GreylockNews.COM

MUSIC EVENT: Go this Saturday (7:30 p.m.|Jan. 20) as Eliza Edens opens for Lizzie No at MassMoCA

2024-01-14T13:05:00.007-05:00

If you're already following -- or want an introduction to -- new folk singer-songwriter Eliza Edens (Densmmore*) here's an opportunity to see her in formance without a long drive to Northampton, Albany, Boston, Keene, Burlington, Portland or the other places she often performs.

Eliza will be at MassMoCA's Club B10 on Saturday starting at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for the two-person show are $32 from MoCA direction or via EventBrite.

Here's some information and the TICKET LINK about the show; the headliner is another folksinger, Lizzie No:

SEE: https://massmoca.org/event/lizzie-no/

It's also listed in the Berkshire Eagle calendar this week:

https://www.berkshireeagle.com/local-events/?_evDiscoveryPath=/event/105034422n-eliza-edens

Eliza tours the Midwest, northeast, mid-South and sometimes the West Coast, and has performed at Hancock Shaker Village and the Store at Five Corners. Her music is on Spotify and other streaming platforms and from her website.

Here's her standard blurb:

Born and raised in the Berkshires and currently living in Brooklyn, N.Y.⁠, Eliza Edens (Densmore) weaves together disparate influences of people and place into her work to create mesmerizing sonic tapestries with guitar and voice. With a love for tinkering with alternate tunings à la Nick Drake, a curious harmonic ear from years of childhood classical piano lessons, and an ever-expanding affinity for words and stories, Edens’ songs build a kaleidoscopic world that documents the parallels between hope and heartbreak. The resulting sound is a diverse palette of guitar-based, experimental folk-rock centered around Edens gently cradled voice and brimming at the edges with pockets of sonic whimsy.

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* --FULL DISCLOSURE: Ms. Edens is the daughter of GreylockNews.com blogger Bill Densmore & Betsy Johnson

Humble Pie caterers Kristin Kennedy and Heather Mumford describe their Airstream, bakery, kitchen and catering service

2024-01-11T13:12:00.005-05:00

Inside the Airstream

This is a short post about Humble Pie, a business that catered an 80-person dinner for us in January 2024. This is in a sense a commercial message, but it's not paid for. It's about a commercial kitchen, bakery and catering service based near Bennington, Vt., that serves the corner of Massachusetts, Vermont and New York we inhabit.

We asked Kristin Kennedy to describe the service she operations with her partner Heather Mumford and here's what she sent along:

Full service catering, serving Southern Vermont, the Berkshires and New York east of Albany. Emphasizing use of whole foods, local fresh and seasonal ingredients.

"Humble Pie Airstream kitchen, Humble Spirits bar truck, & Chickadee catering are all connected by a pair of local ladies called Kristin Kennedy & Heather Mumford. Between our Airstream food truck & vintage horse trailer bartruck, we are able to ROCK your event! We are passionate about making delicious, homemade food & sourcing from local farmers. We also like to keep things as eco friendly as possible.

"Our 1974 Airstream has been refurbished into a 30 foot, compact catering kitchen on wheels, featuring a double convection oven, cook-top, large griddle & fryer! With this set-up we can create some fun menu options! We can also set-up an outdoor kitchen with a grill, whenever needed. This means your dinner can be cooked on site and be as fresh as possible! Paired with our super fun, teal mobile bar with kegerator & full bar set-up, and staffed with an awesome crew, you're set for the ultimate duo! Oh yeah, and we love to decorate them!

Home base

"We're also in the process of building a brick & mortar catering kitchen in Petersburg NY called Chickadee catering, just over the border of Pownal on Rte 346, so we can cater larger events! Coming in 2025!

"Just in need of catering services? No problem, we do that too! We've collected lots of catering equipment over our many years in the industry, and retain reliable food vendors such as Black River produce, HIllcrest foods & Sysco that we source from. We often pair with the beautiful Buxton school in Williamstown, Massachusetts for special events & kitchen rentals as well."

Thanks for your interest! Stay in the loop with us on Facebook & Instagram!

Cheers! Kristin (Kennedy) & Heather (Mumford)

Humble Pie caterers

Woodford, Vt. (near Bennington)

802-379-8502

Fwd: Vermont's Successful Neighbor App Opens in Williamstown

2020-08-17T20:40:00.001-04:00

Lynn Espey of Front Porch Forum shares news that Vermont's most popular neighborhood social network is now serving Williamstown, Massachusetts. Please find the press release and links below."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vermont's Successful Neighbor App Opens in Williamstown

Online Community Network Brings Neighbors Together Offline

Williamstown, Mass., August 17, 2020－ Front Porch Forum (FPF) just opened its free online service in Williamstown, Massachusetts, providing people here an easy way to connect with their neighbors.

Two months ago a number of Williamstown community members and organizations, led by resident Matt Baya, began a grassroots effort to generate enough interest to bring Front Porch Forum to their community. Volunteers from South Williamstown Community Association, Williams College, Williamstown Chamber of Commerce, Williamstown Elementary School PTO and area businesses all participated.

"We're really excited to be the first community in Massachusetts to be part of Front Porch Forum. Now that our usual gathering spots are not available to us, we need to be in touch with each other virtually more than ever. We've only been active a week and already there has been some good mutual aid" said Bette Craig, president of the South Williamstown Community Association.

People use their local FPF to find lost dogs, give away extra tomato plants, report break-ins, recommend roofers, announce school events, debate town budgets, organize community relief efforts... and much more.

"FPF has served Vermont towns since 2006," said co-founder Michael Wood-Lewis. "And people use FPF for all sorts of things... this brief daily connection helps neighbors become better informed and more involved in the life of their town."

Members submit their own messages to their local forum, which FPF distributes to nearby residents as an online e-newsletter which can also be accessed via the FPF mobile app. Because the service is moderated and real names accompany postings, the discussions remain civil, engaging and relevant.

Susan Clark, a Vermont Town Moderator and FPF member said, "technology can be used to divide us or bring us together. I really admire the way Front Porch Forum uses the Internet, but does not try to keep you on the screen for hours. FPF urges you to read the local postings and then get going, and go out and be with your neighbors. That is really important and constructive in terms of building community and building democracy."

The mission of Front Porch Forum is to help neighbors connect and build community. We do that by hosting regional networks of online neighborhood and town forums. In Vermont, more than 190,000 people of the state's 260,000 households participate.

Search for the Front Porch Forum mobile app in the Apple or Google Play app stores or sign up for your local FPF at https://FrontPorchForum.com.

Lynn Espey

Marketing Manager

802-793-6051

Helping neighbors connect and build community since 2006.

---------------------------------------------------------

Bill Densmore

Executive Director

Information Trust Exchange Governing Association

75 Water St.

Williamstown MA 01267

617-448-6600

https://www.infotrust.org/quicklinks

TEXT: Candidate Alex Carlisle releases candidate statement for Williamstown Planning Board re-election

2020-05-24T14:44:00.001-04:00

Here are notes on Planning Board issues on the June Town of Williamstown Town Meeting warrant, as supplied by Alex Carlisle, who is seeking re-election to the Williamstown (Mass.) Planning Board. Please address questions to Carlisle at 413-884-4503 or maclisle@gmail.com

Link to voter information and mail-in voting application for Williamstown:
https://williamstownma.gov/2020/04/24/early-voting-applications-available//

Platform commentary:

A week or more ago I noticed a request for the two candidates for the Planning Board to present their platforms. Even though all voters want to know what direction the candidates lean, the position is more about getting the details right than any big political agenda. As I had responded in an earlier post, the ADU bylaw was not just about expanding housing opportunity in town, it was also about who might benefit and how that might effect the neighborhoods and the town over the long term. Some seem to have interpreted my opposition to the way the bylaw was written as an opposition to expanding housing in Williamstown, when In fact I wanted to ensure that the ADU housing expansion was directed to add housing where it was most needed.

Bullet Point Platform

-I believe that the Planning Board has a primary role in planning for the long term needs and goals for the town.
-I believe that any form of regulation should be deeply considered before being committed to law. Reactionary bylaws, or those deemed necessary to serve short term needs should be avoided.
-I believe that getting the details right is far more important than just getting a bylaw passed.
I believe that we need to carefully thread our way through perceived opportunities for growth to ensure that the town will truly benefit from them in the long-term.
-I believe that serving the town and townspeople of Williamtown is an honor and I am dedicated to ensure a balanced and complete examination and review of every issue presented to the Planning Board.

The Longer Read:

In lieu of an actual platform, I will offer my general wishes for Williamstown's future.
I would like to strengthen our town center by increasing opportunities for businesses and housing in the Spring Street/ Latham Street/ Meacham Street and Water Street areas. A strong town center would include a hub of walking and biking paths radiating outward, a public space, condominiums and apartments for those who wish to live near shops and restaurants, and a design sensibility in keeping with a small New England college town. Toward that goal I had submitted a proposal to the Planning Board for an architectural planning competition to generate independent concepts for the town center. To request a copy of that proposal please contact the Planning Board at: PLANNINGBOARD@WILLIAMSTOWNMA.GOV

Jobs and employment opportunities continue to be limited in Williamstown and there do not appear to be large businesses or employers seeking to establish themselves in town. On the other hand, we do have current pressure to expand housing for those who would like to move here, as well as for those who already work here in town and are seeking an affordable home. I believe that we should focus on meeting those needs first in hope that a rising population may, in turn, encourage business growth.

Ultimately the value of a candidate should based on the strength of his/her voting record, and I stand by mine. I have already expressed my view on the ADU bylaws at this site, and below are my votes and opinions on the current town warrant articles to be presented at this years town meeting.

ARTICLE A - REFORMING NON CONFORMING 1 & 2 FAMILY STRUCTURES

The Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) of Massachusetts in 2011 began interpreting the sections of MGL Ch. 40A-6 more expansively as they relate to nonconforming single and two-family homes. Over the past decade the courts in Massachusetts have continued to uphold this interpretation. In January 2019 a case in Brookline firmly solidified this more expansive interpretation of MGL Ch. 40A-6 which sets a minimum floor for rights local zoning must extend to non conforming 1 & 2 family properties. This amendment brings our local bylaw into alignment with current case law and extends those minimum rights as the courts have directed.

My vote: "For"
This article brings our local bylaws in sync with state laws governing non-conforming lots by increasing the rights of non-conforming lot owners.

