Berkshire County Arc to Host Online Training on Social Security Work Incentives

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County Arc will host a virtual training session on Social Security work incentives on Tuesday, March 18, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EST. The training is designed for individuals with disabilities receiving SSI and/or SSDI, and their families.

Topics covered will include:

  • Barriers to employment for Social Security disability beneficiaries
  • Available work incentives
  • Reporting requirements
  • Beneficiary rights
  • Employment support programs

The training will be led by Dennis DeYoung, a Community Partner Work Incentive Coordinator.

Registration is required due to limited space. To register, contact Nancy Willey at (413) 464-7262 Ext. 103 or nwilley@bcarc.org.

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Pittsfield Celebrates 'Twinning' With Irish Sister City

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Last week, the city celebrated St. Patrick's Day early with officials from Sister City Ballina, Ireland.

There was music, dancing, gift exchanges, and a lot of green.

"If you're wondering, what does a Sister City do?" Pittsfield Sister City Committee Chair Francis Curley said.

"We've had art exchanges, we had a female basketball team from Ballina come over and play here, we had a semi-pro basketball team from Ballina come here. So it's not just sports; it's like cultural exchanges. Every time I speak with someone from Ireland, I learn something new."

Pittsfield and Ballina have been "twinning" for 27 years, fostering cultural, educational, economic, and recreation exchanges.

"It's really special that we have that connection and I just feel that we have to keep it up," Ballina's Mayor Michael Loftus said.

Ballina is a community of about 10,000 people and, similar to Pittsfield, has a vibrant art scene and natural scenery. Even though the two cities are almost 3,000 miles away, Loftus displayed a photo of a local pothole to show that both places deal with the same everyday struggles.

"We also have potholes in Ireland and that's a diver, actually, in our potholes in Ireland," he said. "Whatever you do, please don't be criticizing. It's not just here that you have them."

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