Before breaking into the evening's business Tuesday, the council took a moment to recognize the executive director of the Berkshire Environmental Action Team.
"In regular times, before the world has turned upside down ... I would be with you probably with a full audience to celebrate as we do every year," said state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, who nominated Winn. "I am really pleased to present to you Pittsfield's 2020 Unsung Heroine Jane Winn."
The Massachusetts Commission of the Status of Women annually celebrates women throughout the state who may not receive the most attention but who leave their mark and improve their individual communities.
Winn was selected to serve as BEAT's first executive director in 2006 and helped form BEAT in 2002.
Farley-Bouvier said Winn champions the environment and fights for the environmental justice community. She said she has been impressed by how "nimble" Winn is in her ability to adapt to changing environmental concerns.
"Jane is somebody known to all of you for her longstanding work that she has done in this community," she said. "She is someone whose integrity is beyond reproach in line with advocating for wildlife who otherwise lack a voice. Jane has also been particularly sensitive to the environmental justice community. A human population without economic means or political muscle."
Farley-Bouvier said she is impressed by Winn's ability to reach out to the broader community to a younger generation and "inform, educate, and involve."
Before reading a proclamation, Mayor Linda Tyer thanked Winn for bettering Pittsfield.
"I wish we could be together in person so I could stand by you and be by your side as we offer this proclamation," she said. "We are thrilled to be honoring you this evening."
Winn was on the Zoom meeting call and thanked her team for helping her along the way.
"Wow thank you very much ... I am astounded," Winn said. "I hope I can live up to everything wonderful that you have said and I have the most wonderful team of people behind me and they do so much to make me look good."
Before closing, Farley-Bouvier said people like Winn are becoming more and more important as environmental concerns move into the forefront.
"I am just honored to share the same community with Jane," she said. "I can tell you that in 2020 it is important to have somebody that we can count on to take care of our environment and always keep us honest."
The City Council then went into regular business and accepted a few grants:
• $1,150.40 FY20 Child Passenger Safety Equipment Grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security/Office of Grants and Research for the Police Department.
• $50,000 Diverting Juveniles and Emerging Adults from Criminal Justice Involvement Grant from the Office of the Commissioner of Probation for the Police Department.
• $12,000 grant from the Department of Conservation and Recreation. These funds will be used to cover expenses related to the hiring of boat ramp monitors at city lakes during the summer of 2020.
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Teacher of the Month: Cindy Chevett
By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
Cindy Chevett has been with Head Start her entire career. She says teaching is challenging but also very rewarding.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County Head Start preschool teacher Cindy Chevett has been selected as the August Teacher of the Month.
The Teacher of the Month series, in collaboration with Berkshire Community College, will run for the next nine months and will feature distinguished teachers nominated by community members. You can nominate a teacher here.
To Chevett, the best part of being a teacher is seeing her students achieve even just the little things, such as writing the letter E or their name.
"It is the best job ever," she says with a smile and tears in her eyes as she says, "I love seeing them achieve."
She said although teaching can be challenging, the classroom environment is very fun and the job is very rewarding.
"There's children that come in and can't really speak so that you can understand them, and modeling, and when they leave the classroom, you can understand them. That was one of my best achievements with the child," Chevett said.
In Chevett's classroom, the students take control of their learning, instilling in them a love of learning.
To Chevett, the best part of being a teacher is seeing her students achieve even just the little things, such as writing the letter E or their name.
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The Zoning Board of Appeals supported variances and a special permit to facilitate a permanent wireless monopole facility at 500 Hubbard Ave., where Casella Waste Systems operates a transfer station.
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An audit of the Fire District's expenses has found a $165,000 deficit caused by mainly by overtime for firefighters and emergency medical technicians. click for more
Bullying allegations reported have increased, but that is likely due to Central Berkshire Regional School District's improved reporting system, the administration says. click for more