ARTICLE B - REGULATION OF LONG & COMMON DRIVEWAYS

This is a two-part warrant article. Part 1:

In Williamstown, many single family homes are constructed with long driveways. Our emergency responders have become increasingly concerned about their ability to navigate these driveways safely. This proposal responds to this concern. It will not impact driveways less than 500' in length.

Vote: "Against"

This warrant does regulate driveways longer than 100' by requiring less than 12% grade and a "surface adequate for emergency vehicles". Driveways over 500' will require a review by the ZBA to provide additional oversight. The description of "many single family homes" is an enlargement of the current annual addition of a few homes (2-4) with long driveways as a recent construction trend. These are the only properties being addressed by this article. Existing properties and driveways are not affected.

Our existing zoning and building codes already require a series of reviews by the Planning Board, Community Development Office, building, electrical, gas and plumbing inspectors and a review by the Fire Department. These reviews provide a degree of oversight to building construction and driveway engineering and allow for recommendations by the Fire Chief for road access. In addition, these properties also need access to heavy construction equipment, fuel oil or propane, construction vehicles, service vehicles, FedX and UPS trucks. Insurance companies charge a premium for homes with limited access and long distances from a fire hydrant. In other words there are already existing pressures on the home builder to provide reasonable access.

This bylaw is aimed squarely at second home owners to solve a very limited problem. It does nothing to improve emergency access to the many homes in town whose driveways may be shorter, but may also have difficult access due to steep roadways, tight turns, or low hanging tree branches. What it does do is make home and long driveway construction increasingly expensive for those with more limited budgets, and how this might affect someone putting up a summer camp on a jeep road is unclear.

One of the reasons I voted against this section of the warrant article is that a pull-off requirement was not included. A pull-off every 250' feet is a low cost means to allow vehicles, including emergency vehicles, to pass and to prevent someone having to back down the entire length of a long driveway when confronted with a vehicle going in the opposite direction. This option would be especially advantageous during emergencies when a number of vehicles can be expected to be involved.

Alternative Solutions:

Williamstown already has a number of existing municipal positions charged with specific tasks such as Fence Viewer, Tree Warden, and Town Constable. Perhaps a position of driveway inspector to fairly and equally ensure access for emergency vehicles on private driveways would answer all of these questions. The inspector would hand out non-binding recommendations to property owners and note potentially hazardous conditions for the fire department and emergency vehicle files.

Part 2:

It also clarifies the legality of common driveways in our community. This type of long rural driveways can service two or more homes and have been allowed for decades as "customarily accessory" to single family homes.

My vote: "For"

This bylaw will add legal clarity to the responsibilities for owners sharing a single driveway and is long overdue.

ARTICLE C - MARIJUANA REGULATION REFORM

The Planning Board proposed and Town Meeting passed regulations governing marjiuana related land uses in 2017 to respond to the passage of a 2016 ballot initiative legalizing recreational marijuana products. These were passed prior to the formation of the Commonwealth's Cannabis Control Commission and the promulgation of that Commission's regulations. This proposal aligns our bylaw with those regulations and provides applicants with additional requirements for setbacks, screening, lot area, performance for growing facilities. These standards will help our Zoning Board of Appeals evaluate proposals. This proposal will also ban the commercial growing of all recreational and medical marijuana outdoors in Williamstown.

My vote: "Against"

This warrant article is largely a reaction to a failed attempt by a commercial grower to begin an operation at the base of Blair Road. This would have been a legal business in keeping with the existing bylaws, but a group of neighbors brought a legal challenge to the grower and effectively scared him off. That incident was a clear reason to review and tighten those existing bylaws.

Once again, it is the details that truly matter. Although I do support tighter regulations and oversight for cannabis cultivation in town, I feel that the board has got this backward by choosing to close the door to outdoor growing while leaving it open to indoor operations. This choice would eliminate the option for local farmers who might finally have a "cash" crop to support their operations. Considering the benefits of the open land surrounding Williamstown that we owe to local farmers, it seems odd that we would prefer to give the option to outside interests instead.
It is worth noting that indoor grow operations are far more capital intensive and are usually funded by a new breed of corporate cannabis investors. In spite of public comments made to the contrary, it is largely these indoor grow operations that have been cited as the source of smell, pollution, and environmental impact. These operations run 24/7 year round producing flowering plants, the source of the odor, as opposed to the once a year outdoor crop. These industrial indoor grow operations would be allowed in the town Planned Business (i.e. Colonial Plaza) or Limited Industrial (i.e. near Steinerfilm) zones. There is currently no means to scientifically specify limits to odor emissions and therefore no accurate means to regulate these emissions. The changes discussed on outdoor cultivation would have limited legal locations to a very small number of areas on the outskirts of town 500' from the nearest residence, and would have limited the maximum size of such a cultivation site to just over one acre.

To sort through the many issues raised by the outdoor growing opposition, I made a point to visit the only legal outdoor cannabis grow operation in the Berkshires in Sheffield, twice. Once in the mid summer, and second during harvest. I wanted to see first hand how much the operation looked like a razor ringed penal colony (not at all) and how much the odor was a problem during the harvest season (it wasn't). Although Dante Birch of the Planning Board joined me on the second visit, the other PB members could not attend ( all were invited). Of all of those opposed to outdoor growing, it seems Dante and I were the only ones to physically visit a cannabis farm. Personally, from that experience I would welcome small outdoor cannabis farms in Williamstown, especially if it would aid our struggling farmers.

Here are some additional bullet points to consider:

The odor issue has been repeatedly raised, especially in states that allow much larger operations than those allowed in Massachusetts. However, like any crop that can be hybridized or selectively bred, the odor issue is likely to addressed quickly and should not be a long-term deterrent to outdoor grow operations. There are low odor varieties currently available.
It remains legal to grow Industrial hemp as an agricultural crop in Massachusetts and that use is not effected by this bylaw. Industrial hemp currently has the same odor issues as recreational or medicinal cannabis and can be grown in much larger operations.
Industrial indoor cannabis operations are contained, but they also produce far more concentrated odors. The heat generated by grow lights requires industrial ventilation of these grow spaces in concentrated air streams. Although there are systems that can be used to reduce odor output, such as charcoal filters and ozone treatment, the odor limits will still be difficult to regulate without specific limitations.
The single highest cost for indoor grow operations, aside from legal expenses, is electric power used for lights and ventilation. Williamstown is an expensive place to buy electricity, and it is very likely that these operations will only be temporary as the industry grows and moves to states and locations with looser regulations and cheaper electricity, leaving abandoned operations along the way.

Here is the link to voter information and mail-in voting application for Williamstown:
https://williamstownma.gov/2020/04/24/early-voting-applications-available/

A conversation in December about Berkshire’s cities

2018-11-06T08:04:00.001-05:00

‘Death with Dignity’ discussion on Tuesday

2018-10-28T19:19:00.001-04:00

THREE LETTERS: About the reporting of alleged sexual-abuse cases at Williams College | Meg Bossong, John Pucci, Paul Caccaviello

2018-10-24T21:20:00.004-04:00

UPDATE, OCT. 31 -- WAMC'S Josh Landes has posted a detailed story about this.

These three letters were published in The Berkshire Eagle on the dates and at the URLs provided. They are reproduced here in a exercise of copyright fair use for non-profit analysis and comment and to promote public discourse. The first letter refers to a debate which occurred July 31 in Williamstown. You can go back and review audio of that debate or watch WilliNet's archived VIDEO.

Some reporting of the nuances with sexual-assault handling was posted to iBerkshires on Sept. 2 of 2014 -- four years ago.

BELOW FROM:
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/letter-williams-college-wronged-bycaccaviello-claim,546671

Letter: Williams College wronged by Caccaviello claim

Posted Friday, August 3, 2018 5:45 pm

To the editor:

During the Berkshire County district attorney forum on July 31, the candidates for DA were asked about two campus sexual assault bills pending in the Legislature.

In his response, Paul Caccaviello chose to describe the complex problem of campus sexual assault by pointing to Williams College, specifically, for failing to report incidents of sexual violence to the criminal legal system and to advocate for the legal rights of student survivors of intimate violence.

Mr. Caccaviello's assertions are patently and categorically false. His own predecessor, David Capeless, refuted this point in a lengthy interview with iBerkshires in 2014, saying "My understanding from talking to [Williamstown Police] Chief [Kyle] Johnson is that when [Williams] gets incidents, they report it to the police. Even when the victim doesn't want to talk to the police, they tell the police just so they know. Unfortunately, there's been a misunderstanding of what colleges are doing. It's too easy to think that they have every reason to suppress the idea that there are assaults on their campus. But they're not suppressing the information."

To be effective in advocating on behalf of crime victims, advocates — whether on campus, in community-based agencies like the Elizabeth Freeman Center, or in the DA's own victim-witness advocacy program — have to help victims understand their options, and the benefits and barriers to accessing them. Williams presents students with all their legal and disciplinary options, and supports them in accessing those, either directly or via connection with off-campus resources.

Survivors of violence often weigh whether they can endure the publicity and pain of a criminal proceeding. That self-searching, at the same time they are reacting to and trying to begin their recovery from trauma, has to include a consideration of whether a criminal complaint is likely to lead to a conviction.

The DA's office makes the final choice about whether to pursue prosecution in cases of sexual violence that occur in Berkshire County. This includes cases affecting students of the four colleges located here. Mr. Caccaviello needs to tell the voters of our county how many cases of peer-to-peer, alcohol-involved sexual assault and rape his office has chosen to bring to trial, and how many cases they have pleaded out to lesser, non-sexual offenses or agreed to continue without a finding.

With that information, the voters of Berkshire County can decide on Sept. 4 whose advocacy has come up short.

Meg Bossong,
Pittsfield

The writer is the director of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response at Williams College.

BELOW FROM:
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/caccaviello-failed-torespond-to-williams,549082

Caccaviello failed to respond to Williams

Posted Thursday, August 30, 2018 4:15 pm
To the editor:

I write in regard to the Berkshire district attorney campaign. I have been a trial lawyer for 38 years. I was a federal prosecutor for 10 years, and have practiced criminal law in Berkshire County and other counties across Massachusetts.

Throughout the campaign, candidate Paul Caccaviello has claimed that his long "experience" in the DA's office makes him the best candidate.

I beg to differ, but first some facts. The Clery Act is a federal law requiring colleges to report on-campus crime statistics to the U.S. Department of Education. Williams College made its most recent Clery Act disclosure in 2017 covering the years 2014-2016. For those three years, Williams identified 41 credible complaints of rape that it had reported to its campus security office and the Williamstown Police Department. The Berkshire district attorney had the responsibility to review these cases and prosecute those that could be proven in court. My research reveals that only one of these 47 cases has been prosecuted.

