Bird Banding Event In West Stockbridge

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WEST STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Ben Nickley, founder and executive director of the Berkshire Bird Observatory, will be the guest speaker at the second of West Stockbridge Historical Society's Berkshire Nature Talk Series on Friday, March 15, at 7 PM in the Old Town Hall, 9 Main Street, West Stockbridge.
 
The Berkshire Bird Observatory began as part of Green Berkshires' lower Taconic range biodiversity survey. Nickley,
who started the program and leads the bird-banding in summer and fall at Jug End State Reservation in South Egremont, is now spinning off the observatory and pursuing its non-profit status.
 
He'll discuss the origins and goals of the observatory, along with its current and future research projects and their importance to the knowledge of the region's bird populations.
 
Nickley's talk and slide presentation, "The Birds in Our Hands: Berkshire Bird Observatory's First Two Years of Conservation Science," will feature plenty of photos of the migratory and resident birds of the Berkshire-Taconic region and will be followed by a reception downstairs in the Old Town Hall.
 
The Berkshire Nature Talk Series, curated and hosted by author Scott Edward Anderson, started with its sold-out February program, which featured Leila Philip, author of "Beaverland," talking about the curious rodent and its impacts on the landscape. Future talks in the series will include programs on bears, mushrooms, and other fauna and flora of the
Berkshires and beyond.
 
The event is free, but the West Stockbridge Historical Society encourages those interested to register in advance as the capacity is limited to 100. Register for this free event by sending an email to: info@weststockbridgehistory.org

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BHS And CDCSB Partner to Improve Housing Availability

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass — Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) and the Community Development Corporation of Southern Berkshire (CDCSB) are partnering to support the expansion of workforce housing in South County. 
 
BHS will provide the CDCSB with financial support to make some units of the Thornewood available for temporary housing of healthcare workers who face barriers in finding available housing options.
 
"As part of our mission to advance health and wellness for everyone in our community, we recognize that creating better access to housing resources for a diverse population of workers will make a real impact," said Darlene Rodowicz, president & CEO of BHS. "We were pleased to work with the CDCSB to develop this innovative new collaboration focused on addressing one of the core challenges in our community—accessible, affordable workforce housing through the redevelopment of the Thornewood Inn." 
 
The Thornewood, at 453 Stockbridge Rd. in Great Barrington, has 16 furnished units that are suitable for 1–2 adults and vary in size, layout, and features.
 
"BHS's early support of the Thornewood project is greatly appreciated," said CDCSB Board President Jim Harwood. "Our partnership not only addresses a critical community need for short- and long-term housing for healthcare workers, but the additional financial support also allows us to provide this housing at affordable levels and fund ongoing upgrades for the property, such as our current project to build an improved shared kitchen for Thornewood residents."
 
According to the CDCSB, applicants working in Great Barrington will receive priority access to the rooms. Those working elsewhere in Berkshire County are also eligible. Eligibility for the affordable units is subject to maximum income levels.
 
For more information on The Thornewood, visit www.cdcsb.org.
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