Springside Park Conservancy Hosts Community Day

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Springside Park Conservancy will present a day of "family fun and outdoor stewardship" on Sept. 23, 2023, in celebration of the organization's 10th anniversary.
 
In the morning, Conservancy partners will join the annual fall park clean up held by the Friends of Springside Park. Volunteers will check in at the North Playground beginning at 9. Gloves, bags, and instructions for litter clean up will be provided.
 
In the afternoon, more than a dozen organizations will present an outdoor fair of guided hiking, bike rides, kids crafts, outdoor activities, demonstrations, face-painting and more on the Springside House campus. 
 
Music will be provided by the Eagles Band and DJ Rob Dwyer. Food will be available from local food trucks. Coupons to defray the cost of food purchase will be given out, funded through a donation by the Conservancy.
 
Springside Park Community Day & Annual Fall Clean Up Schedule: 
 
Sat. Sep 23, 2023
9 a.m. to noon - Clean- Up
1 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Fun Fair
 
Springside Park is located at 874 North St.
 
Springside Park Conservancy was formed in Sept. 2013 by representatives of four community organizations involved in stewardship and programming at Springside Park. A tax-exempt nonprofit, its governing board is now composed of representatives of ten organizations, local residents, and two advisory city council members.
 
Since its founding, the Conservancy has worked with the community to develop a Master Plan adopted by the City of Pittsfield; successfully advocated for over $3.5 million in public and private investment;  organized and cultivated events  and programming for the public; maintained public garden areas; overseen tree-planting, combated invasive species, and managed seasonal clean up efforts.

Tags: cleanup,   Springside Park,   

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Lanesborough to Vote on 34 Articles at ATM

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Voters will decide 34 warrant articles at the annual town meeting on June 11.

The Select Board endorsed a long list of articles during its regular meeting on Monday, most without discussion. 

A $11,846,607 spending plan has been proposed for fiscal year 2025, a 4.3 percent increase from the this year. The budget includes a net increase of $237,129 in education costs for the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School, less than the $271,478 increase in FY24. 

Three articles are related to short-term rentals, or Airbnbs: To impose a local excise tax of up to 6 percent of the total amount of rent for each occupancy, a 3 percent impact fee on "professionally managed" short-term rentals, and a 3 percent impact fee on short-term rentals in two- or three-family dwellings.

"These are the proposed language as provided by town counsel," Town Administrator Gina Dario explained.

Included in the 34 articles is one citizen's petition, which the board was not required to endorse. If passed, this petition would increase the Select Board from three to five members with an annual election of the chair. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes in that election would serve a three-year term, the candidate receiving the second highest number of votes would serve a two-year term, and the candidate receiving the third highest number of votes would serve a one-year term, with three-year terms to follow.

Two articles needed clearance from the Planning Board before coming to the Select Board, one being a request to amend the town's zoning bylaw to raise the cap on accessory dwelling units from 900 to 2,500 square feet.  

The proposal is in response to the lack of housing availability in the community and is the second go-around.

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