These shocking statistics demand an explanation from candidate Caccaviello. At a recent public forum in Williamstown, Caccaviello blamed Williams College, claiming it had failed to report them to law enforcement and to advocate for the rights of student survivors. But according to the Williams Clery Act Reports, all the data about this sexual violence was reported to the Williamstown Police Department and must have been reviewed by the DA's Office. Moreover, all this Clery Act information for 2014-2016 has been publicly available online to Caccaviello's Office for quite some time.

In an August 3 letter to The Eagle, Meg Bossong, the director of sexual assault prevention at Williams, wrote that Caccaviello's claims at the Williamstown Forum were "categorically false." Ms. Bossong asked that Caccaviello provide the public with statistics detailing the number of these kinds of rape cases his office has prosecuted, and their resolution. Caccaviello has failed to do so.

Voters are entitled to this information and a truthful explanation for the DA's failure to prosecute more of these cases. They are also part of Caccaviello's "experience" for which he is accountable.

Andrea Harrington has made a public commitment to review the many rape cases Caccaviello's Office has failed to bring. This has to be done to restore credibility and common decency to that office. She is the only candidate who will bring this kind of accountability to the Berkshire DA's office.

John Pucci,
Northampton

BELOW FROM:
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/letter-politics-behind-attack-on-das-williams-college-probe,554130

Letter: Politics behind attack on DA's Williams College probe

Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2018 4:27 pm

To the editor:

This letter is in response to a letter to the editor of The Berkshire Eagle in August of this year. The letter, authored by John Pucci, a donor to my opponent, claimed that the Berkshire district attorney failed to investigate or prosecute over 40 cases of sexual assault reported by Williams College between 2014 and 2016.

The allegations in this letter were extremely disturbing as they are completely contrary to the mission of the office and goal of protecting victims. I contacted both Williams College and the Williamstown Police Department to begin an inquiry into the matter and found that Mr. Pucci's claims were not only without merit, but misleading, ill-informed, and insensitive to victims.

What I discovered was that the majority of the information provided by Williams College to the Williamstown Police Department did not contain sufficient data to permit a thorough investigation by law enforcement. It found that although Mr. Pucci claimed that "all the data about this sexual violence was reported [by the college] to the Williamstown Police Department," in fact, two-thirds of the incidents reported to the police failed to identify either the victim or the alleged perpetrator of the crime.

Williamstown Police Chief Kyle Johnson discovered an additional 18 cases of sexual assault were never even reported to his department and, therefore, could not be referred to the district attorney's office for further investigation or prosecution. Mr. Pucci's claim that "all the data" about these crimes was shared with the local

police and the Berkshire district attorney's office is simply not true.

When the police department timely requested the names of the parties involved in these cases to further their own investigation, Williams College did not provide the names and protected the confidentiality of the victims and alleged perpetrators. The college was well within its discretion not to reveal the names of the parties to these incidents. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 does not require colleges and universities to report allegations of sexual violence to law enforcement, it only requires schools to investigate and address sexual violence on campus.

Title IX also permits, and even encourages, schools to maintain students' confidentiality. The college is not required to provide to the public or to the district attorney any additional information about these incidents.

In fact, the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report informs students that "all reported crimes will be investigated by the college and may become a matter of public record only if subpoenaed by law enforcement."

We in the DA's office fully respect the rights of victims who chose to remain anonymous and not move forward with an investigation and we understand that the college also has an obligation to provide a safe atmosphere for its students to speak freely. What is disappointing, and irresponsible, is that Mr. Pucci chose to blame the Berkshire district attorney's office for the nature of Williams College's public disclosures of sexual violence. Politicizing this issue was not " just politics" — it is just wrong.

It is important to continue to work with Williams College and Williamstown Police Department to assist in investigations and support all victims of sexual assault. This is an issue that colleges across the country are facing and we are committed to providing all of the necessary resources to not just Williams College but all college campuses in Berkshire County to address the problem.

Paul Caccaviello,
Pittsfield

The writer is Berkshire district attorney and is running as a write-in candidate for election on Nov. 6.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER:

(Author: Bill Densmore)

1) Does Williams take the position that it won't provide names of victims or alleged assailants except in response to subpoena? Has the Williamstown PD ever asked that subpoenas be issued? Why or why not?

2) More detail is needed on the apparently conflicting roles of colleges under Title IX vs. to law-enforcement to report alleged assaults on campus in detail sufficient to permit an informed judgement about prosecution. What does WIlliams think? What do MCLA, Simons Rock, etc. think?

3) Caccaviello gives no indication of why or whether he would or would not press Williams for greater disclosure, or why he would not sua sponte request issuance of subpoenas to determine the need for prosecution or discretion.

4) What does Harrington think of all this? Is this all politics, or something deeper?

Fwd: "An impolite arrogant woman"

2018-10-12T00:43:00.001-04:00

-----------------

Bill Densmore

Williamstown, Mass. USA

mobile: 617-448-6600

wpdensmore@gmail.com

http://itega.org/mission

Begin forwarded message:

From: Elizabeth Warren <info@elizabethwarren.com>
Date: October 11, 2018 at 10:27:24 PM EDT
To: William Densmore <wpdensmore@gmail.com>
Subject: "An impolite arrogant woman"
Reply-To: info@elizabethwarren.com

Elizabeth Warren for Senate 2018

William,

You probably remember: Right after Donald Trump became President, one of his first orders of business was launching an illegal, bigoted Muslim ban.

We all felt powerless at the time – Republicans had just won the White House and both branches of Congress – but my staff and I wanted to do something about it. So we tried to get answers from the Department of Homeland Security about their policy of illegally detaining Massachusetts residents (and their family members) at Boston Logan Airport.

There was only one problem: Trump's new Director of Homeland Security – John Kelly – wouldn't return our calls and emails. My staff emailed back and forth with his staff, but we couldn't get them to set up a call or answer our questions.

When I finally did get on the phone with John Kelly, I asked if he had an office number that I could use in the future to get in touch more quickly. He brushed me off, directing me to the main line listed on the Department of Homeland Security's website (really). Even worse, he bizarrely insisted that I'd made the whole thing up and we'd never tried to reach him in the first place. I happened to be looking at all the emails between his staff and my staff when he said this, so I started reading them to him. He accused me again of making it all up.

My policy staffers were in the room. And to this day, I've never seen so many jaws drop in unison. It was one of the first times we saw "alternative facts" so up close and personal. And one of the first times we saw how truly dysfunctional the executive branch had become - and how quickly.

So what happened next? You guessed it – I persisted. I asked again for his number. He hemmed and hawwed, and he again tried to give me the Department's main line. Let's just say that's when the conversation really started getting awkward – and that I persisted longer than he did. Eventually, he didn't just give me his office number – he gave me his cell number.

Before we got off the phone, I gave him something back for his troubles – a message on behalf of the American people that it was time to follow the court order and allow people stranded abroad to board planes into Logan International Airport.

Was I tough on John Kelly in that phone call? You bet I was. And apparently he didn't like it. According to an email he wrote about our conversation just afterwards, which was just released, he called me "an impolite arrogant woman":
What an impolite arrogant woman. She immediately began insulting our people accusing them of not following the court order, insulting and abusive behavior towards those covered by the pause, blah blah blah.

"Blah blah blah." That's all he had to say when he was called out for breaking the law and destroying lives. And I don't know about John Kelly – but there are some men who can only hear "blah blah blah" whenever a woman's talking. One of his aides wrote back, "Too bad Senate Majority Leader McConnell couldn't order her to be quiet again!"

Clever. Well, Mitch McConnell can't shut me up – and neither can John Kelly. (He can't even get Donald Trump off Twitter, and as far as I can tell, that was his main job description when he took on the role of White House Chief of Staff).

It's been a long two years since Donald Trump became President. But the night the Muslim ban started will be seared in my brain forever. That night, I went to Logan Airport to join the protest. It was an incredible sight – a sea of people rushing to East Boston to make their voices heard. There's nothing impolite about people's right to speak out and hold their government accountable. And sometimes, people are right to be angry.

It's been a long two years, but November 6th, we'll have another chance to make our voices heard and fight back against Donald Trump, John Kelly, and all the bigoted creeps still strutting and smirking around 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Tick tock, Donald. But we aren't out of the woods yet. Please chip in now to support our re-election campaign and help make sure Democrats win BIG across the country.

Thanks for being a part of this,

Elizabeth

P.S. My phone call with John Kelly happened one day after Mitch McConnell threw me off the Senate floor for reading Mrs. King's letter about Jeff Sessions. Nevertheless, we persist – and you can keep us in this fight by chipping in now.

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New Michael Moore movie “Fahrenheit 11/9” in theaters Sept. 21

2018-09-08T19:15:00.001-04:00

Michael Moore, the filmmaker, writes:

"Donald J. Trump did not just fall from the sky. His rise to the presidency was not an aberration and should not have come as a shock. It was the logical end result of a long, downward spiral in America that culminated in one of our most loathsome citizens conquering our most powerful political office. One of our most deceptive minds commanding the bully pulpit. One of our most fraudulent hucksters armed with the powers of the presidency to protect him.

"How did this happen?! What did we do to deserve this?!

"Well, where shall I begin ...

"For the past several months, I've been working on my next film, "Fahrenheit 11/9," and I'm finally ready to share it with the world.

"It is already being talked about as one of the most anticipated films of the fall.

"With the film, I set out to answer the two questions that have been haunting most Americans since that fateful morning on 11/9/2016, when, at 2:29 a.m., the Associated Press officially called the election for Donald J. Trump: How the f**ck did we get here and, most importantly, how the f**ck do we get out of it?

"This is not a film telling you what a jerk Trump is, or what an buffoon Trump is, or what a liar Trump is. You already know that. Everybody already knows that, except for your conservative brother-in-law, whose mind you'll never be able to change. I wouldn't waste your time or my time making the kind of film that would convince him. And with all due respect to your conservative brother-in-law, we don't need him. We're the majority in this country, he's the minority; he knows it, and that's why he's so mad!

"Instead, my team and I were on a mission to tell a much more important story. It's a story about hope ... and what comes after it. It's a story about deception and betrayal. It's a story about what happens to people when they've hit rock bottom. It's a story about who we are as a people and what it means to be an American in the era of Trump. Ultimately, it's a story about where we might be heading as a society.

