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Daily DigestYuck!
 There's a winter storm warning in effect until 7 a.m. on Thursday with 2 to 4 inches of snow expected. Be prepared for a messy morning commute as freezing rain and sleet move through the region. The morning commute will be slippery — drive careful!
Some New York schools, including Hoosick Falls Central School and St. Mary's Academy in Hoosick Falls have already canceled classes.
All North County schools are closed; Pittsfield, Lanesborough, Berkshire Hills, Southern Berkshire and Central Berkshire school districts are closed. |
Duff'em If You've Got'em
 North Adams Regional Hospital went smoke-free Monday — so did all its sister sites, from Sweet Brook to Northern Berkshire Family Practice to the Women's Exchange. No ashtrays, no smoking: No butts about it. |
Wanted: Eagle Eyes
MassWildlife's annual eagle count runs Dec. 31 to Jan. 14. Anyone sighting one of the regal birds in Massachusetts is asked to participate.
Send date, time, location and town of eagle sightings, number of birds, whether juvenile or adult and observer's contact information to Mass.wildlife@state.ma.us. |
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Like to Write?
 iBerkshires accepts submissions about local events, news and opinion pieces. There are openings for freelance work, too, for qualified candidates. E-mail tdaniels@iberkshires.com to find out more. |
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Other StuffMars Rovers Mark 5 Years
 Spirit and Opportunity have been trekking the red planet for half a decade. Spirit hit the 5-year mark on Sunday; Opportunity will on Jan. 24. |
Obama TransitionRelated Stories |
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News & Notes: Festival Goes Green; Gas Drips LowerBy Larry Kratka - October 27, 2008
Berkshire News Network
Tannenbaums for the 21st Century
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Museum's Festival of Trees opens in a couple of weeks and, this year, the holiday exhibit is going green.
The annual holiday event will run from Nov. 15 through Jan. 4. Decorators will be using natural materials to festoon the trees, including recycled, reused and reclaimed objects. Museum officials said the trees featured will be a "Recycling Santa," "Vintage Recycling" and even "Reusing the Unwanted."
Proceeds from the Festival of Trees goes toward educational programs at the museum.
Gas Prices Continue to Drop
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — If it's Monday, it must be time for the Berkshire News Network's look at gasoline prices and we're happy to say they're still going down ... slowly.
The lowest price for regular gasoline in Pittsfield over the weekend was seen at $2.69 while in North Adams, the lowest price was $2.79 and in the town of Adams, the price of regular gasoline has dropped to $2.65 a gallon. In nearby Stamford, Vt., using cash drops the price to recent record low of $2.60. (Remember when that was obscenely high?)
Once again, the prices mentioned may be lower in some cases. Gas prices in Southern Berkshire County continue to be higher then in Pittsfield, Adams or North Adams.
AAA Southern New England reports gasoline prices in Massachusetts declined 20 cents over the last week, and 51 cents in just two weeks, leaving motorists paying the lowest prices since April 2007.
AAA's Oct. 27 survey of prices in Massachusetts found self-serve, regular unleaded averaging $2.639 per gallon, 20 cents less than last week. Massachusetts is currently 3 cents below the national average for regular unleaded of $2.669. A year ago at this time, the average price in Massachusetts was $2.729.
The range in prices in the latest AAA survey for unleaded regular is 82 cents, from a low of $2.379 to a high of $3.199. Diesel fell 18 cents last week to $3.59. AAA advises motorists to shop around for the best prices in their area, and to make sure they and their passengers buckle up — every time.
To save even more, AAA offers this tip: Inflate your vehicle's tires according to manufacturer specifications. Underinflated tires are a safety hazard and can cut fuel economy by as much as 2 percent per two pounds of pressure below the recommended level.
Ruberto Adds Parking Spaces in Pittsfield
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mayor James M. Ruberto has added 24 public parking spaces in the area of West, McKay and Depot streets.
The public parking lot on McKay Street was temporarily closed because of construction activity connected to the Beacon Cinema Project. On the north side of Depot Street, 12 spaces have been added just beyond Pittsfield Brew Works; McKay Street, behind the Legacy Banks' parking lot, has been relined with an additional five spaces; and seven spots have been added on the north side of West Street.
The public parking lot on McKay Street is expected to re-open in late fall 2009.
Florida Native Is Battling Band Member
FLORIDA, Mass. — A town native is taking part in the "Global Battle of the Bands."
Rick Pettus is the technical engineer and representative for Nashville, Tenn.,-based Solis, which advanced to the national finals last week and will perform on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the Chain Reaction night club in Anaheim, Calif. There, they will battle against 18 finalists to represent the United States at the world challenge in London.
Details of the band and event can be found on www.solisrocks.com.
Bay Buchanan to Speak to County Republicans
HANCOCK, Mass. — Angela "Bay" Buchanan, the former treasurer of the United States, will be the guest speaker at the Berkshire County Republican Association's monthly meeting tonight at 7 at Jiminy Peak Ski Resort.
 Buchanan, sister of well-known former presidential candidate and Republican commentator Pat Buchanan, will speak on the economic crisis and political landscape in the United States.
She served as treasurer under President Reagan and is a frequent commentator for Fox News and CNN. She was the campaign chairman for all three of her brother's presidential campaigns. |
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