The Jewish Federation of the Berkshires Welcomes Development Officer

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Jewish Federation of the Berkshires announces the appointment of Mark Cohn as its development officer. 
 
In this capacity, Mark will be responsible for working in partnership with the Executive Director, the Board of Directors, and the Development Committee to plan and implement Federation's annual campaign and major gifts fundraising effort.
 
Cohn, an ordained Reform Rabbi, previously served as rabbi of Temple Emanuel in Winston-Salem, NC, where he was honored with the title Rabbi Emeritus upon concluding his service. He also served as the assistant rabbi of Congregation Schaarai Zedek in Tampa, Fla.
 
"Having spent my professional life in the Jewish community, working at the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires is home, even in its newness to me," said Cohn. "I have already seen how this Federation serves a beautiful and important role in connecting synagogues and individuals, social services and families to one another so that we, collectively, may strengthen Jewish peoplehood and the surrounding community." 
 
Originally from the San Francisco Bay area, Cohn earned his B.A. in History from UCLA and an M.A. in History from Lehigh University. In 1998, he received his rabbinic ordination through Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion having studied in Jerusalem and Cincinnati, OH.
 
Cohn has two children, his son Eitan, 25, and daughter Harli, 20. In 2022, he married Rabbi Amy Wallk, who serves as the rabbi of Temple Beth El in Springfield.
 
Mark Cohn, development officer of the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires, can be reached by email at mcohn@jewishberkshires.org or by calling (413) 442-4360, ext. 19.

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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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