"My team and I have moved heaven and earth to make sure we delivered this film to you in time to have an impact in this year's midterm elections. I'm excited to announce to you that "Fahrenheit 11/9" will open in more movie theaters than any of my previous films; it will be in over 1,500 theaters across America! And I know that MoveOn members like you are moving heaven and earth to win this election. "

"I've made a film that was meant to be seen on a big screen, in a dark theater, filled with a hundred strangers. My hope is that you will experience the magic of cinema the way that it was meant to be experienced and that you will be moved and entertained by it. But that you also will be inspired to act."
–Michael Moore

Berkshire Eagle publisher/president invites public to talk at BrewHaHa! on Friday 9 a.m.-10 a.m.

2018-08-12T15:18:00.003-04:00

click to enlarge

NORTH ADAMS -- Frederic Rutberg, president/publisher and co-owner of The Berkshire Eagle is bringing one in a series of "coffee and conversation" meetings with the public to the new location of BrewHaHa! cafe/restaurant at 437 West Main St., in North Adams on Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. It's a chance for readers -- print and Internet -- to provide suggestions and constructive feedback on the news organization's efforts.

For two decades The Eagle and its sister papers in Brattleboro, Bennington and Manchester, Vt., were owned by a Denver-based chain which gradually reduced the size of its newsroom, closed The Transcript and The Advocate weekly and raised subscription rates. In May 2016, four businessmen -- three of them with homes in the Berkshires, purchased the papers for a undisclosed sum and have adding reporters, editors, graphic artists and other support staff in Pittsfield with the goal of creating "the finest community newspaper group in America."

Rutberg, a retired state district-court judge who lives in Stockbridge, has been operational leader of the new owners of New England Newspaper Inc. (NENI). Shortly after the ownership change, Rutberg inaugurated a circuit-riding approach to checking in with readers, appearing at coffee shops and other venues throughout the Berkshires. Friday's visit is at least the third in northern Berkshire County.

"Pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee and get to know our president and publlisher, editor and other key managers," says a invitational advertisement which appeared in an edition of last week's paper. "Tell us about your neighborhood, ask us questions, share your concenrs, or stop in just to chat. The coffee is free, the conversatoin is informal and information . . . . "

TUESDAY: Public invited to attend or email questions to Williamstown forum in hot district-attorney three-way race

2018-07-28T12:27:00.002-04:00

WILLIAMSTOWN -- On Tuesday, July 31, the League of Women Voters of Williamstown is sponsoring a forum for the three candidates running for the Democratic nomination for Berkshire District Attorney.

As there is no Republican candidate, the race will be decided at the state primary on Sept. 4. The forum will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Paresky Center auditorium on the Williams College campus. The public is invited to attend and participate.

Willinet will tape the Forum and can provide tapes for rebroadcast by other public access channels. The candidates will make opening and closing statements, and members of the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions. Questions may also be submitted by email in advance to askinner@williams.edu

The three candidates, in alphabetical order, are:

Paul J. Caccaviello, of Dalton, who graduated from Western New England College of Law in Springfield in 1989 and the former North Adams State College in 1986, has been an assistant Berkshire district attorney ever since. Caccaviello served on the Saint Agnes School Board, was a member of the Dalton Rotary Club and is a trustee of Berkshire Community College. He announced his candidacy in May (AUDIO) in a ceremony which drew a state ethics complaint and a response from Caccaviello.

Andrea Harrington, an attorney at Conner and Morneau LLP who has been a criminal and civil practice attorney for 15 years. She is a graduate of Taconic High School and is a Richmond School Committee member. She ran for state senate two years ago but lost to Adam Hinds. She earned an undergraduate degree in international relations in the honors program at the University of Washington and received her law degree, cum laude from American University.

Judith C. Knight, of Lee, served as an assistant district attorney in eastern Massachusetts from 1988 to 1993 and has had a Great Barrington private practice since 2006. Also a certified mediatory, she was an adjunct professor at Western New England School of Law from 1999-2005. She worked in the Colorado public defender's office in Denver in 1987-1988 after receiving her law degree in 1987 from Washington and Lee University in Virginia. She ran and lost to incumbent David Capeless in a 2006 primary bid for DA. She announced her candidacy in May.

Capeless retired earlier this year (AUDIO) and Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, appointed Caccaviello to fill his expired term until November. (See: "A Massachusetts DA tries to crown his successor" by Eoin Higgins, June 26, 2018)

Related: "How Capeless plotted succession plan" (Commonwealth Magazine, May 17, 2018)

The last day to register to vote in the September primary is Aug. 15. Tuesday's meeting of the three candidates is one of several between now and the Sept. 4 primary. Their first faceoff was on May 16.

All three candidates have campaign websites:

OTHER COVERAGE:

Details of tonight's (April 10) Williamstown Planning Board meeting on zoning rewrite

2018-04-10T18:10:00.000-04:00

April 10, 2018 Meeting (PLEASE NOTE: Due to capacity crowds on April 3 this meeting will be held in the Elementary School Auditorium at

7:30PM)

The planning board is proposing a complete new zoning for almost all of the town.

See the links below. If you live in the rural residence zone this will have tax consequences for you.

Note this is included in the attached:

ARTICLE C - REDUCING LOT SIZE IN RURAL RESIDENCE

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Williamstown Zoning By-Laws, §70 of the Code of the Town of Williamstown as follows:

Amend §70-4.3 by changing the minimum lot size in Rural Residence 2 from 2.5 acres to 1.5 acres.

This proposed change alters the lot size requirement in Rural Residential 2, zoning which is all of Williamstown, below 1,150 feet above sea level and outside of town water and sewer service. Lot size would be reduced from 2.5 acres to 1.5 acres. Lot frontage will remain at 150 feet.

Here's what the map looks like (Big download as a PDF):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B87Bd6VlF6wbSWxfV3ZmSlJZOHRJWXJQVDNJb2lsRTFvV3M4/view?usp=sharing

Here's the narrative that goes along with it:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B87Bd6VlF6wbSVMwcGlVM09hai13Q3VtRGE0NEN2TjVrWnlv

Pot shop plans August opening in Williamstown, projects $350/ounce pricing

2018-03-27T11:46:00.002-04:00

From left, Josh Ferranto, Joshua Silver and Brendan McKee

Posted by Bill Densmore

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Operators of a marijuana "store" opening in the Colonial Shopping Center in August took questions at a public meeting attended by about 22 people on Saturday morning (Sept. 24) at the Williams Inn. The initial opening will serve recreational customers, with medically certified users coming later. Projected cost of marijuana: $350 an ounce.

Josh Ferranto, Joshua Silver and Brendan McKee are among directors of Silver Therapeutics Inc., the applicant to open the store; one of three they hope to establish under Massachusett's new "legal pot" statute and regulations. Silver, a real-estate attorney from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and the company's CEO, and McKeen, who lives in Quincy, Mass., did most of the talking. McKeen is chief financial officer. Ferranto is operations director.

Silver, who is the company's CEO, filed on Feb. 23 a siting application with the state which projects the company will have $610,000 in revenue in 2019 and will lose $172,000 in that first year. In year two it projects positive cash flow of $124,000 on $682,000 in revenues; in 2021 revenues of $727,000 and positive cash flow of $414,000 are projected. patients/customers will grow from 175 a year to 323 a year, representing 4,200 visits in 2019 and 7,752 visits in 2021; the average visit will involve purchase of a quarter-ounce of marijuana at an estimated cost of $350 per ounce in 2019, dropping to $300 an ounce by 2021.

Some points raised during the hour-long meeting:

The firm is working on a website, at http://agtherapeutics.com, which McKeen said should be live in 7-10 days with information about the company and its principals. Silver Therapeutics chief operating officer, Donald "Donnie" Douglas, is based in Washington state, and owns American Mary, a marijuana shop in Seattle, Silver said. Application materials say John West, also in Seattle, will be lead grower.
From the audience, retired Williamstown pediatrian Michael Sussman expressed concern "that people using marijuana are using it in a responsible way" and that the shop would not inadverently result in minors getting access to marijuana. He said he hopes town officials hold the shop to a "higher standard" than it holds liquor stores.
Silver said by law the store will have redundant security systems and patrons -- both medical users and adult recreational users -- will have to show their driver's license and registration card twice -- once to enter the shop and once at checkout. Answering questions, Silver said the shop will seek to weed out any underage buyers but there is little they can do once a qualified buyer of legal age leaves the premises other than notify police of any suspicious activity.
From the audience, Williamstown resident Mark Draper observed that safe, adult use of marijuana was a community challenge, not exclusively the responsibility of the planned dispensary. "Education comes from within a household," he said. "A corporation can only do so much."
"There are things we want to do to engage tihe community," said McKee, who will be the store's manager. "We're going to be spending a lot of time here." McKeen said he was a graduate of Amherst College who now lives in Quincy and expects to get an apartment in Williamstown.
The Town of Williamstown will receive three percent of all sales through a pass through of state taxes totaling 20 percent for recreational sales, said Jasoh Hoch, Williamstown town manager, who attended the briefing. The shop has also agreed to make a once-a-year flat-amount donation of $5,000 to drug-awareness efforts. (For iimportant details of revenues to the town, see Hoch's email at the bottom of this post).
Because federally chartered banks are forbidden to have marijuana businesses as depositors, Silver said the shop will mostly deal in cash; but little will be kept on site; it will be moved to a cultivation facility to be built in Orange, Mass., the location of its second shop. A third shop location is not yet announced, he said. Century Bank, a state-chartered bank, may be able to handle their banking needs.
Silver Therapeutics Inc. was originally set up as a non-profit corporation based upon requirements of state regulations. But Silver says the state realized that was making it hard for proponents to raise investment and so the state is now permitting for-profit structures and Silver Therapeutics is converting. Silver told one meeting attendee after the formal presentation that the company seeks $4 million in investment.

Other people involved in Silver Therapeutics, according to its Aug. 2017 application filed with the state are John West and Michel S. Evanusa. The application lists Evanusa, a New York time-share and condominium attorney, as a director of Silver Therapeutics, committing $500,000 in initial capital to the company. An earlier April, 2017, filing bears Evanusa's signature stating her commitment to make $2.0 million available to the company. Sliver said he didn't want to"say too much about our investors" and said "investors are still coming in." In a subsequent email exchange, Silver said Evanusa is his aunt and her commitment is a line of credit.

