FEMA Awards Nearly $1.4 M to BMC for COVID-19 Testing Costs

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BOSTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will send almost $1.4 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse the Berkshire Medical Center (BMC) for the cost of of testing the public and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The $1,390,865 Public Assistance grant will reimburse the private 302-bed teaching hospital in Pittsfield affiliated with the University of Massachusetts Medical School for the cost of contracting to administer 22,968 COVID-19 tests between September 2020 and January 2021.
 
The hospital also purchased supplies such as lab coats, masks, gloves, and propane for the testing tent, and contracted to provide security and cleaning services.
 
"FEMA is pleased to be able to assist the Berkshire Medical Center with these costs," said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. "Providing resources for our partners on the front lines of the pandemic fight is critical to their success, and our success as a nation."
 

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Hancock Shaker Village 'The Big Chill' Celebrated Berkshire Winter

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Children have fun in the snow at Hancock Shaker Village. More photos.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hancock Shaker Village's "The Big Chill" event turned out to be chillier and snowier than expected. 
 
The event is to celebrate all things New England in the winter, said Caroline Holland, the Village's executive director and CEO. Photos from the event here
 
It featured maple tree tapping, blacksmithing and woodworking demonstrations, live music, a fire pit, sledding and snow activities, live music, and more. 
 
However, the two-day event was cut short as snow and sleet covered the region.
 
Although it became a one-day event, the village is brainstorming ideas to make up for it. 
 
"We're a little sad that we had to cancel. We were thinking of, if we didn't do a Big Chill two-day festival, maybe we should do something like a big thaw festival in March," Holland said.
 
"So stay tuned for maybe a little something that we might add on to the calendar."
 
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