Simon's Rock 2024 Alumni Reunion Begins May 31

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The 2024 Bard College at Simon's Rock Alumni Reunion will begin on Friday, May 31 through Sunday, June 2, 2024.
 
The events will kick off on Friday with the BBQ Mixer and Lawn Games, which will take place on The White House front lawn, followed by the world premiere of the Great Barrington Public Theater's performance of "Dog People," and the Alumni Buffet Breakfast on Saturday morning. 
 
Following the breakfast, the Herbarium Tour & Demo, guided by Professor Donald McClellan and Alum Hannah Wheeler, will take visitors through the internationally recognized plant collection which includes species from the Simon's Rock program on the Caribbean island of Montserrat, and segue into a picnic lunch with Provost John Weinstein at the Simon's Rock Farm and Center for Food and Resilience. The festivities will conclude on Sunday with a Champagne Brunch in the Dining Hall.
 
During reunion weekend, alumni and their families can also indulge in special discounts and deals, such as 20 percent off Simon's Rock gear at the Campus Store and at local businesses The facilities of the Kilpatrick Athletic Center will also be available for free to alumni and their families throughout the entire weekend.
 
Businesses that are interested in offering special discounts to Simon's Rock alumni from May 31-June 2 should contact Asa Cade, acade@simons-rock.edu, for more information on how to participate.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Butternut Fire Contained; Conditions Improve

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Butternut Fire is now believed to be contained after burning nearly 1,400 acres on East Mountain.
 
The Fire Department continues to urge people to stay out of the affected woods, as the chances of getting hurt are high, and not to start outdoor fires.
 
Public Information Officer Lt. Brian Mead on Saturday morning said there are still hotspots and potential for flareups.
 
"This area is very unstable. We are expecting that there are going to be tree falling, there are going to be landslides and there are going to be rocks rolling downhill," he said. "It is very steep. The area is slippery. We cannot have anybody in this area."
 
The fire had not grown as of Friday and crews have dwindled as light rain fell across the region over the past three days. On Friday, the department reported 15 crew members — down from a high of 120 — and identified the involved area as 1,388 acres.
 
Drones and a crew from Wyoming were walking the perimeter on Saturday and verifying that fire breaks cut into forest are holding, the Fire Department posted. The crew from Wyoming is a Type VI engine crew with "vast knowledge of wildfires" and will be making adjustments and improvements as needed over the next few days, the post read. 
 
The smoke through the town and surrounding areas appears to be minimal. Locations to get KN-95 or N-95 masks can be found at www.southernberkshirehealth.com or by calling Southern Berkshire Public Health Collaborative at 413-243-5540, Ext. 109. The Bushnell Sage Library will have masks available this weekend on Saturday from 10-2 or Sunday from 2-5. Other mask distribution sites are open during the week.
 
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