NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Ninety-Nines, an international women's pilot group, will be flying in next month to paint a rose compass on the tarmac of Harriman & West Airport.
Airport Manager Bill Greenwald told the Airport Commission last week that volunteers with the Ninety-Nines group are set to start painting on Saturday, May 20.
"That is going to happen and, hopefully, we can get people to help us out," he said. "We are going to get the crew out there and the Ninety-Nines are in the process of organizing the paint."
The Ninety-Nines were scheduled to paint the compass last year but it never came to be.
Greenwald said he had to re-mark the compass so it was visible.
"They were basically invisible but I scribed them back in," he said. "As far as we know, we are good to go and looking for volunteers to lend a hand."
The nonprofit Ninety-Nines association dates to 1929 and is named for its 99 charter members. Aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart was its first president and it admits women who are licensed or who have their student pilot certificates.
Air-marking dates from the 1930s when few airplanes had radios and pilots often relied on landmarks to navigate. Originally a project of NASA's predecessor, air-marking was promoted by some of the Ninety-Nines founders. After federal funding ended, Blanche Noyes, a former president of the association and head of the air marking division of the Civil Aeronautics Administration, continued to advocate for the tradition using local donations and grants for the paint. The group provides the tools and volunteers.
A compass rose is an four- or eight-pointed star that shows directional orientations: north, south, east, west. According to the group, a compass rose takes about two days to layout and paint. The Connecticut 99 chapter created one with a diameter of 75 feet at Meridian-Markham Airport three years ago.
Greenwald said the rain date will be May 21 and that Hot Tomatoes may attend with its portable wood-fired pizza oven to provide refreshments.
In other business, Chairman Jeff Naughton said there will be an airport project update next month.
"There be one next month and Phase 2 of the apron project will be completed," he said. "They just have to run through the punch list."
Although largely complete, the project was put on hold during the winter.
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
Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
click for more