TOWN'S REVENUE OPPORTUNITY EXPLAINED

An email received from Williamstown Town Manager Jason Hoch explains three sources of public revenue the town expects would result from opening of the Silver Therapeutics shop: (1) An annual payment to the town of 3% of gross revenues. (2) Another 3% local-option tax on non-medical retail marijuana sales in town which Hoch will propose for adoption at Town Meeting in May and (3) A pre-negotiated annual lump-sum payment of $5,000 to support public drug abuse prevention, treatment or education programs.

Here is the email:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jason Hoch
Date: Mon, Mar 26, 2018 at 12:06 PM
Subject: Re: QUESTION: CAn you explain the tax benefits again of having the marijuana shop?
To: Bill Densmore

Bill -

There are multiple streams of funding to the town. First, for both the medical and retail operations, the Town has entered into Host Community Agreements. These each call for 3% of gross revenue to be paid to the Town annually. Under the guidelines from the state, these are restricted use. From the agreement:

"Company shall make the Annual Payments set forth in Paragraph 2, above, to the Town of Williamstown. The Treasurer of the Town shall hold the Annual Payments in a separate account, to be expended by the Town without further appropriation pursuant to G.L. c.44, §53A, or otherwise in trust, for the purposes of addressing the potential health, safety, and other effects or impacts of the Facility on the Town and on municipal programs, services, personnel, and facilities. While the purpose of the Annual Payments is to assist the Town in addressing any public health, safety, and other effects or impacts the Facility may have on the Town and on municipal programs, services, personnel, and facilities, the Town may expend the Annual Payments at its sole and absolute discretion. Notwithstanding the Annual Payments, nothing shall prevent the Company from making additional donations from time to time to causes that will support the Town, including but not limited to local drug abuse prevention/treatment/education programs."

The Town is required to report annually how those funds have been expended. And worth noting that 3% of sales is the maximum currently allowed under the state regulations

Next, there is a separate local option tax, that can be voted on at Town Meeting for up to an additional 3% of tax on retail marijuana sales (not medical). We intend to bring that article to Town Meeting this May. Those funds are unrestricted revenues for the general fund. At this point, we have not considered further restrictions on those, since will already have the restricted funds in a great amount from the two HCAs.

Lastly, the retail HCA includes a separate requirement for an annual additional contribution for public education. (It appears that your bullet may be read as a one time only payment.) From the agreement:

"The Company, in addition to any other payments specified herein, shall annually contribute to non-profit entity or entities in an amount no less than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for the purposes of drug abuse prevention/treatment/education programs (the “Annual Donations.”) The education programs shall be held in Williamstown and those communities adjacent to Williamstown. Prior to the selection of a non-profit entity program for this purpose, the Company will review their intentions with the Town, acting through its Town Manager and Chief of Police to ensure that the proposed programming is consistent with community needs. The Annual Donations shall not be considered part of the Annual Payment to the Town."

Hope this helps. Thanks for checking.

Jason

Ann McCallum resigns from Williamstown Planning Board but supports new zoning effort and will stay for April 3 meeting

2018-03-27T10:11:00.001-04:00

UPDATE (April 5, 2018)

The town has set up a website with an FAQ about the zoning proposal that explains more of the rationale for the proposed bylaw. The Planning Board can be reached by email at planningboard@williamstownma.gov.

Also: iBerkshires coverage of April 3 Planning Board meeting

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Architect Ann McCallum said on Tuesday that she plans to continue to serve on the Planning Board at least through its April 3 meeting, when proposed changes in the town's zoning will be discussed. She also said she generally supports the board's initiative but she expects some changes will be offered at the meeting.

SEE EARLIER POSTING ABOUT ZONING RE-WRITE

"I think the nuances have been lost to the public and I think we are going to simplify it to make it clearer to more people," McCallum told GreylockNews.com. "Parity issues have come up a lot and I think we will reduce the nuances in order to increase the feeling that everybody is being treated equally."

Among changes likely to be made in the proposal:

A reduction to four from six in the number of housing units into which an existing residential building may be subdivided without special zoning approval. The present law provides for only two-unit buildings as a matter of right.
An expansion of some provisions of the proposed changes so that they apply equally to most of the town's General Residence district, rather than just to the proposed new districts.

McCallum said the zoning proposal, which the board has been working on for more than a year in public meetings, has at least two objectives in mind:

Create opportunities for younger residents and new families in town to find living options other than single-family homes, on the grounds this may increase housing affordability.
Update zoning so that it more accurately reflects the actual "built environment" in town's urban core rather than the aspirations of planners who wrote the original zoning in the early 1950s. T

An intended result of the second item, McCallum said, is to provide property owners -- whether developers or residents -- more flexibility in what can be done with their buildings and lots without having to go through a planning-and-zoning hearing process with the town and obtain special permitting.

McCallum's view is that the effect of the changes will not be to permit larger buildings on lots, but create more flexibility with what can be done with those buildings. "Becoming more dense is perhaps not the real answer," she said. "The real point is to have more smaller units available for people, not necessarily affordable housing but different options for people. We want to encourage more young people to come to town -- and they may not be wanting a single-family house."

McCallum notes that her family owns a large Victorian at Cole Avenue and Main Street. Her view is that it makes sense for such buildings to be able to include more, smaller living units rather than to be somewhat orphaned by virtue of their size becoming less desirable. She said her house was divided into three apartments in the 1940s, something that has not been possible to do since the 1955 Zoning By-law took effect (without a special permit process), but that would be allowed "by right" with passage of the changes proposed.

Draft election ballot for Williamstown provided

2018-03-27T10:00:00.000-04:00

Town Clerk Mary Kennedy provided today a copy of a draft absentee ballot for the May town election. It shows competition for two open seats on the Planning Board.

AUDIO: Three Democratic gubernatorial candidates in Pittsfield issues forum

2018-03-26T01:19:00.000-04:00

Three Democratic gubernatorial primary candidates in Massachusetts in a Pittsfield, Mass. Forum on March 25. From left, Jay Gonzalez, Bob Massie and Setti Warren. LISTEN, to audio of the event: http://newshare.com/greylo…/mass-governor-demos-03-26-18.mp3

42 Hoxsey Update: Wanda Bubriski reports receipt of letter from Williams; historic commission meets April 12

2018-03-23T08:43:00.000-04:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: W.A. Bubriski <wbubriski@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Mar 23, 2018 at 1:15 AM
Subject: 42 Hoxsey Update

The College's written response to our letter arrived last Friday evening from Rita Coppola-Wallace, Executive Director, Design and Construction, at Williams (see attached, Response). It's safe to say that many if not all of us who signed the Friends letter, understand the College's academic and residential needs. What is striking about the Williams letter is the lack of any reference to the historic preservation needs of the town. We are working on talking points for preserving the house--which is equally an argument on behalf of the town and saving its own historic presence.

LINK: READ "FRIENDS" GROUP ILETTER TO COLLEGE (March 12 date)
LINK: READ COLLEGE'S RESPONSIVE LETTER (March 16 date)

PRESS

Meanwhile, the county paper, The Berkshire Eagle, hopped on the unfolding story, and published this story in Monday's edition:
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/williams-college-plan-to-demolish-former-bubriski-home-leaves-some-shocked-outraged,534912?

HEARING – your continued involvement

The town's Historical Commission will vote whether to allow or prevent the demolition of 42 Hoxsey at it's re-scheduled hearing on Thursday, April 12 at 3PM in Town Hall, 31 North Street. Bev and I will attend. If you are in the area, stop by the Hearing--numbers matter. (After the hearing--regardless of the outcome-- join us next door at the Williams Inn... at the bar.)

Seriously, we NEED LETTERS of support-- from Williams graduates, former residents, preservation specialists, oral historians, architectural historians, contractors, architects, planners, and civil engineers. If you, or someone you know, can write a letter, we will send you the template along with talking points. Our goal is 101 letters by April 10 -- Please help in any way you can.

We thank you for your continued support,

Friends of Hoxsey Street

Planners advancing major Williamstown rezoning to make multi-dwelling units and apartments a "matter of right"; some neighbors concerned

2018-03-14T21:00:00.001-04:00

Posted by Bill Densmore

The Williamstown Planning Board is preparing to seek a Town Meeting vote in May that will dramatically expand the ability of developers to replace single-family residences with muti-dwelling units and apartments in a bid to make the town more attractive to people who don't want to buy a house -- and to increase the town's core-area population.

More than 100 people "sign" letter to Williams president seeking stay of execution for razing of historic Hoxsey Street house; hearing Tuesday?

2018-03-12T16:56:00.001-04:00

The letter below asserts "misrepresentations" by the college. Among signers are present and former members of the town's historical commission and Historical Museum. The 42 Hoxsey Street home was the residence of the late Dagmar Bubriski, who was a well-known resident of the town. Ms. Bubriski's daughter writes that the town's Historical Commission has scheduled a meeting for tomorrow (Tuesday, March 13, 2018) in Town Hall at 3 p.m. to consider the matter.

LINK: To college's March 16 reponse.

See: Earlier Post

Source:

Wanda Bubriski email received Monday, March 12

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: W.A. Bubriski <wbubriski@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Mar 12, 2018 at 12:34 PM
Subject: 42 Hoxsey Building - Please Confirm Receipt
To: pmajumde@williams.edu, college-relations@williams.edu, bbarkin@williamstownma.gov

TO: President Protik Majumder: pmajumde@williams.edu

Chair of Board of Trustees, via Megan Morey, VP for College Relations: college-relations@williams.edu

William Barkin, Chair, Williamstown Historical Commission: bbarkin@williamstownma.gov

CC: Charles Lovett: clovett@williams.edu

Jim Kolesar: jkolesar@williams.edu

(The Following Letter is also attached as a PDF document. All signatories have "signed" via email exchange.)

Friends of 42 Hoxsey Street, Williamstown, Mass.

March 12, 2018

To the President and Trustees of Williams College, and the Williamstown Historical Commission:

We are shocked, outraged and saddened to hear of the decision of Williams College to tear down the house at 42 Hoxsey Street—a decision representing callous disregard of the town's history. Dating from 1880, it graces the 1889 Map of Williamstown; it is one of the grandest residences still standing in the heart of town. It is a focal point of the street—a historic district.

