“The retreat brings people together, builds community in the forest, gets participants outside and off their screens, and uses nature sustainably to heal and inspire minds and souls,” stated Great Mountain Forest Executive Director Michael Zafros. Retreat registration closes on July 30.
In total, of the $222,476 in cuts Town Manager Jennifer Tabakin presented, about $190,000 was approved by the Selectboard and Finance Committee.
"This is a year of real austerity.”
-- Finance Committee Chairman Tom Blauvelt.
“It was a teamwide effort. The best part of it is we were the first department in Berkshire County to get accredited [by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission."
-- Police Chief William Walsh
The $300,000 Brownfields Community Wide Assessment grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will be used to perform Phase One and Phase Two environmental assessments of several properties, most of them in and around the village of Housatonic.
The Planning Board decided that it wanted updated renderings and more information on signage and the potential visual impact of the proposed hangars before they voted to approve the site plan. On Monday, June 12, the airport’s application for a special permit will be voted on by the Selectboard.
“Conventional, over-the-counter cold remedies suppress symptoms but don’t treat the root cause. There is nobody out there using vitamin A, D, C, and Zinc in our combination or in our doses.”
-- Dr. Alan Inglis
In his letter to the editor, James Weber writes: “The Great Barrington airport is insular, unapproachable and unaffordable by the vast majority of residents of the Berkshires.”
An independent study submitted to the town in 2012 by a building consultant found that any developer looking to renovate the school is facing a liability of at least $850,000 in required remediation of just the asbestos and lead paint hazards.
In his letter to the editor, Ralph Noveck writes: “It has been shown that kids exposed to this kind of small, nurturing environment [in Egremont Village School] do better when they graduate to elementary and high school.”
In her letter, Sharon Gregory writes: “Warrant Article 28 would encourage formation of an enlarged group to discuss district enhancement with other towns and school districts.”
In her letter to the editor, Holly Hamer writes: “A sharp reduction in hours (with a jumbled schedule that a spelling bee champion couldn't remember) will hasten the demise of this venerable community beacon.”
"There is no discernable evidence leading me to conclude future real property values will be negatively impacted by such an occasion and to assert otherwise is speculation."
-- Town Assessor Chris Lamarre
Unfortunately for Great Barrington taxpayers, the proposed BHRSD budget calls for an increase in the town's assessment of almost 6 percent, with an increase in Stockbridge of 1.16 percent and an actual decrease in West Stockbridge of 4.58 percent.
Great Barrington has recorded $37 million in new construction in the past year, resulting in permit fees totaling more than $88,000 and new tax revenues of $538,690.
