Forest Conservation and Management Strategies for Climate Mitigation

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SHEFFIELD, Mass. — Tom Ryan, a forester with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), will present at the November Berkshire Green Drinks event on Thursday, Nov. 9, in person and online via Zoom.
 
The in-person gathering begins at 5:15 PM at Big Elm Brewery Sheffield Taproom, 65 Silver Street. The presentation and Zoom meeting start at 6:00 PM. 
 
Ryan will touch on several areas within forestry, including an overview of the current state of our forested landscape, a summary of state forestry programs and the existing land use designations for DCR state properties, conservation options for private landowners, forest-climate adaptation and carbon management concepts, landscape-scale habitat restoration efforts, MA forest product consumption trends, biochar, and supporting local forest products and how this can help mitigate climate change.
 
Pre-registration is required to attend this free event. Learn more and RSVP at: https://tinyurl.com/Nov2023-Berks-Green-Drinks
 
Tom Ryan has been a forester with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) since 2003. In 2022, he shifted from the service forestry program – working with private landowners and municipalities – to the management forestry program, helping to manage and steward some 314,000 acres of state forest, park, and reservation lands. Ryan and his family live on a small working farm in southern Berkshire County. Ryan serves on the Tyringham volunteer fire department, as well as on the board of directors for the Bidwell House Museum located in Monterey, where he focuses on forest stewardship. Ryan is also a member of the Berkshire Woodworkers Guild.
 
Berkshire Green Drinks (formerly Pittsfield Green Drinks) is an informal gathering that takes place once a month. A guest speaker talks for about 30 minutes beginning at 6 PM, and the presentation is followed by a discussion and Q&A. These nights are free and open to everyone with any environmental interest. 
 
Berkshire Green Drinks is sponsored and organized by the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT). 

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MassDOT: South County Construction Operations

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing various construction operations on I-90 eastbound and westbound for guardrail and bridge repair work, as well as tree trimming.

The work will take place from Monday, Dec.23, through Friday, Dec.27, during the following scheduled hours:

West Stockbridge/Stockbridge

  • Guardrail repair work will be conducted on I-90 westbound from mile marker 4.0 to 7.0, utilizing lane closures, during overnight hours on Monday, Dec.23, from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. the following morning.
  • Guardrail repair work will be conducted on I-90 eastbound from mile marker 0.8 to 7.0, utilizing lane closures, during overnight hours on Monday, Dec.23, from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. the following morning.

West Stockbridge

  • Bridge repair work will be conducted on I-90 eastbound from mile marker 0.8 to 3.0, utilizing lane closures, during overnight hours on Monday, Dec.23, from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. the following morning.
  • Guardrail repair work will be conducted on I-90 westbound at mile marker 3.0, utilizing lane closures, during overnight hours on Sunday, Dec.22, and Monday, Dec.23, from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., the following morning, with all work concluding by 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec.24,
  • Guardrail repair work will take place on I-90 westbound at mile marker 3.0 at the exit 3 off-ramp, with shoulder closure and narrowed ramp conditions, but the ramp will remain open on Monday, Dec.23, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

Stockbridge 

  • Guardrail repair work will be conducted on I-90 westbound at mile marker 4.5, utilizing lane closures, on Sunday, Dec.22, and Monday, Dec.23, from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., the following morning, with all work concluding by 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec.24,

Otis

  • Guardrail repair work will be conducted on I-90 westbound at mile marker 19.4, utilizing lane closures, on Sunday, Dec.22, and Monday, Dec.23, from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., the following morning, with all work concluding by 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec.24,

West Stockbridge/Stockbridge/Lee

  • Tree trimming will be conducted on I-90 eastbound from mile marker 0.0 to 10.0, utilizing shoulder closures, on Monday, Dec.23, Thursday, Dec.26, and Friday, Dec.27, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. 
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