Last April 3, when Williams College purchased the property from Wanda Bubriski, whose family had resided on the property since 1954, the College said it intended to use it for construction offices, then faculty housing. Multiple inaccuracies and misrepresentations characterize the College's description of the condition of the house in the advertisement for its sale. Over $200,000 of improvements were made to the house between 2014 and 2016. Among the improvements are: asbestos removed; new plumbing for two new bathrooms installed; complete house re-wired and converted to gas; new gas furnace and water heater installed; entire interior painted; new windows on second floor installed; tiger oak flooring fully sanded and stained; leaded glass windows preserved and reconstructed. These enhancements augment the 9-foot ceilings, gracious spatial arrangement, and details like the French doors and Bennington ceramic fireplace surround.

Williams's advertisement presented a deteriorating construction—an insult to all the tradesmen and women who worked so hard on the house. Most people who have walked through that fan-lighted front door into the capacious central hall respond with a "WOW"—including your own staff. Distortions and lack of accuracy regarding the condition is reprehensible.

To the Historical Commission:

The house and barn at 42 Hoxsey Street embody a rare example of unaltered spatial layout, with its balloon-construction visible in the attic and its wrap around porch can be seen on the 1889 Map. The house carries cultural significance as well contributing to the fabric of the community, its history and values. From 1954 to 2011, it was the home of Dagmar Bubriski, a community leader, a columnist, a radio host, and a widow at 37 who raised a family of four while being the loudest cheerleader and staunchest defender of Williamstown historic and cultural preservation. This history deserves to be preserved. We object to this house being torn down and its history lost.

Sadly, the College's attitude toward historic preservation is nearly non-existent. When it serves the corporate expansion needs of its ever-increasing bureaucracy, it simply plows down historic structures. (Examples include the Opera House, Harper House—and if Williams had had its way decades ago, we would have lost Van Rensselaer House— fortunately, part of it ended up in the Metropolitan Museum of Art).

We strongly urge Williams reconsider its decision to tear down and throw away this important historical building.

Respectfully signed,

Family, Friends, Historians, Architects and Admirers of 42 Hoxsey St. Building and

Legacy of Dagmar Neuburg Bubriski

1. Wanda Bubriski, MA '82

2. Charles Bonenti, former chair and board member of Williamstown Historical Commission

3. Elma Sanders, former board member of Williamstown Historical Commission

4. Susan Schneski, Board of Williamstown Historical Museum, former board member of Williamstown Historical Commission

5. Sandra Webber, former board member of Williamstown Historical Commission

6. Andrew Dolkart, Professor of Historic Preservation, Columbia University

7. William Doughty '55

8. Richard Doughty '80

9. Roger Doughty '84

10. Ron Stegall '60

11. Paul Boyer '77

12. Beverly Willis, FAIA

13. Peter Bubriski

14. Kevin Bubriski

15. Nadine Neuburg Doughty (Dagmar's sister)

16. Kathleen Neuburg Kingscott

17. Dr. Laura McKeon

18. Mark Bubriski

19. Jean Bubriski

20. Dr. Anne Bubriski

21. Christine Bubriski

22. Katie Bubriski

23. Ryan Bubriski

24. Tara Bubriski

25. Kate Powers

26. Peter McKenzie

27. Selasssie McKenzie

28. Lionel McKenzie

29. Paul McKenzie

30. Rachel Park

31. Jessica Park

32. Prof. Katherine Park

33. Paul Park

34. Deborah Brothers

35. Andrew Failes

36. Guy Hedreen

37. Patrick Quinn

Continued, Family, Friends, Historians, Architects and Admirers of 42 Hoxsey St. Building and

Legacy of Dagmar Neuburg Bubriski

38. Juliet Flynt

39. Elizabeth Winthrop

40. Karen Gundersheimer

41. Werner Gundersheimer

42. Sally Stocking

43. Jennifer Norton Jayko

44. Karen England

45. Wavalene "Jinx" Tong

46. Deborah Burns

47. Adrianna H. Millenaar Brown

48. Dr. Elizabeth Van Cleve, Director, Oral History of American Music, Yale University

49. Dr. Suzanne Noruschat

50. Kevin Flicker

51. Norma Petersen

52. Dr. Carl Petersen

53. Dr. Erica Petersen

54. Karen A. Patterson

55. Susan Dahill

56. Mary O'Meara

57. Meg Kent

58. Jim Youngerman

59. Jane Goodrich

60. Margaret Smithglass

61. Greg Carpenter

62. Linda Cummings

63. Daniel Osman

64. Leslie Rigby

65. Dr. Andrew Clark

66. Mara Cherkasky, Historian & Co-Founder, Prologue DC.com

67. Savannah Randall

68. Kelly Ann Hill

69. Dr. Nancy Smith

70. Prof. Shirley McCarthy, MD

71. Luz Judith Shosie

72. Linda Ingram

73. Paula Wells

74. Marjorie Chamberlain

75. Abbie Hatton

76. Andrea Nuciforo

77. Elizabeth Smith

78. Sam Smith

79. Bruce Pierce

80. Suzette Pierce

81. Dr. Cynthia Hammond, Co-Director, Centre for Oral History and Digital Storytelling, and Prof. of Art History, Concordia University, Montreal

Continued, Family, Friends, Historians, Architects and Admirers of 42 Hoxsey St. Building and

Legacy of Dagmar Neuburg Bubriski

82. Mike Miller, Creator & Curator, Williamstown History Email Group

83. Philip Wagner, AIA

84. Anneliese Vollweiler

85. Heidi Gifford

86. Luanne Spooner

87. Lynne Mersfelder-Lewis

88. Michael Heslip

89. Donald Lewis

90. Liz Thompson

91. Susan T. Smith

92. Tela Zasloff

93. Pete Richardson

94. Sean Joyce

95. Betsy Burris

96. Patricia Siskind

97. Jean Donati

98. Nina Donati

99. Donald Sanders

100. Diane Favro, Professor Emeritus, UCLA, Samuel H. Kress Professor, Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts, National Gallery, Washington, DC

101. Sylvia Smith, FAIA, Senior Partner, FXCollaborative Architects

Family says Williams has decided to raze Bubriski house to make room for new science center after moving deadline passes

2018-03-10T21:08:00.001-05:00

Source: Email from Peter Bubriski, son of the late Dagmar Bubriski, who list for decades in this house on Hoxsey Street, alongside the Williams campus.

(We will post any comment from Williams that we receive):
LINK: To college's March 16 reponse.

SEE UPDATED POST

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Bubriski Associates Peter <pbubriski@aol.com>
Date: Sat, Mar 10, 2018 at 4:43 PM
Subject: Demise of 42 Hoxsey St!
To:

various recipients

Sadly, Williams College has announced its intention to demolish 42 Hoxsey St. – my family’s home since 1954. Williams listed the house for sale earlier this year—which we only learned about Feb. 20 when a former neighbor, Rachel Park, whose family still resides across the street, sent this link to the official posting:

https://facilities.williams.edu/properties/historic-house-in-williamstown-ma-available-for-sale/

At 4pm yesterday, Rachel wrote us that she just got a notice from the Williamstown Historical Commission saying that on March 13th at 3:00 they will take up the request from Williams College "for predetermination to find that the single family home located at 42 Hoxsey Street is not preferably preserved." We believe that is code for demolition.*

*In fact, Kevin has received official word from Jim Kolesar of Williams that the plan is to tear it down when they demolish Bronfman Science Center this summer.

Williams is tearing down Bronfman Science Center next door, which they once hailed as an architectural gem ( hold your laughter) which would last for generations. Here is the listing they posted a little while ago. We believe they never had any intention of preserving the Hoxsey St. house even though that is what the lawyers said when they purchased it… In any case, here's the listing for you to peruse, and later on we'll send a copy of a letter we're planning to send . If you would like to be one of the co-signers, we'll let you know how you can add your name. It doesn't matter if you are a Williamstown resident; you all know the house—we just want to make a statement with as many voices as possible.

Thanks, Peter

LINK: Protest letter to Williams Trustees sent by Mr. Bubriski

HISTORIC HOUSE IN WILLIAMSTOWN, MA AVAILABLE FOR MOVING -

42 Hoxsey Street c. 1880

Williams » Facilities » Properties » HISTORIC HOUSE IN WILLIAMSTOWN, MA AVAILABLE FOR MOVING - 42 Hoxsey Street c. 1880

42 Hoxsey Street
2,995 Square Feet

The building at 42 Hoxsey Street, originally constructed in 1880 in a simple Queen Anne style, has been used primarily over the years as a single-family residence. It was purchased in 2016 by Williams College, used as office space and is now available to be moved to your privately owned building site. The building is being offered "as is" to prospective buyers who will remove the building from the land.

Inquiries can be made with Diana Randall, Senior Project Manager for Planning, Design and Construction, Williams College: (413) 597-4242 or at dlr3@williams.edu This is a limited time offer which will expire February 28, 2018 or upon reaching an agreement with a prospective buyer (whichever comes first).

About:

The main building is 2.5 stories in height, is wood framed with multiple additions and modifications made over time. The building has approximately 2,955 square feet of finished interior space plus a 1,429 square foot unfinished basement, 670 square feet of unfinished attic and 563 square feet of covered porch. There are approximately 10 main rooms including a front parlor, an elegant living room with large fire place, dining room, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and kitchen with pantry.

In addition to the main house there is also a detached two car garage with upper level storage that is available for removal.

General Condition:

The buildings are offered as is, where is, with no representation or warranty as to their condition, fitness for a particular purpose, or code compliance. The main building was owned by the same family for many years and has many original features still intact, but could use some modernization. Interested parties will be afforded an opportunity to do their own inspections.

The foundation is fieldstone and is has some areas where water infiltration has deteriorated the mortar. Floors are wood-frame construction.

The building has wood clapboard siding and wood trim. Window shutters are in need of repair. It is unknown whether the existing building walls contain any insulation. Windows are single glazed double hung windows with storm units on the exterior. It is very likely that there is lead paint, both on the interior and exterior.

Mechanical and Electrical Systems:

Some heating pipes in the basement may be wrapped with asbestos insulation and there may be similar conditions throughout the house. Much of the piping and many of the plumbing fixtures appear to be original. The existing heating system is a natural gas-fired boiler with steam radiator distribution. The electrical service and distribution wiring may need updating or replacement for further use.

