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What's PlayingBazaarsNov. 21
St. Stanislaus School benefit, 9 to 4 in Kolbe Hall, Adams. Bake sale, snack bar, games, Chinese auctions, money raffle, crafts, and pierogi.
Blackinton Union Church, 1373 Massachusetts Ave., North Adams; 10 to 2. Crafts table, bake sale, Chinese auction, the Christmas table, and kid's grab bag. Lunch $4, $2 kids.
First Congregational Church, North Adams, 9-2.
Nov. 28
Becket Federated Church, Route 8, holiday bazaar from 9-3. Lunch, crafts, baked goods, holiday and other items. Information: Mary Peltier, Parish House, 413-623-5217.
Dec. 5
Holiday Fair at First Congregational Church, 25 Park Place, Lee, from 10 to 3; handcrafted items, raffles, children's shop, bake sale, cut Christmas trees and lunch from 11 to 1. Includes angel-themed goods from SERRV. Information, 413-243-1033 or www.ucc-lee.org.
Dec. 12-13
North Adams Country Club, crafts 9-4; food from That's a Wrap from 11-2. Information: Sheryl Morehouse at 413-822-3329.
Planning a bazaar this season? Submit information to info@iberkshires.com to have it listed here. |
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Williamstown Selectmen Tepid to Trolley ProposalBy Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
01:49AM / Tuesday, July 14, 2009
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Joyce and Paul Harsch arrived at the Selectmen's meeting on Monday night prepared to answer questions about their quest to bring electric trolleys to Williamstown only to discover that the meeting was over.
Joyce Harsch was particularly disappointed when she learned the board had discussed the grant proposal during its brief meeting, raising issues she'd hoped to reply to and coming to no decision on whether to support the effort.
"One of the things in the grant is the community has to support it, the Selectmen have to support it," she said. "The amount of time [the grant takes], I'm not willing to do that unless I get support from local folk."
Harsch is willing to take on the onerous task of writing a grant for federal stimulus funds to set up a transit system of four electric vehicles, which would be based at the town's Department of Public Works. She estimated the research and writing process would take about eight weeks — very near the September deadline for submission.
The Selectmen were intrigued but concerned what would happen when the funding ran out in three years.
"My concern is if this grant's a wash, the town will be in a position to take over the cost," asked Selectman David Rempell. If the town had to take over the trolley system, it would have to find the money or shut it down. "I would hate to be in a position to do this."
Town Manager Peter Fohlin, who managed a public transit system on Martha's Vineyard, said he had the same concerns, especially with the town at its levy limit. "We cannot simply lay this on the taxpayers and say 'let's do it.'"
Harsch is far more sanguine about the system's ability to pay for itself. Her proposal envisions rider fees and rentals to aid in continuing the service. She and her husband, Paul, say the goal is to make the system self-sustaining.
The monies would come from more than $8 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds set aside for transportation initiatives. Harsch is also in talks with the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority to see if the Williamstown grant can be rolled into funding requests being made by the BRTA.
"It really has to be under an umbrella," said Harsch, who estimated the grant would run around $3 million to $4 million. "They are the federal agent [for transporation funding] over the Berkshires."
The Selectmen said expanding support for the project with other services, groups and agencies would make sense; Harsch said that was the plan all along. Support from local and state representatives was a prime consideration.
The idea of a trolley system with stops at the town's cultural and commercial establishments came to her one day while the couple was dining at a Spring Street restaurant. "Where I'm from they have neat little trolleys," said the southern Indiana native.
"This could be another profit center for the town," said Paul Harsch, owner of Harsch Realty. "This would be self-supporting, this would be handicapped equipped. ... Here's a free handout. I don't understand why they're not interested."
The Harsches had planned to give a PowerPoint presentation on the proposal but there was a delay getting it on the Selectmen's agenda; Chairman Thomas Costley said on Monday that a Selectmen's meeting wasn't the proper place for such a presentation although he passed out printouts of the PowerPoint to his colleagues. After discussing the issue at the meeting, he said, "I'm sure she can take guidance from what we've said."
Harsch is hoping to get the board together to give her a firmer answer - not just guidance - on whether to proceed.
"I haven't given up on it. I feel the townspeople will really want it ... I believe it would be a marvelous benefit to the town."
Update: The Harsches say in a letter e-mailed to Selectmen early Monday morning that if the board cannot provide a positive answer by next Monday they will abandon their effort for lack of time. |
Growing up in Williamstown but living in Seattle the last 10 years I have to say that an electric (or any kind of) trolley just doesn't fit the atmosphere of Williamstown. How about a horse and carriage? I'm not trying to be facetious/mocking, but there are more authentic, culturally appropriate options I think.
I guess it wouldn't be handicap accessible but I think that is a separate issue. Here we have buses that are simply provided for people with accessibility issues--I think that would be ideal. It's kind of like a taxi service only they are small buses (like the smaller accessible school buses), and they pick up other people, and they also provide routine service to people who need transportation to daily jobs--kind of like a vanpool. I don't know if BTA already has that, but it seems like they would.
Additionally, there are a lot of problems with alternative fuels. The best option available right now is biodiesel and gas-electric (solar source) hybrids. Hydrogen fuel cells have a lot of environmental problems with production and disposal. Biodiesel in small communities works well. In Seattle our new buses are biodiesel-electric hybrids.
Just food for thought. | | from: Candice Hoyt | on: 08-21-2009 |
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| The trolley grant is going forward at this time with data being gathered from stakeholders. | | from: update | on: 07-20-2009 |
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| Tell me more about the hydrogen fuel cells please. | | from: Joyce Harsch | on: 07-16-2009 |
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A noble effort for sure, but I find it hard to believe that enough power to operate these things can be produced by the sun.
Electric vehicles are fantastic, but the power will probably wind up coming from a coal fired plant.
Hydrogen fuel cells will be the ultimate answer.
But when will we get them?Ptrobably not in my lifetime. | | from: Dave Allard | on: 07-15-2009 |
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