Week Of
June 29, 2008

 HillTowns Online Business Directory, Activities, Events & News for the Berkshire HillTowns

 

We are always looking for HillTown News and Businesses for our online Business & Events & News Directory. If you would like to advertise your Business with us Contact us for getting your announcements out to the Hilltowns thru the web.

Hilltowns Online
594 Main Street
Becket, MA. 01223

Email: HilltownsOnline

We are looking for Dalton News for our online paper. Contact us for getting your announcements out to the Hilltowns thru the web.

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House Approves $3Million Increase for Regional School Transportation Funding

Boston- State Representatives Denis E. Guyer (D- Dalton), Stephen Kulik (D.-Worthington) and Christopher Donelan (D.-Orange) have announced that the Massachusetts House of Representatives voted Thursday evening to increase funding for Regional School Transportation to $61.3 million for the 2009 fiscal year.  The $61.3million allocation is a $3million increase over FY08.
Guyer sponsored the statewide budget amendment to increase Regional School Transportation funding.  The amendment received additional support from over forty representatives, including Kulik and Donelan.
“Representing some of the regional school districts that cover the largest geographic areas in the state, I understand all too well how important this funding is to school districts,” said Guyer. “This $3million increase in funding is step towards the ultimate goal of 100% reimbursement to these schools, which would afford them the ability to focus a greater part of their budgets on educating the children.”
In FY04 Regional School Transportation Reimbursement was given just over $23million in funding. Over the past five fiscal years that funding has increased by over $37million to $61.3million.
Representative Kulik commented on the funding saying, “The House once again continues to increase funds for Regional School Transpiration as we seek to fully cover these rising costs. The state's share will help to keep more money in the classroom, and relieve pressure on local school budgets."
"Our success today amounts to additional state aid for many schools in Franklin County" said Representative Donelan "It should be a signal to more school districts to work together to increase efficiency and qualify for more state aid."
The budget debate continues in the State Senate later in May.
Second Berkshire. - Consisting of the towns of Becket, Cheshire, Dalton, Hancock, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, New Ashford, Peru, Richmond, Washington and Windsor, and precinct B of ward 1, of the city of Pittsfield, all in the county of Berkshire; the towns of Ashfield, Bernardston, Buckland, Colrain, Leyden, Northfield and Shelburne, all in the county of Franklin; and the towns of Cummington, Middlefield and Plainfield, all in the county of Hampshire.

Berkshire Taconic Announces New Grants for Community Initiatives  in Central Berkshires 

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation today announced that its Central Berkshire Fund is offering two-year grants of up to $38,000 for nonprofit initiatives that support health, education, culture, environment, childcare or human services in Dalton, Hinsdale, Peru, Becket, Cummington, Windsor and Washington, MA.
"This community impact grant, which is being funded by an anonymous donor, gives the fund the opportunity to significantly help residents of the central Berkshire region, said John Kittredge, chair of the advisory committee of the Central Berkshire Fund.
The community impact grant may be one grant of $38,000 or two of lesser amounts. Organizations that apply for the community impact grant remain eligible to apply to the annual grant program of the Central Berkshire Fund. 
Funded projects must begin on or after January 1, 2009; project funding concludes on December 31, 2010 at the latest.
To apply, nonprofit groups must submit a letter of interest to Berkshire Taconic by May 31.  The advisory committee of the Central Berkshire Fund will review the letters and select two to four projects to be developed into full proposals.  The committee must receive full proposals by September 1 and will announce grant recipients in January 2009.
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation builds stronger communities and improves the quality of life for all residents in the region it serves: Berkshire County, MA; Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY; and northwest Litchfield County, CT.  Founded in 1987, Berkshire Taconic currently has over 500 funds and manages more than $84 million in assets.  Each year, it distributes more than $7 million through grants and scholarships, helping thousands of donors achieve their philanthropic goal and hundreds of nonprofits carry on their good work.