SOURCE:

Peter Bubriski, Principal

Peter Bubriski Associates

Mobile: 413-441-0980

pbubriski@aol.com

MUSIC: Americana lyics and a melodies both delicate and fierce mark New England / NY tour of Eliza Edens (Densmore) | Jan. 9-Jan. 19

2018-01-07T18:26:00.000-05:00

Eliza Edens (Densmore) -- above / left Siri Undlin ("Humbird") -- below/right

Ballads that conjur wistful Americana and alternately delicate and fierce melodies are promised by a couple of women guitar singer-songwriters who begin a 10-venue New England / N.Y. coffeehouse tour on Tuesday in Rochester, N.Y. -- then head east to Schenectady, Burlington, Vt., Cambridge, Mass., Nashua, N.H., Portland, Maine, Williamstown, Mass., Brooklyn, N.Y., and two Philadelphia venues.

The duo are Eliza Edens Densmore, who performs as Eliza Edens, and Siri Undlin , who performs as Humbird. Close friends at their alma mater, The Colorado College , they perform separately on a split billing. Humbird, who is based in Minneapolis, uses guitar to conjur up wistful American with hits of wintry longing. Edens, a Williamstown-born songsearcher, crafts delicate and fierce melodies also with voice and guitar.

Their full schedule is below

and is also viewable at

https://www.eliza-edens.com/shows/

After traversing 5 continents and 20 countries with only a guitar and a backpack, Humbird adds powerful lyrics to a mosaic of influences like Joni Mitchell, Bon Iver and Bill Frisell. Combining a wintry longing with the warmth of a familiar folktale, Humbird stretches traditional genres of folk and Americana to embrace the unexpected. This music invites a refreshing dissonance into the house. Humbird relased a double EP "Elsewhere" and "Where Else" in Summer 2017. Find Humbird's music at: http://humbird.bandcamp.com/

Edens is a native of Williamstown who now lives and performs in Philadelphia. She has played in New York City and around small Berkshire County venues and opened for Sarah Lee Guthrie in July at Hancock Shaker Village. She uses her music to observe the natural world. Combining the adventurous fingerpicking of The Tallest Man on Earth, the calm resolve of Laura Marling, and the aching pulse of Bon Iver, Eliza writes tightly wound songs with wistful lyrics and winding melodies that belong somewhere between your tumbledown front porch stoop and a hazy bar in the big city – and leave a little extra space to linger. She is a grantee of Club Passim's 2017 Iguana Music Fund and is currently crafting a debut record. Her debut EP is at https://eliza-edens.bandcamp.com/album/lowlight

"We're thrilled to be heading out on an inaugural tour with Humbird," says Edens. "We're

playing spots all around New England and the Northeast. Come listen & stay warm with us -- it's guaranteed to keep your post-holiday blues at bay."

Their schedule includes:

Rochester, N.Y. /

Abilene Bar and Lounge

| Tues. Jan. 9 | 8 p.m.https://www.facebook.com/events/165975964159758/

Schenectady, N.Y. /

The Moon and River Cafe | Wed., Jan. 10 | 7 p.m.
https://www.facebook.com/events/14864720880736

Burlington, Vt.

Light Club Lamp Shop

(Radio Bean) | Fri., Jan. 12 | 9:30 p.m.

https://www.facebook.com/events/139808223336157/

Cambridge, Mass. /

Gallery 263 | Sat., Jan. 13 | 7:30 p.m. https://www.facebook.com/events/1952657158320982/

Nashua, N.H. /

Riverwalk Cafe & Music Bar| Sun. Jan. 14 | 8 p.m.
https://www.facebook.com/events/134979113854397/

Portland, Maine /

Empire Live Music & Events | Tues., Jan. 16 | 7 p.m.

https://www.facebook.com/events/144313152888658/

Williamstown, Mass. /

house show at Caretaker Farm | Wed., Jan. 17 | 7 p.m.https://www.facebook.com/events/497169303999008/

Brooklyn, N.Y. /

Muchmore's| Thu., Jan. 18 | 8 p.m.
https://www.facebook.com/events/157332304869938/

Philadelphia, Penn. /

Kung Fu Necktie w/ Dirty Bird | Fri. Jan. 19 | 7 p.m.https://www.facebook.com/events/549469208738572/

Hopewell, N.J./

Hopewell Theater | Wed., Feb. 7

https://www.facebook.com/events/140264290005065/

Williams names Majumder interim president Jan. 1 pending search for Falk's successor

2017-08-29T11:01:00.000-04:00

THE FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF AN EMAIL SENT TO THE MEDIA THIS MORNING BY THE NEWS OFFICE AT WILLIAMS COLLEGE SIGNED BY MICHAEL EISENSON, TRUSTEE CHAIRMAN.

To the Williams Community,

I hope you are all enjoying the last days of summer, and looking forward, as I am, to the new academic year.

As you know, President Adam Falk recently announced that he will leave Williams at the end of December to become president of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. In my role as chair of the college's Board of Trustees, I have been asked by the Board to lead our search for Adam's successor. I am writing today to inform you of our considerable progress in organizing the process, and to share with you our plan for interim college leadership beginning in January of 2018, which was approved by the Board of Trustees yesterday.

First, I am pleased to inform you that Protik (Tiku) Majumder, Barclay Jermain Professor of Natural Philosophy and Director of the Science Center, has graciously agreed to serve as interim president, starting January 1, 2018, and continuing until the new president is in place. Tiku has an outstanding record as a Williams teacher and mentor, scientist, and faculty leader, and just as importantly has earned wide trust and respect across the Williams community. Our objective was to find an interim president with a keen understanding of our institution; a love of Williams, of its students, and of its faculty; enormous patience, tact, and insight; and an ability to respond with intelligence, compassion, and calm to the inevitable challenges that will arise from time to time. Tiku has each of these qualities, and many more. He will do a superb job of keeping Williams on track, and I ask you to join me in thanking him and supporting his leadership.

Second, we have formed a Presidential Search Committee whose charge will be to present to the Board of Trustees one or more exceptional and thoroughly vetted candidates to become our next president, and to ensure that every member of the Williams community has an opportunity to give input with respect to qualities that we should be seeking, as well as to offer nominations. The Search Committee includes representatives from every sector of our community: students, staff, alumni, faculty, and trustees. Several members are also Williams parents. As their backgrounds indicate, each brings deep involvement with the College. Service on the committee will require significant time and effort, and I am personally grateful to the members for their dedication to Williams and their willingness to take on this essential task.

The members of the committee are:

Michael Eisenson '77, Trustee and Chair of the Search Committee
O. Andreas Halvorsen '86, Trustee
Clarence Otis, Jr. '77, Trustee
Kate L. Queeney '92, Trustee
Liz Robinson '90, Trustee
Martha Williamson '77, Trustee

Ngonidzashe Munemo, Associate Dean for Institutional Diversity and Associate Professor of Political Science
Peter Murphy, John Hawley Roberts Professor of English
Lucie Schmidt, Professor of Economics
Tom Smith '88, Professor of Chemistry
Safa Zaki, Professor of Psychology

Chris Winters '95, Associate Provost

Jordan G. Hampton '87, President, Society of Alumni
Yvonne Hao '95, alumna and Trustee Emerita

Ben Gips '19, student representative
Sarah Hollinger '19, student representative

Keli Gail, Secretary of the Board of Trustees and principal staff to the committee

Third, the board has retained the firm Spencer Stuart as consultant, to help manage the search process. Spencer Stuart has been involved in numerous recent and successful academic searches at the highest levels, and is very well positioned to help the committee in its work. Searches like this are complex and sensitive, and we expect to benefit greatly from their expertise, specialized resources, and pool of outstanding candidates.

The Search Committee will begin its work shortly, and we will announce opportunities for community input as these are developed. As a first step, we have created a website where you can find information and materials related to the search. We will add to the site as additional materials are available, as further process steps are scheduled, and as we have news to share. Our future email updates will link back to this site as the place of record for search news.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to again thank the members of the Presidential Search Committee for the work they are about to do, and Tiku Majumder for his service as interim president. I also want to convey to our entire community our enthusiasm and optimism as we set out to find the 18th president of Williams College.

Sincerely,

Michael Eisenson '77
Chair, Williams College Board of Trustees

https://president.williams.edu/presidential-search/

SOURCE:

***************************

Noelle Lemoine

Communications Assistant
Williams College Office of Communications
phone: 413.597.4277
www.williams.edu

Author Pam Weintraub to speak Saturday, Aug. 12, at Berkshire Athenaeum about Lyme disease "epidemic"

2017-08-07T18:17:00.000-04:00

PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- T

he Lyme Alliance

of the Berkshires is hosting

"Inside the Lyme Epidemic: Past, Present and Future" with Pamela Weintraub, author of the book Cure Unknown.

Nearly a decade after her beloved book was originally published, author Pamela Weintraub will tell her story and discuss what has changed in the world of Lyme since 2008 and what still needs to be done to help end the Lyme epidemic.

Weintraub

will speak and then will interact with attendees and answer questions. We will have a door prize raffle as part of this event and refreshments will be available.

The event will be taking place in the Berkshire Athenaeum auditorium on 1 Wendell Avenue in Pittsfield, MA on Saturday, Aug

.12

, 2017 from 1:30 to 4:30

p.m.

Lyme disease is at epidemic levels in Berkshire County

, according to Kenneth Mercure, organizer of the Lyme Alliance.

hat should be an easily treated and manageable infection is being left to become a serious and even life-threatening public health crisi

s," he says. "

Lyme disease is under-reported, often misdiagnosed as something else and frequently suggested to be

all in your head

Mercure says there's a great

disparity between the reality and seriousness of tick-borne infections and what is being touted as the ultimate truth about Lyme and its related diseases.

His

Pittsfield

based organization

started in 2011,

helps Lyme-suffering individuals and conducts public-education work.

SOURCE:

Kenneth Mercure

berkshirelyme@yahoo.com

/ 413-629-8484

Website: http://www.berkshirelyme.blogspot.com

Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1865028457078390

Hinds hosting Senate President Rosenberg in Pittsfield or a day of meetings, events on Friday, June 2nd

2017-06-01T23:23:00.000-04:00

SOURCE: Office of Sen. Adam Hinds

BOSTON – State Senator Adam G. Hinds (D- Pittsfield) announces today that he will host Senate President Stan Rosenberg (D- Amherst) for a day of meetings and events on Friday, June 2, 2017 in downtown Pittsfield.

"We face unique challenges, alongside tremendous assets, here in the Berkshires," said Hinds. "Bringing the Senate President here means he can see our priorities firsthand, which is part of our effort to ensure the rest of the state understands our needs. I am incredibly pleased to be able have the President here for an entire day and am looking forward to a full and productive day."

