DALTON, Mass. — The Fire Department received a donation of more than 2,352 cans of emergency drinking water from Anheuser-Busch and Girardi Distributors on Friday morning.
The donation will be stored in the department's cooler and distributed at fire scenes on hot summer days or made readily available to the firefighters when combating a fire, interim Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski said.
Anheuser-Busch partners with the National Volunteer Fire Council to provide emergency drinking water to volunteer fire departments so they can focus their limited resources on other things.
This donation goes a long way because it allows the department to save money by not having to buy extra drinking water, Czerwinski said.
Supplying this water to volunteer departments is Anheuser-Busch and Girardi Distributors way of showing that they are part of the community, Girardi Distributors branch manager Mark Mason said.
"It's a big cost to have to supply your own water, we know that. So, if we can make it easier and cost effective for the volunteer fire departments, they can put their resources into other areas," Mason said.
"You know, buying other equipment that's more beneficial for them instead of spending hundreds of dollars on water, whatever we can do helps a little bit."
"More than two-thirds of America's firefighters are volunteers, often serving on the frontlines in their local communities with limited resources and staffing," Anheuser-Busch's press release said.
The water hails from Anheuser-Busch's brewery in Cartersville, Ga., which periodically pauses its beer production to can clean, safe drinking water for the donation efforts.
The national organization, Anheuser-Busch, makes more than 100 brands of beer including Budweiser.
Girardi Distributors in Pittsfield has also recently delivered donated water to Becket, Clarksburg and Hinsdale. Girardi Distributors in Athol has also delivered donated water to fire departments in that area, Mason said.
Anheuser-Busch has a long history of community engagement and support, examples being aiding in disaster relief and preparedness, its partnership with the Red Cross, and its emergency drinking water program.
The brewer has donated more than 6.4 million cans of clean, safe drinking water to more than 960 volunteer fire departments across 49 states since launching the collaboration with the NVFC and its wholesaler in 2019.
This year, Anheuser-Busch intends on donating more than 2.5 million cans to volunteer fire departments across the country, which is more than ever before.
More information on the Anheuser-Busch Emergency Drinking Water program here.
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Pittsfield City Council Weighs in on 'Crisis' in Public Schools
By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
A half-dozen people addressed the City Council from the floor of Monday's meeting, including Valerie Anderson, right.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — After expressing anger and outrage and making numerous calls for accountability and transparency, the 11 members of the City Council on Monday voted to support the School Committee in seeking an independent investigation into allegations of misconduct by staff members at Pittsfield High School that have come to light in recent weeks.
At the close of a month that has seen three PHS administrators put on administrative leave, including one who was arrested on drug trafficking charges, the revelation that the district is facing a civil lawsuit over inappropriate conduct by a former teacher and that a staff member who left earlier in the year is also under investigation at his current workplace, the majority of the council felt compelled to speak up about the situation.
"While the City Council does not have jurisdiction over the schools … we have a duty to raise our voices and amplify your concerns and ensure this crisis is met with the urgency it demands," Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey said.
About two dozen community members attended the special meeting of the council, which had a single agenda item.
Four of the councilors precipitated the meeting with a motion that the council join the School Committee in its search for an investigation and that the council, "be included in the delivery of any disclosures, interim reports or findings submitted to the city."
Last week, the School Committee decided to launch that investigation. On Monday, City Council President Peter White said the School Committee has a meeting scheduled for Dec. 30 to authorize its chair to enter negotiations with the Springfield law firm of Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas to conduct that probe.
Ward 7 Councilor Rhonda Serre, the principal author of the motion of support, was one of several members who noted that the investigation process will take time, and she, like Kavey, acknowledged that the council has no power over the public schools beyond its approval of the annual district budget.
The 11 members of the City Council on Monday voted to support the School Committee in seeking an independent investigation into allegations of misconduct by staff members at Pittsfield High School that have come to light in recent weeks. click for more
The committee requested that the graphic designer change the font used in the "Est. 2024" text to a bolder and taller one because the selected font is barely legible.
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No injuries were reported after firefighters extinguished a fire in a two-story detached barn and garage at 566 South St. early Sunday morning. click for more
This project aims to enhance and expand the ability for eligible BRTA Paratransit customers, that require an accessible vehicle for travel in the evenings to destinations within these communities. click for more