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Berkshires Beat: Seeing the Signs in North Adams
02:39PM / Monday, May 16, 2016
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Robert Fraser of MountainOne Bank presents a check for $10,000 to North Adams Partnership Executive Director Valerie Hall and Board Chairman Duncan Brown.

Signs of the time: MountainOne Bank has given $10,000 to North Adams Partnership in support of new welcome and wayfinding signage throughout North Adams.

“The North Adams Partnership has undertaken the responsibility of developing a new branding campaign for North Adams as part of its economic development program. MountainOne Bank is committed to supporting this initiative, especially given that we are headquartered in North Adams," said Robert Fraser, president and CEO of MountainOne Bank. "We are dedicated to the communities we serve through robust lending and community banking programs, further enhanced by our Community Dividend grant program and volunteer leadership resources.”

North Adams Partnership Executive Director Valerie Hall said the gift is appreciated.

"Their initial generous donation kicked off our branding and signage project. This second contribution completes the funding of the first phase of our effort, including a full design guide to be used for branding throughout the city, banners on the overpass bridges into downtown, and gateway signs at the east, south and west entrances to the city,” she said.

The new signs and banners are being installed at the gateways to North Adams, welcoming locals and the many tourists who visit our area each year.


Independence day: BFAIR is looking for participants in its first-ever Walk for Independence, scheduled for Saturday, June 25, at 10 a.m., at the Adams Visitor’s Center on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail in Adams.  

A stroll to Cheshire and back (with or any distance in between), the walk will be a fundraising event that the BFAIR participants, community members and sponsors can participate in through sponsored walking, lunch, bucket raffles, and entertainment.   

As a local nonprofit, BFAIR relies on public funds to provide critically needed residential, vocational, habilitative, and clinical services for adults, adolescents and children with developmental disabilities, autism and acquired brain injury as well as Homecare services for the elderly.

The registration fee for the walk is $20 for adults and $10 for kids, with children under 5 are free. Registration includes a picnic lunch and giveaway. Interested walkers can register online at www.bfair.org, by calling 413-664-9382, ext. 40, or by emailing info@bfair.org.

In addition to registering, walkers may seek individual sponsors by asking family and friends to support their walk.  Individual walker donation envelopes are available for pick-up at the BFAIR administrative office on South Church Street in North Adams.  Prizes will be awarded to the top five sponsored walkers.

Corporate sponsorships are available for the trail, mile, bronze, silver, and gold levels, ranging from $100 to $2,500 respectively.  Interested businesses should contact Jennifer Civello at jcivello@bfair.org for more information.  


Grants available: Elder Services of Berkshire County has opened a Request for Proposals process for sub grants under Title III of the Older Americans Act. These funds enable organizations, businesses, and coalitions to develop programs that offer specialized services to the elder community.

“These sub-grants give our community a chance to address specific local needs,” said John Lutz, executive director at Elder Services of Berkshire County. “Priority will be given to programs that address a range of concerns, including caregiver support, in-home mental health assessments, minor home repair, legal assistance and other needed services.”

Many programs have received funding in previous fiscal years. For example, The Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association has received grants to design an educational series for the Berkshires. These seminars aimed at providing local caregivers with the knowledge and technics needed to assist someone with dementia. The curriculum also provided information on safety, nutritional needs, local resources, caring for the caregiver, and legal and financial issues.

The application process begins with a Letter of Intent due by May 27. The entire Request for Proposals can be viewed on the Agency’s website at www.esbci.org.


GB honor: In its May publication, Monocle Magazine selected Great Barrington as one of the five best villages to live, work and visit throughout the world.

Joined by Lunenberg in Canada, Shek O in Hong Kong, Torrelodones in Spain and Nishi Awakura in Japan, Great Barrington is a place that is well-connected geographically and maintains a great sense of community that flourishes year round.

"We are extremely honored to be recognized by Monocole Magazine as one of the top villages across the globe to reside and work," Town Manager Jennifer Tabakin said. "We are a small town, surrounded by beautiful mountains, lakes and rivers and have so much to offer our residents through our bustling businesses, cultural opportunities, strong community, participatory democracy, historic character and commitment to sustainability.”

Monocle is a publication dedicated to global affairs, business, culture and design. Villages chosen for the "Small Packages" article represent areas that are well connected, have good jobs to attract a new generation of villagers, are well run by a team of democratically elected officials, gives residents a say in town services, maintain a sense of community and have independent business and community groups that create a feeling of togetherness.

"This designation from Monocle Magazine is something that residents of Great Barrington can be proud of and rally around," said Sean Stanton, chair of the Great Barrington Select Board. "We have worked hard to define and maintain our character, which has made this town the ideal place to live, work and visit."

The magazine recognized that Great Barrington is a thriving community that is getting it right. It is a place that has a vision to build a sustainable economy by connecting residents with local supported agriculture and products and has made a name for itself as a cultural destination. Great Barrington is a tight-knit community built on a local, open, direct democracy.

 

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