Dalton Committee Seeks Funding for Invasive Species

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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DALTON, Mass. — The Open Space and Recreation Committee discussed addressing the invasive species at the Pines trailhead during its meeting last week. 
 
There will possibly be a money article on the annual town warrant requesting voters allocate $20,000  from free cash so that the committee can apply for a Community Forest Stewardship program grant. The Select Board placed it on the annual town meeting warrant on Monday. 
 
During a walkthrough of the Pines, Jess Toro, co-owner of Native Habitat Restoration, urged the committee to apply for the program.
 
According to Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson, although the grant would be reimbursed, the town needs to allocate the amount the committee is requesting in order to apply. 
 
If approved, the first phase would be to hire a consultant and focus on cutting and painting large invasives and vines in the 17 acres, staying out of any wetlands and wetland buffers. 
 
The committee has been thinking about how to address invasive species at the Pines since the start of the project and this year will be taking its first step into the long process of invasive species management. 
 
However, finding a professional to help with invasive species has been difficult due to the limited number of experts in the field, said the committee.
 
In other news: 
 
The committee will contact Dan Esko to inquire about the status of his efforts to establish a skate park in town. More information on the endeavor here

Tags: invasive species,   outdoor recreation,   trails,   

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Soldier On 5K Sunday in Pittsfield

Community submission
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Soldier On and the Berkshire Running Foundation will host the inaugural Soldier On 5K Walk/Run Sunday, Nov. 10 at the First Street Common in Pittsfield at 9 a.m.
 
This event will help support the mission at Soldier On. Soldier On is a private nonprofit organization committed to ending veteran homelessness. Since 1994, the organization has been providing homeless veterans with transitional housing and supportive services.
 
In 2010, Soldier On opened the first Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community, a permanent housing cooperative that provides formerly homeless veterans with safe, sustainable, affordable housing – transitioning them from homelessness to homeownership. This housing model will be replicated nationally as Soldier On continues to change the end of the story for homeless veterans throughout the country.
 
 “Soldier On is excited to collaborate with Berkshire Running Foundation, as they host the first annual Veterans Day 5K run/walk this weekend,” Soldier On President and CEO Bruce Buckley said. “The event will support the many at-risk veterans that Soldier On serves. These events not only provide financial support for our veterans, but it creates a larger community of support that lasts far beyond the day of the 5K.”
 
Registration for the event can be done online until Friday, at 5PM by logging onto https://www.zippy-reg.com/online_reg/index.php?e=2049 and all the event details can be found on the www.berkshirerun.org website. Walkers and runners will receive a long sleeve technical running shirt and post race breakfast sandwiches provided by Biggin’s Diggins.
 
Bib pick up and in store registration will be at Berkshire Running Center on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteers are needed to help with this event, please contact Shiobbean Lemme at director@berkshirerun.org.
 
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