Free Sports Screenings at the Beacon

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Beacon Cinema is screening two big upcoming games – for free.

On Sunday, April 4, fans can view the "greatest rivalry in sports" (or at least in baseball), when the Red Sox and Yankees face off for opening day, live from Fenway Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 8:05; the Beacon's doors open at 7:30.

If college basketball is more your thing (or if you had such a good time Sunday night that you want to come back for more), the venue is screening the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship on Monday, April 5 at 9 p.m; doors open at 8:30.

During both events, the concession area in the lobby will be open, as will the wine and beer stand upstairs adjacent to the theaters showing the games. Limited concessions also will be available at the wine and beer stands.

There will be no advance ticketing for the events.

Registration Opening Soon for BHS Camp Humane

PITTSFIELD, Mass. —  Do you know a kid who loves animals? You might want to register them for the 2010 Camp Humane Summer Program, which introduces children to the principles of kind and humane care of animals and what it means to be a responsible pet owner.

Animal professionals visit the camp, located at 214 Barker Road, to teach kids about nontraditional pets and other wildlife in Berkshire County. The children will be able to interact with various animals in a safe classroom environment, but not as volunteers in the kennels. A different curriculum is planned for each week and grade level, including arts and crafts projects with animal themes, demonstrations of dog agility training courses, and other outdoor activities.

Registration opens on Monday, April 5. To be eligible, children must be going into the third through the eighth grades this coming September. Class size is limited to 20 students most weeks, 10 for weeks D & T (see below).

The Summer Program schedule is as follows:
Week A:  July 5-9, for Grade 3;
Week B: July 12-16, for Grade 4;
Week C: July 19-23, for Grade 5;
Week D, July 26-30, for Grade 6;
Week E, August 2-6, for Grade 7;
Week T, August 9-13, for Grade 8 (new this year)

Camp tuition is $200 per child for the full-week program, which runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parents provide lunch, snacks and beverages. There are a limited number of full and reduced tuition scholarships available, along with a payment plan for families in need. The scholarship form is available at the shelter.

Registration forms are available in the lobby of the shelter during their business hours: Tuesday through Saturday from 10 to 4, Thursday evenings from 5 to 8, and Sunday from 1 to 4; or visit www.berkshirehumane.org.

Tuition payment and a completed application form are needed to secure a child’s place in the desired session. A physician signed heath form is due by the first day of camp. Confirmation of a place at camp will be emailed to the parents. For current availability or any other questions, contact Karen Karlberg at 413-447-7878, ext 29 at kkarlberg@berkshirehumane.org.

Evacuation Day Supporter

Our friend Joyce Harsch of Williamstown sent us this photo of Walt Klinger, who spent three hours at Field Park in Williamstown on Wednesday, March 17, to remind people it was Evacuation Day.

We don't celebrate the day out here — it's a Boston holiday that shuts down government in Suffolk County, one that a lot of other Bays Staters would like to see disappear. But Klinger, of Pownal, Vt., thought it was great way to remind people of history.

Of course, the Berkshires did play a small role in the real evacuation day 234 years ago. Henry Knox dragged his cannon into South County, most likely along what's now Route 23 through Great Barrington, on his way from Fort Ticonderago to Boston. The arrival of the cannons forced the British to evacuate the city.

So even though Klinger would have been more appropriate waving in Great Barrington, he made a pretty picture by the 1753 House.

It's Spring When: They Start Stocking Trout

Something fishy is about to happen. The state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife is dumping 540,000 "feisty" brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout in pounds and streams statewide.

"We'll be putting out 320,000 rainbow trout that will average 12 inches or longer, and about 78 percent of these rainbows will be 14 inches or larger," Chief Fish Culturist Ken Simmons wrote in the latest MassWildlife reprot. "They'll be distributed statewide throughout the stocking season by our five regional Wildlife District offices."

Stocking will begin as soon as ice, snow and mud conditions allow the trucks access to the waterways. Anglers are advised to contact their district office for updates on when stocking will begin in the area.

What's going into the water? About 47,000 brown trout averaging more a foot long will be stocked along with another 115,000 browns in the 9-to-11-inch range. Not surprisingly, the bigger fish will land in the larger water bodies, while most of the smaller fish will be releaseed in the streams and brooks.

Brook trout will be stocked in a similar fashion with approximately 11,500 fish measuring a foot or better, and more than 66,000 in the 6-to-11-inch class.

Simmons said he is particular excited about the quality of this year's crop of 2-year-old brook trout, which he puts down to a "combination of hard work by hatchery staff and good growing conditions at the hatcheries where they are produced." 

Some 6,000 tiger trout are set to be released as well, all topping the 14-inch mark. These handsome fish, a cross between a female brown trout and a male brook trout, have become popular with folks lucky enough to hook and land one, say Wildlife officials. 

To find out the status of trout stocking here or call the Western District office at 413-684-1646.

Got a Degree? Be a Judge!

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — It's good news, and bad.

The 6th annual Region 1 Science Fair is expected to the biggest yet. The fair brings in students from around Berkshire County and parts of Western Mass. to showcase their explorations of technology and science.

Past fair winners have researched carcinogens, yawning, high-tech football gloves, wind power, adaptive tools for the handicapped and mealworms as a protein source, among other topics.

But the large number of participants — more than 100 — means more qualified judges are needed. The fair winners will go on to the State Science Fair competition in May at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and some may eventually participate in national and international fairs.

What do you need to be a judge? A degree or work experience in biology, behavioral and social science, biochemistry, botany, chemistry, computer science, earth and space science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, medicine, microbiology, physics or zoology.

Local businesses also are encouraged to get involved by allowing their qualified employees to volunteer for the event.

The science fair is an important element of the nationwide push to involve students in science, engineering and math programs. It is being hosted by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and the Berkshire STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) Pipeline Group.

The fair will be held on Friday, March 12, at MCLA from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Region 1 includes Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties.