NORTH ADAMS - Northern Berkshire Habitat for Humanity will hold its annual Christmas Tree Showcase at First Congregational Church on Main Street in Williamstown on Dec. 8 from 1 to 7 p.m. as part of the annual Williamstown Holiday Walk.
The event is one of Habitat’s biggest fundraisers and community events of the year. Last year, more than 145 trees were raffled off. Each year, the creativity of participants grows and some make themed trees. Past themes have been "The Night Before Christmas," birds in paradise, snowflakes and lights, athletics, story time, skiing, apples, toy land and "The Nutcracker."
Members of the community, schools, churches, local businesses and community organizations are invited to purchase miniature artificial trees for $5 each and decorate them for the showcase and raffle. Trees can be purchased in Williamstown at First Congregational Church, the Mountain Goat at 130 Water St.; St. John’s Church (Church School entrance) at 35 Park St., or in North Adams at McClelland’s at 85 Main St., First Baptist Church at 131 Main St. and at the Habitat office at 61 Main St. on Monday through Friday from 9 until noon. For more information, call the Habitat office at 664-4440.
Northern Berkshire Habitat for Humanity is now in its 18th year of helping to provide quality housing to area residents who otherwise would not be able to have a home of their own. It is currently building a home on
Henderson Road in Williamstown. Volunteer crews work Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 9 until noon. All
volunteers are welcome; contact the Habitat office to volunteer.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Pittsfield Council Passes $232.7M Budget
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council unanimously approved a $232.7 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
It is a modest, almost 2.9 percent increase from FY26.
"I do want to give the community kind of a heads up as we move forward on budgets. What we see coming out of the federal government that's trickling down to the states, it's going to be harder and harder for us as a community to meet our needs under the Proposition 2 1/2," Councilor at Large Alisa Costa said.
"We're going to have challenges, as we've seen communities across the state trying to override the Proposition 2 1/2, because we have dwindling amounts of money coming from the state and federal government."
She pointed out that, at the same time, utility bills are going up for both residents and the city, as are the costs of pavement and other items.
The amended budget of $232,777,720, down from the $232,782,090 originally proposed, includes cuts to the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the restoration of funds for councilors to attend the annual Massachusetts Municipal Association conference.
The Pittsfield Public Schools' $86,855,061 budget includes $68,886,061 in state Chapter 70 funding and $18 million from the city. With $345,000 in school choice and Richmond tuition revenues, it totals $87,200,061 and is an approximately $300,000 increase from the Pittsfield Public Schools' FY26 budget of $86.9 million.
The district's budget will fund 13 schools, as Morningside Community School will retire in the fall, and includes the middle school restructuring.
Councilors also approved the use of $2 million in certified free cash to reduce the tax rate, and appropriated $450,551 for parking-related expenditures.
Cassidy Flynn scattered five hits in a complete-game effort in the circle as Lenox upset top-seeded Hoosac Valley, 3-2, in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament. click for more
Brayden Durant struck out seven and walked one in a complete-game effort on the mound Saturday to pitch the Drury baseball team to a 6-0 win over Keefe Tech in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament at Joe Wolfe Field. click for more
Jason Codey struck out 13, walked two and allowed just an infield single as the Generals earned a 7-1 win over Wahconah to claim their third straight regional title. click for more
Gracelyn Wright struck out eight, and Genevieve Lagess went 3-for-5 with four runs batted in as the Hurricanes beat Monson, 17-3, to claim their first Western Mass title in four years. click for more
For the boys, Ward Bianchi helped lead the way with a win in the shot put and a second place in the javelin as the Mounties finished 16 points ahead of runner-up Pittsfield (pending the results of the pole vault, which were unavailable at 11 p.m. Friday night). click for more
