Wild Oats to Host Its First Harvest Fair on October 18th

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Williamstown - Celebrate the harvest season with Wild Oats. The natural and whole foods market, located at 320 Main Street, is holding a Harvest Fair on October 18 from 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is free, and all are invited. The day will feature several child-friendly events, including a pumpkin carving contest, a scavenger hunt, and mask making, as well as home-made cider, delicious food, a drum circle, and many other fun events.

“The Harvest Fair is an opportunity for Wild Oats to recognize its ties to the community and to the many local food producers whose products we carry, during the harvest season and throughout the year,” said General Manager Michael Faber. “Some of our producers will be on hand that day to sample their products. We’ve also invited local craftspeople; and of course, there will be plenty of healthy food to snack on. I’m encouraging everyone to participate in making this an annual Wild Oats tradition.”

Here is a preliminary schedule of events:

* 10:30-11 am: Scavenger Hunt for children – look for the answers to Halloween riddles, and scavenge for Halloween treats.

* 11 am-12 pm: Mask making for children.

* 1-3 pm: Pumpkin carving contest. Contestants are asked to bring or purchase their own pumpkin; prizes for the best carvings!

* 3-4 pm: Drum Circle with Otha Day, musician and drum facilitator. If you have a drum or other percussion instrument you like to play, please bring it. There will be instruments on hand for those who do not have any.

* Throughout the day: Local crafts for sale; local producer samplings; cider made on-site; caramel apples; and more!


* Wild Oats Market is a member-owned, cooperative-based whole foods market. One need not be a member to shop at Wild Oats, although membership offers several benefits. The market carries a wide selection of organic and naturally-made products, including: meats, eggs, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, breads, pastas, oils, cereals, juices and chocolate. In addition, the store offers a hot foods bar, a fresh grab-and-go deli, and breads, rolls and pastries freshly baked on-site. Wild Oats Market also carries healthful supplements and personal care products, as well as environmentally-friendly household supplies.

Wild Oats Market Will Host an “Open Mike” Night

Wild Oats Market will hold its second acoustic coffeehouse on October 18, from 8 pm to 10 pm, in the store’s café. Admission to the coffeehouse is free. Light refreshments will be available for a small donation.

If you are an acoustic musician and interested in performing at the coffeehouse, please stop by the store or call (413) 458-8060 and ask for Robin. Or, email marketing@wildoats.coop. We will schedule as many performers as we can fit into the two-hour event.

Wild Oats held its first coffeehouse last February, and attendance was strong in spite of the wintry weather. February’s audience enjoyed performances from several different performers – some solos, some duos – and each with their own unique style. “We’re looking forward to another eclectic evening of performances,” said General Manager Michael Faber. “And of course, we’re hoping for a great turnout!”

The Wild Oats “Open Mike” night takes place on the same day as the store’s Harvest Fair, which runs from 10 am to 4 pm on October 18.

Wild Oats Market is a member-owned, cooperative-based whole foods market. One need not be a member to shop at Wild Oats, although membership offers several benefits. The market carries a wide selection of organic and naturally-made products, including: meats, eggs, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, breads, pastas, oils, cereals, juices and chocolate. In addition, the store offers a hot foods bar, a fresh grab-and-go deli, and breads, rolls and pastries freshly baked on-site. Wild Oats Market also carries healthful supplements and personal care products, as well as environmentally-friendly household supplies.
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.

Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.

The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.

Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is  appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.

Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.

Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.

Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.

The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.

The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.

Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.

Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years. 

He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.

Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.

Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve  a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.

Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.

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