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Town Hall Information
462 Main Street
Dalton, MA 01226
Ph: 413-384-6103 / 413-634-5458 / 413-684-6111
Fax: 413-684-6107
Hours:
Monday thru Wednesday - 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursday - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Website: www.dalton-ma.gov

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Mass Call / Volunteer Firefighters Assoc.
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Website:
www.mcvfaTravel.com

Berkshire Barns, Inc.
Traditional Barnwrights
177 Cleveland Rd.
Dalton, MA 01226
See Our Ad Here
phone/fax: 413-684-4352
Email: info@berkshirebarns.com
Web: www.berkshirebarns.com

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Local Students Participate in Model Solar Car Northeast Championship

"Where are tomorrow's inventors, tomorrow's engineers? Where are tomorrow's technological trouble-shooters and scientists? Where are tomorrow's out of the box thinkers? I say they are RIGHT HERE TODAY!", states an exuberant Arianna Alexsandra Collins, Education Director of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, "Remember you are already winners! Be proud of yourselves!" And they were.
Nessacus Regional Middle School students Nathan Sears, Christian Pickwell, Ryan Parker and Kyle Miller, of Dalton, MA, won first place in Speed in their regional race earning them an invitation to attend the regional championship. They competed with their model car at the Northeast Regional Junior Solar Sprint Championship, Sunday, June 8 in Springfield, MA.
109 top-performing middle school student teams from across the Northeast, over 275 students, entered this year's Junior Solar Sprint Championship, run by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA). This year, students and race officials alike braved near 100 degrees temperatures to participate in this "cool" event or "hot" event as the case may be. Water and dual fan-spray bottles were on hand to cool off the guests.
Student teams competed for Speed and three design awards-Craftsmanship, Innovation, and Technical Merit. Additionally, awards were also given to Best Re-Use of Materials, for best re-use of recycled and recyclable materials in car construction, Kid's Choice, for most impressive car among competing students, and new this year is the Artistic Merit Award, for the most clever and visually appealing solar car. Throughout the day, students and parents alike investigated renewable energy exhibits including perennial favorites, a well-stocked solar-powered ice cream cooler and a sampling of solar ovens and other solar gadgetry. New this year was a peddle-powered grain grinder which was popular to try out despite the heat. And bless them for coming out in full formal uniform, the ROTC Color Guard from Commerce High School of Springfield, MA with Cadet Captain Christopher Rios singing the National Anthem.
"The Junior Solar Sprint program allows students to explore scientific concepts and technologies that can help our country address issues of global climate change, reduce air and water pollution, and reduce our dependence on foreign sources of fuel," notes Arianna Alexsandra Collins, NESEA's Education Director.  "It our sincerest hope that programs such as JSS provides opportunities for these students to become informed and pro-active citizens, infused with a team-spirit approach to face the challenges that lie ahead with dignity and resourcefulness."
Susan Reyes, Science Educator and Junior Solar Sprint Coordinator notes, "This is a teacher's dream!  Having students design and build a model solar car for competition is highly engaging and challenges kids to put their learning to practical use."
"Kids develop teamwork and problem solving abilities, investigate environmental issues, gain hands-on engineering skills, and use principals of science and math to get the fastest, most interesting, and best crafted vehicle possible," Reyes said.
The Northeast Junior Solar Sprint program is sponsored by the U.S. Army and is run by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA).  NESEA provides workshops for educators, subsidies for area events, and runs the Northeast Championship.  (See www.nesea.org/education/jss.)
NESEA is the nation's leading regional association involved in promoting awareness, understanding, and development of non-polluting, renewable energy technologies.  Its educational programs support innovative activities that involve K through 12th grade students and school systems in experiential learning about sustainable energy.}
Headquartered in Greenfield, MA, NESEA works in the fields of transportation, building construction and renewable energy.

Great Location Close To Schools!

$187,933
Located in City: Dalton, Zip Code: 01226
Comfortable Cape with 4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, rear deck and front sun room. Kitchen has cherry cabinets as well as designated office area. Two bedrooms on first floor and two large bedrooms on second floor. Full bath with new ceramic tile floor. Living room has wood floors and sliders to sun room. NEW roof in 2007, replacement windows in 2004. 12 x 20 rear deck. Storage shed and paved driveway. Two 100AMP electric services. Great location near schools. Not far from most Berkshire County attractions. Single Family Property, Approximately 0.26 acre(s), Year Built: 1969, Basement MLS#: 178350
Single Family Property Status: Active
Year Built: 1969 4 total bedroom(s)
1 total bath(s) 1 total full bath(s)
6 total rooms Approximately 1575 sq. ft.
Style: Cape Cod Basement
Heating features: Electric Interior features: Basement, Dishwasher
Exterior features: Deck, Public sewer srvc, Public water supply, Storage/out-building(s) Approximate lot is 100 x
Approximately 0.26 acre(s) Lot size is less than 1/2 acre
Middle School: Nessacus High School: Wahconah
All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified.

Contact:

Ashmere Realty, Inc.
Barbara Osborne
9 Main Street
P.O. Box 966
Hinsdale, MA 01235
See Our Ad Here
Cell: 413-655-0003
Ph: 413-441-6152
E-mail me: BAOsborne@aol.com