PJ Library Pajama Drive

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — As chilly weather returns to the Berkshires, the PJ Library Pajama Drive conducted by the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires also returns.
 
Last year's effort collected hundreds of pairs of pajamas from individuals, groups, and local businesses. 
 
The Jewish Federation of the Berkshires have again teamed up with Carr Hardware to offer drop-off of brand-new pajamas (sizes newborn to teen) at these locations across Berkshire County:
  • Carr Hardware, 256 Main Street in Great Barrington
  • Carr Hardware, 489 Pittsfield Road in Lenox
  • Jewish Federation of the Berkshires, 196 South Street in Pittsfield
  • Carr Hardware, 179 State Road in North Adams
  • The Pajama Drive runs from November 4 through December 4.
Monetary donations towards the purchase of pajamas are also welcome. 
 
Donations will be received by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families in Pittsfield and will be distributed to local families during the holiday season

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If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Residents Oppose Battery Energy Storage in Southeast Pittsfield

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fifteen community members attended last week's Conservation Commission meeting to speak against a proposed battery energy storage system on Williams Street.

A Stonehenge Road resident called it an "accident waiting to happen" and said, "None of us want 60 Teslas parked in that goddamn spot." 

Fires, flooding, and noise interruptions are collective concerns. More than 170 people in the southeast Pittsfield neighborhood signed a petition against it.

On Thursday, the commission continued a notice of intent application from Brattle Brook LLC to construct a storage system, or BESS, at 734 Williams St., behind the Pittsfield Cooperative Bank.

Chair James Conant clarified, "we will have multiple meetings on this because it's contentious and it's difficult."

BlueWave Solars' Michael Carey, storage development and senior director, and Jesse O'Donnell, an engineer with Weston & Sampson, presented to the commission.

"We are in a time when we are putting in a lot more solar, a lot more wind power, a lot more renewable energy, into our grids nationwide and in Massachusetts, in particular," Carey said.

"In order to continue that and to continue to build a resilient grid in a world with more electric vehicles, big screen TVs, heat pumps, we need to add storage infrastructure to help balance the grid to make sure we have enough power on-site as needed."

He said the site was selected as a "good place" for a battery energy storage project.

"The interconnection points here in these power lines on William Street, it's a place that needs a battery like this," Carey said.

"Those wires get physically hotter at certain times a day, certain times a year. Our battery will actually draw power during those times to help stabilize things. It's in a place that is on a commercially zoned lot that is next to some other commercially zoned lots."

Work is proposed within the bordering vegetated wetland buffer zone. Carey explained that the BESS was moved east so that it is farther from homes and closer to the buffer zone after discussions with abutters.

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