Governor Announces Grant Opportunities for Fire Safety Education

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STOW, Mass.—The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced that applications are being accepted for $2 million in grants to support fire and life safety education for children and older adults, the people most vulnerable in the event of a fire at home.
 
The Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) and Senior SAFE grant programs are administered by the Executive Office of Public Safety & Security and the Department of Fire Services. They send local firefighters to schools, community groups, senior centers, councils on aging, and other venues to teach age-appropriate safety lessons to children under 18 and adults 65 and older.
 
"The SAFE and Senior SAFE grants are a smart investment in fire protection, fire prevention, and fire safety for the most vulnerable members of our communities," said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. "I want to thank Governor Healey, the Executive Office of Public Safety, and the Legislature for supporting these programs, and I encourage every fire department to apply."
 
According to a press release, the SAFE grant program has contributed to the steepest decline in child fire deaths in Massachusetts history. In 1994, there were more than two dozen child fire fatalities; the SAFE grants were launched the following year and child fire deaths never again reached even half that number. Massachusetts recently went more than two and a half years without losing a child to fire.
 
The Senior SAFE grants were created in 2014 to provide education, smoke and carbon monoxide alarm installation, and other services to reduce fire-related fatalities among older adults, who now represent the age group most likely to die in a fire.
 
Fire departments of every city, town, fire district, and eligible state authority can apply to share in funding for SAFE grants, Senior SAFE grants, or both. Departments must meet certain requirements, including mandatory fire data reporting, to be considered. The Notice of Funding Opportunity, grant application, and eligibility requirements are available on the Department of Fire Services' website. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm on Dec. 10, 2024.
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Dalton Division Road Project in Pre-25 Percent Design Stage

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The town's engineers say there is still time to work through the Dalton Division Road project’s design and permitting process. 
 
In December, the Select Board voted to advocate for Concept A, which would have sidewalks on both sides, a 5-foot bike lane in the road on both sides with a buffer, and a 2-foot painted buffer between the vehicle lane and in the bike lane. They also recommended the two-way stop control option. 
 
Since that decision, there have been sentiments to revisit this decision to reduce the cost and improve safety at the intersection off Williams Street, Washington Mountain Road, and Mountain Road. 
 
The original vote would have been the most expensive and "certainly not" the engineer or the state's "preferred design," Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said during a meeting in November. 
 
During last week's Select Board meeting, Fuss & O'Neil project manager and senior traffic engineer Steve Savaria represented the options, explained potential obstacles, and demonstrated the next steps. Present board members have yet to vote on their final choice. 
 
The project is still in the pre-25 percent design stage and is currently on the fiscal year 2029 Transportation Improvement Program list, so there is "plenty of time" to work out the details. 
 
Since the original vote, some board members have shifted their opinion toward advocating for the most feasible and timely option with a "path of least resistance to get this project done." 
 
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