Rosenberg and Hinds are scheduled to meet with representatives of the local creative economy, business leaders, municipal officials and residents on June 2^nd. Together they will co-host a community forum, open to the public, from 3:30-5:00pm in the Large Meeting Room of the Berkshire Athenaeum, located at 1 Wendell Avenue.

This edition of Hinds' monthly community forum series, Speak Up Western Mass, features an opportunity for Berkshire County residents to not only connect with their state Senator, but also with one of the three major leaders in state government – the Senate President. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, share concerns or promote ideas and priorities in an open, unscripted forum.

"I always enjoy spending time in the Berkshires and hearing directly from residents about their concerns and issues that affect their everyday lives. Thank you to Senator Hinds for hosting me for an entire day and I look forward to learning more from residents about the creative economy, municipal issues, and how the Massachusetts Senate can implement policies that will help the region," said Senate President Rosenberg.

From 2:00-3:00pm in the 1Berkshire Boardroom (66 Allen Street, Pittsfield) Hinds will convene a roundtable conversation focused on exploring current barriers that must be overcome in order to allow Berkshire County to fully participate in the Commonwealth's booming and nationally renowned Innovation Economy. Led by Patrick Larkin, Pittsfield resident and director of the Innovation Institute at MassTech, this conversation will highlight recent efforts by local and state officials to draw new companies to the Berkshires and to strengthen existing workforce development opportunities. Local economic development and labor and workforce development officials have been invited as have several innovative companies doing business in the region.

Since assuming office in January Senator Hinds has hosted or cohosted a number of government colleagues in his Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden District, including Congressman Richard Neal, several members of the Massachusetts Senate, Attorney General Maura Healey, Housing & Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash, Housing Undersecretary Chrystal Kornegay, and Energy & Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. On June 5^th the Joint Committee on Financial Services will hold a public hearing in Lenox Town Hall on short-term rental bills, and on June 19^th the Senate Committee on Global Warming & Climate Change will bring its Clean Energy Future Tour to Berkshire Community College.

June 2^nd Event Specifics:

Roundtable Conversation: Challenges to the Innovation Economy in Berkshire County

Time: 2:00pm-3:00pm

Address: 1Berkshire, 66 Allen Street, Pittsfield

Description: Massachusetts is consistently ranked the "Most Innovative State in the Nation" and yet Berkshire County and much of rural western Mass. does not benefit from the economic impact that the eastern part of the state derives from the booming tech sector. The roundtable conversation, led by Patrick Larkin of the Innovation Institute at MassTech, will explore what barriers must be overcome to allow Berkshire County and western Mass. fully participate in the Commonwealth's innovation economy. Senator Hinds will highlight recent efforts by local and state officials to draw new companies to the Berkshires and to strengthen existing workforce development opportunities. Local economic development and labor and workforce development officials have been invited as have several innovative companies doing business in the region. This event is open to the press.

Speak Up Western Mass Public Forum

Time: 3:30pm-5:00pm

Address: Berkshire Athenaeum Large Meeting Room, 1 Wendell Avenue, Pittsfield

Description: Speak Up Western Mass is Senator Hinds' series of monthly community forums/office hours events, held in rotating locations across the Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden District. They are unscripted and offer constituents a chance to meet with their state Senator and his district staff and ask questions, share their concerns or promote ideas and priorities. This Speak Up Western Mass forum will feature a special guest and co-host, Senate President Stan Rosenberg, offering Berkshire County residents a chance to share their ideas and ask questions directly to the Leader of the Massachusetts Senate. This event is open to the public and the press.

###

SOURCE:

Bethann S. Steiner, Chief of Staff

Office of Senator Adam Hinds

State House, Room 309, Boston, MA 02133

Phone: (617) 722-1625 | Facebook.com/SenatorAdamHinds

Karen Shepard releases statement in her bid to unseat Chris Winters on the Williamstown Planning Board

2017-05-01T12:22:00.003-04:00

Karen Shepard, third from right, with her husband, Jim, left, and two children

RELATED:

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., May 1, 2017 -- The following is a candidate statement supplied by Karen Shepard, who is running for a seat on the Williamstown Planning Board in a cost pitting her against incument Chris Winters.

I’m Karen Shepard, and I’d like to introduce myself and tell you a little about why I’m running for Planning Board:

"I’ve been back in town for twenty-five years (I graduated from Williams in 1987) and my husband Jim and I have raised our kids here and sent them to the town’s public schools. I’m a novelist and a teacher and have been involved in the community in a variety of ways: I was co-president of the ABC House board; I’ve been active at Mount Greylock with the PTO, and on a variety of search committees, and on the building project there. At Williams, I served on the building committees for the Bookstore and The Log renovation, and I chaired the Bookstore committee, all of which taught me about what needs to go into development of that kind.

"After the election last November, I encouraged my students and kids to get involved, and told them that it’s not just our right but our responsibility to take part in how our communities are shaped. Now I figure it’s time to practice what I preach. I think to get involved, you have to:

Be the kind of person who wants to listen and learn.
Have to have common sense; you have to have the energy to try to make things happen, and, most importantly, it seems to me, you have to be able to put yourself in other people’s shoes.
Listen to what everyone thinks they want and need, and then have open, honest, and civil discussions, and figure out first what needs to be done and second how to roll up your sleeves and do it.

"Here’s some of what I’ve come to believe:

The Planning Board Should Represent the Town. The Planning Board should represent and support the town’s vision for the future of our community; individual agendas should not outweigh public vision.
The Town’s Vision is an Achievable Vision. Economic development, encouraging growth, and the protection of open space can work with not against each other.
We Need Flexible Residential Areas. Increasing the flexibility of residential areas through high density, mixed-income, multi-family, and affordable housing, and modified zoning in concentrated areas will promote a vibrant, populated residential center that will energize not just the tourist trade, but the local residents’ day-to-day life, and will also care for our growing elderly population and attract younger residents to town.
Concentrated Development is Good Development. Concentrated development reduces sprawl, allowing for the protection of our valued natural resources in larger parcels on the outskirts of town. We need zoning that encourages sustainable high-density, mixed-use development in certain districts.
Protecting Open Space is Pro-development. It increases the value of abutting lots; it attracts tourists; protecting open space on the outskirts of town encourages development at the center.
An Educated Town is a More Prosperous Town. Did you know, for example, that although our town is 83% open space, only 29% of that is protected, the smallest percentage among eight Northern Berkshire towns? Or that when you apply absolute and partial constraints to the Limited Industrial and Planned Business districts, the amount of land available to develop more or less disappears? The more we know, the more we can achieve.
We Need Change on the Planning Board. A town is only as strong as the number of people involved in the way it’s run. Too often the same handful of people fill the same local government positions. The incumbent has been on the Planning Board for ten years. Someone who isn’t as familiar with “the way things have always been done” can bring fresh eyes to old problems.

"If what I believe sounds like what you believe, I hope you’ll give me a chance to represent your values, to represent your desires, a chance to serve you in ways that make this town as strong as it can possibly be. The election is May 9^th at WES; polls are open 7:00am-8:00pm. I hope to see you there.

Thank you for your time and attention,

Karen Shepard

Email: kshepard@williams.edu

www.karen-shepard.com

Facebook: KarenShepardAuthor

Twitter: @karenlshepard"

GreylockNews.COM

MUSIC EVENT: Go this Saturday (7:30 p.m.|Jan. 20) as Eliza Edens opens for Lizzie No at MassMoCA

Humble Pie caterers Kristin Kennedy and Heather Mumford describe their Airstream, bakery, kitchen and catering service

Fwd: Vermont's Successful Neighbor App Opens in Williamstown

TEXT: Candidate Alex Carlisle releases candidate statement for Williamstown Planning Board re-election

Platform commentary:

Bullet Point Platform

The Longer Read:

ARTICLE A - REFORMING NON CONFORMING 1 & 2 FAMILY STRUCTURES

ARTICLE B - REGULATION OF LONG & COMMON DRIVEWAYS

Vote: "Against"

My vote: "For"

My vote: "Against"

A conversation in December about Berkshire’s cities

‘Death with Dignity’ discussion on Tuesday

THREE LETTERS: About the reporting of alleged sexual-abuse cases at Williams College | Meg Bossong, John Pucci, Paul Caccaviello

UPDATE, OCT. 31 -- WAMC'S Josh Landes has posted a detailed story about this.

Some reporting of the nuances with sexual-assault handling was posted to iBerkshires on Sept. 2 of 2014 -- four years ago.

Letter: Williams College wronged by Caccaviello claim

Caccaviello failed to respond to Williams

Letter: Politics behind attack on DA's Williams College probe

QUESTIONS TO PONDER:

Fwd: "An impolite arrogant woman"

New Michael Moore movie “Fahrenheit 11/9” in theaters Sept. 21

Berkshire Eagle publisher/president invites public to talk at BrewHaHa! on Friday 9 a.m.-10 a.m.

TUESDAY: Public invited to attend or email questions to Williamstown forum in hot district-attorney three-way race

Details of tonight's (April 10) Williamstown Planning Board meeting on zoning rewrite

Pot shop plans August opening in Williamstown, projects $350/ounce pricing

Ann McCallum resigns from Williamstown Planning Board but supports new zoning effort and will stay for April 3 meeting

Draft election ballot for Williamstown provided

AUDIO: Three Democratic gubernatorial candidates in Pittsfield issues forum

42 Hoxsey Update: Wanda Bubriski reports receipt of letter from Williams; historic commission meets April 12

Planners advancing major Williamstown rezoning to make multi-dwelling units and apartments a "matter of right"; some neighbors concerned

More than 100 people "sign" letter to Williams president seeking stay of execution for razing of historic Hoxsey Street house; hearing Tuesday?

Family says Williams has decided to raze Bubriski house to make room for new science center after moving deadline passes

Thanks, Peter

HISTORIC HOUSE IN WILLIAMSTOWN, MA AVAILABLE FOR MOVING -

42 Hoxsey Street c. 1880

42 Hoxsey Street2,995 Square Feet

MUSIC: Americana lyics and a melodies both delicate and fierce mark New England / NY tour of Eliza Edens (Densmore) | Jan. 9-Jan. 19

Williams names Majumder interim president Jan. 1 pending search for Falk's successor

Author Pam Weintraub to speak Saturday, Aug. 12, at Berkshire Athenaeum about Lyme disease "epidemic"

Hinds hosting Senate President Rosenberg in Pittsfield or a day of meetings, events on Friday, June 2nd

Karen Shepard releases statement in her bid to unseat Chris Winters on the Williamstown Planning Board

42 Hoxsey Street
2,995 Square Feet