Center for Ecological Technology (CET) will coordinate a paint and oil collection from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Lenox Dept. of Public Works, 275 Main Street in Lenox. Acceptable materials are oil-based paint, stains, paint thinners, and turpentine, as well as waste motor oil.
Latex paint will not be accepted at either of these events. Empty or dried up cans of latex paint can be disposed with the regular trash. Empty cans of oil-based paint, stains and solvents can be disposed with the regular trash as well.
For more information about what can be brought to these collections, visit www.cetonline.org or call us at 1-800-238-1221, ext. 30, or email robt@cetonline.org. Residents from communities that are not participating should call their City or Town Hall for information about household hazardous product collections.
Come to the
Old-fashioned
Make your own sundae &
Listen to the band play !!!
$3.00 per person
$12.00 max. per family
This Friday, June 19
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 27th, 2009
Rain Date: Sunday June 28, 2009
9:00am – 3:00pm
at the Town Park in Washington (Route 8)
Free pony rides, a Bounce House, Dunking Booth & Face Painting. Becket Fire Dept will bring
Smokey the Bear and a truck for the kids to learn about & get their photo with. They will be
spraying a foam in the field for kids to play in (bring a change of clothes & a towel)
Ozzie’s Steak & Eggs will provide food. A raffle will be held and a 50/50 Duck Race (ducks
are being donated by Hospice Care in the Berkshires). The ducks will be $5.00 each.
Items being raffled off are:
1 week of day camp at the Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA.
A $205 value,
Donated by Discovery/Explorer Director, Nicole Cabelka
1 week of 1/2 day Summer Gymnastic Clinic at Gymfest of
the Berkshires. A $180 value,
Donated by Larry Moore
1 week of John Kovacs Summer Soccer Camp
or 1 week of Dalton Youth Center Summer Camp
(membership to the Dalton CRA included).
Up to a $155 value,
Donated by Dan McMahon of the
Dalton Community Recreation Association, Inc.
1 Skeeter Vac SV 3100. A $329 value,
Donated by Mike George of George Propane
The raffle items will be on 1 ticket and will be people's choice.
The cost of the tickets will be
1 ticket for $2.00, or 3 tickets for $5.00
Reserve your table space with a $20 donation
All proceeds will benefit
The Friends of the Park
Fund
Vendors, participants &
Volunteers are needed.
If you are interested,
please call RJ Peltier @
413-623-5911
The JSS is a fun and educational competition for students in grades 5-8 who work in teams to build model vehicles powered by the sun. They learn firsthand about non-polluting transportation. The races and judging begin at 10 a.m. and end at noon. Registration for students begins at 9 a.m. Solar vehicles will be judged for speed, craftsmanship, innovation and technical merit, and the top three winners in each category will be eligible to compete in the regional JSS championship in Springfield on June 14.
The JSS is sponsored by Western Massachusetts Electric Company, Energy Federation, Inc., Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, and the U.S. Department of Energy. Local Pittsfield sponsors also include Pittsfield Brew Works, Guido's Fresh Marketplace and Berkshire Bank.
For more information about the JSS or CET's solar energy curriculum, contact Nancy Nylen at nancyn@cetonline.org or Cynthia Grippaldi at 413-445-4556, ext. 25 or cynthiag@cetonline.org. CET is a non-profit community organization working to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste management and environmental education in western MA. CET is funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
Sunday, May 31st
Registration begins at The Guthrie Center at 8:30AM (4 Van Deusenville Rd., Gt. Barrington)
After registration, everyone will get a ride in VW Microbuses to Theresa's Stockbridge Cafe (Alice's Restaurant) in Stockbridge, where you can order breakfast. The walk will begin at 10:00 and head to the Police Officer's station and be greeted by Chief Wilcox and Chief Wiggum, then on to the Town Dump, where the Dump Divas will entertain you. The next stop is ICE CREAM!!! from SoCo Creamery, then shrimp cocktail. The hippie stop is next run by our own John Hagler, and onto AmeriGas to greet Gary Brazee and family...Then the last mile is back to The Guthrie Center where we will be serving sandwiches, drinks and have live entertainment!!!
For more information and sponsor sheets, go to: http://www.freewebs.com/hdwalk/
We hope to see you there!!!
If you cannot make it, and would like to make a donation towards the care & cure of Huntington's Disease, you can send a check made out to HD WALK
and send it to:
HD Walk, c/o Rising Son Records
218 Beach Rd.
Washington, MA 01223Meredyth Babcock, who is very involved in the Westfield River Watershed Association, invites community members to help with salmon fry stocking!
The Westfield River Watershed Association needs volunteers to help stock salmon fry in Westfield River tributaries on Saturday, April 11 and Saturday, April 25. The salmon fry stocking is part of the effort to restore Atlantic Salmon to the Westfield River. The fry stocking takes about 4 hours and can be fun for the whole family. Bring water, a light lunch and river boots or waders, if you have them. Meeting time is 8:00 a.m. Meeting place on April 11 is the Commuter Parking lot of Westfield State College and on April 25 is Gateway Regional High School in Huntington. For further information visit our website at www.westfieldriver.org or call Phil Sousa at 568-3982.
Below are the solutions that are currently in progress.
Barter/Swap Network. This may include a barter system in which people exchange services and labor hour for hour; a put-and-take at a given location; and/or a bulletin board (actual or online) for people to post items free for the taking.
Community Communication. This in many ways is related to all of the solutions. The idea is to find ways to get the word out about community events and services; to promote opportunities to socialize and get to know community members; and to create an easy means for people to connect about things like carpooling, swapping, etc.
Protect/Expand Becket-Washington School. The idea here is to stabilize the school, so that the threat of closing does not arise each time the district budget is tight, and to make the school an even more active, engaged part of the community. Possibilities transitioning to a K-8th school, becoming a magnet school, and more. The hope is to keep jobs in Becket-Washington, and attract more families to our towns.
Develop Energy Conservation and Alternative Energy. Possibilities include practical suggestions for town institutions and individuals to lower their utility costs; informing people about energy audits; and developing more sustainable long-term local energy sources through, for example, wind or hydro power.
Becket-Washington Town Farm. This is a long-range solution to the problem of food cost and availability. The farm would provide fresh, natural eggs, milk, meat, etc. for the community. The food could either be purchased directly or through “farm dollars.” Farm dollars would be earned through working on the farm, to one’s ability, on a sliding scale.
Community Garden. This project is already underway, using land next to the Becket Town Hall!
Local Recreation. If there is more available locally, for all ages—sports, potlucks, clubs, etc.—we won’t all have to drive so many miles just to “get out.”
This is only the beginning. Many good ideas were set aside for the moment, but are quite worthy and may well be developed in due time. In the library there are big sheets of paper posted for each of the above solutions, and for other solutions--we welcome one and all to come in and add ideas, questions, suggestions, or brilliant insights.
It was very exciting that a number of people at the summit volunteered to get ideas rolling, and there have already been some meetings/actions towards the above solutions.
While some of these solutions are well underway, others need more people to really get off the ground. If you would like to join in one of the above solutions, e-mail: BWCommunity@gmail.com.
There will be another meeting to check-in, brainstorm, coordinate…and, of course, share food and drink, on April 28th at 7p.m. at the Becket Athenaeum.
