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Up to 6 Inches of Snow Predicted for Berkshires

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The Berkshires are expected to get hit with up to 6 inches of snow as the leading edge of a 1,500-mile storm system moves in the region on Tuesday. 
 
The National Weather Service in Albany, N.Y., has issued a winter weather advisory for the Berkshire and Southern Vermont beginning noon Tuesday through 10 a.m. on Wednesday. 
 
NWS is forecasting total accumulations of 3 to 6 inches with up to 8 inches possible in some higher-elevation portions of eastern New York. Snowfall could fall as fast as an inch an hour during Tuesday afternoon. 
 
Snow Emergencies
 
The city of Pittsfield has declared a snow emergency from 7 a.m. on Tuesday until 7 p.m. on Thursday. City residents are reminded of the alternate parking scheme for snow emergencies: park on the even side of the street from 7 a.m. Tuesday through 7 a.m. on Wednesday; then switch to the odd side through 7 a.m. on Thursday.
 
• Adams has declared a snow emergency from 5 p.m. on Tuesday through noon on Wednesday. There is no parking on the street or in the public parking areas during this time. Sidewalks must be cleared within 24 hours of the storm's ending and residents are encouraged to clean around fire hydreants near them. 
 
• North Adams has declared a snow emergency from 5 p.m. Tuesday to 2 p.m. Wednesday. Parking is not allowed on public streets during this time and residents are asked to clear sidewalks and fire hydrants near their homes.
 
Accuweather says this system originated off the West Coast and is expected to disrupt travel in a 1,500-mile belt stretching from to the Atlantic Coast. 
 
"Precipitation will gradually spread from south to north through the mid-Atlantic Monday night into Tuesday," explained AccuWeather Meteorologist Rob Richards. "The Monday evening commute could be at risk of becoming very messy around Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Travel Tuesday morning in areas New York City to Philadelphia could be delayed."
 
While the heaviest snow totals are expected to remain farther west in the Midwest, there could still be a small pocket of 3-6 inches in the Northeast as well, most likely in the mountains of northern Pennsylvania and portions of New York state, according to Accuweather.
 
The snow is expected to taper off by early Wednesday morning but there's a chance of snow showers later in the day. Thursday is expected to be partly sunny with highs in the low 20s.
 
For Tuesday, plan on slippery roads and times of reduced visibility.
 

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Phoebe Jordan Cast Historic Vote 104 Years Ago

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

The ballot box that Phoebe Jordan cast her ballot in is still used for every New Ashford election (with an iPad backup).
NEW ASHFORD, Mass. — Phoebe Jordan awoke in the wee hours 104 years ago, lit a lantern and set out on the 2 1/2-mile walk down the dirt road from her farm to the schoolhouse to vote. 
 
Did she know she was walking into history? Possibly. She was politically astute and was participating in something of an electoral stunt to splash New Ashford across the national news for being first in the nation to record results in the 1920 presidential election. 
 
Jordan, then 56, would become the first person to vote for president that year. Oddly, her title as the first woman to cast a vote wouldn't be mentioned for another four. 
 
Three days before this latest presidential election, Jordan's place in history was etched in stone — literally. 
 
More than three dozen family and community members made their way to the steep New Ashford Cemetery on Saturday to see the new inscription on her marble gravestone: 
 
"Phoebe Sarah Jordan ... first woman to vote in the United States, November 2, 1920." 
 
Ernest Jordan, whose grandfather Arthur was Phoebe's brother, gave a hearty welcome to the gathering and the youngest in the group — six generations removed from Phoebe — helped to pull off an American flag unveiling the inscription. Then everyone headed to the 1792 schoolhouse where Phoebe cast her vote in the ballot box that's still in use and to Town Hall for cookies made from Phoebe's recipe book. 
 
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