Berkshire Money Management Supports United Way

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DALTON, Mass. — Berkshire Money Management is supporting Berkshire United Way's (BUW) #HereForGood Volunteer Month. 
 
As part of this year's initiative, the wealth management company with offices in Dalton and Great Barrington, has contributed $10,000 in sponsorship support, staff volunteer hours, and use of the Model Farm to host BUW's annual Live United Community Celebration on Wednesday, May 18.
 
"Giving back to the local community is a core part of our company culture," said Berkshire Money Management co-founder and active United Way volunteer Stacey Carver. "Berkshire United Way sees, understands, and is working in so many ways to address the needs of the individuals in our county who struggle to feed themselves and their families. Volunteering for BUW is one of the most humbling and joyous things I've done in my life, and we as a team are proud to partner with this vital organization to improve quality of life in the Berkshires."
 
In addition to their $10,000 sponsorship gift, Berkshire Money Management will host the United Way's Live United Community Celebration at their Dalton office location – better known as the Model Farm – at 161 Main Street on Wednesday, May 18, from 4 to 6 pm. The event will include presentations of the Robert K. Agar Jr. Volunteerism Award to Jewish Family Services of Western Massachusetts, and the Daniel C. Dillon Helping Hands, Caring Hearts Award to Shirley Edgerton. Tickets to the event are available for purchase at berkshireunitedway.org.
 

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Dalton Residents Eliminate Bittersweet at the Dalton CRA

DALTON, Mass. — Those passing by the house at Mill + Main, formally known as the Kittredge House, in Dalton may have noticed the rim of woods surrounding the property have undergone a facelift. 
 
Two concerned Dalton residents, Tom Irwin and Robert Collins set out to make a change. Through over 40 hours of effort, they cleared 5 large trailers of bittersweet and grapevine vines and roots, fallen trees and branches and cut down many small trees damaged by the vines.
 
"The Oriental Bittersweet was really taking over the area in front of our Mill + Main building," said Eric Payson, director of facilities for the CRA. "While it started as a barrier, mixing in with other planted vegetation for our events help on the lawn, it quickly got out of hand and started strangling some nice hardwoods."
 
Bittersweet, which birds spread unknowingly, strangles trees, and also grows over and smothers ground level bushes and plants. According to forester and environmental and landscaping consultant Robert Collins, oriental bittersweet has grown to such a problem that the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Wildlife Management has adopted a policy of applying herbicide to bittersweet growing in their wildlife management areas.
 
Collins and Irwin also chipped a large pile of cut trees and brush as well as discarded branches. 
 
"We are very grateful to be in a community where volunteers, such as Tom and Robert, are willing to roll up their sleeves and help out," said CRA Executive Director Alison Peters.
 
Many areas in Dalton, including backyards, need the same attention to avoid this invasive plant killing trees. Irwin and Colins urge residents to look carefully at their trees for a vine wrapped often in a corkscrew fashion around branches or a mat of vines growing over a bush that has clusters of orange and red berries in the Fall. To remove them pull the roots as well.
 
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