Denny Alsop to speak at Laurel Hill Association’s annual meeting
Stockbridge — River advocate Denny Alsop will be the guest speaker at the Laurel Hill Association’s annual meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. at the Stockbridge Library.
A longtime Stockbridge resident, Alsop made the first crossing of Massachusetts by canoe in 1988 and his journey resulted in the introduction of the Massachusetts Rivers Protection Act. In the spring of 2016, Alsop made the second crossing of Massachusetts by canoe to bring attention to the continuing need to clean up the “rest of river.” The journey received coverage and reactions from media, the governor, members of Congress, the EPA and General Electric. Alsop will present “The Housatonic to Boston: A Paddler’s Story,” in which he will describe that recent canoe trip.
The event will open with the association’s business meeting. Alsop will begin his presentation at 7:30 p.m. The meeting is free and all are welcome. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact the Laurel Hill Association at info@laurelhillassociation.org.
–E.E.
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Red Cross seeks blood donations
Berkshire County — The American Red Cross has a severe winter blood shortage and is issuing an emergency call for blood and platelet donors to make donation appointments.
For the 10th year, the Red Cross and Dunkin’ Donuts will partner in January to help increase donations and reward donors. Through the Dunkin’ Donors Make a Difference campaign, all those who come to give blood or platelets in January at Red Cross blood drives in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and parts of New York will receive a $5 Dunkin’ Donuts card.
Berkshire area blood drive locations include St. Joseph’s Church in Pittsfield on Monday, Jan. 16, from 1 to 6 p.m.; the Dalton American Legion on Thursday, Jan. 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and the First Congregational Church of Lee on Thursday, Jan. 26, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
–E.E.
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BCC to participate in National Day of Service
Pittsfield — Berkshire Community College’s (BCC) Service-Learning Program will partner with the Harvest Table, Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity and Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center for the National Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Mon., Jan. 16. This is the fourth year that BCC will participate in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, with approximately 45 BCC students and employees.
Some slots for volunteers from outside BCC are still available. Registration is required. Monetary donations as well as donations of baked goods are also welcome. Volunteers will meet at the First United Methodist Church at 9 a.m. and disperse to Habitat for Humanity, the Gladys Allen Brigham Center, and the Harvest Table for site work, activities with children and serving a community lunch. For more information, contact Roslyn Broch, interim coordinator of Service-Learning, at rbroch@berkshirecc.edu.
–E.E.
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Berkshire Human Rights Speaker Series to welcome Tracie Keesee
Housatonic — On Sunday, Jan. 15, at 1 p.m., the Berkshire Human Rights Speaker Series will present Tracie Keesee who will give a talk titled “Race and Policing: Are Officers of Color the Solution?” at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting of South Berkshire. Keesee is the deputy commissioner of training for the New York Police Department. According to the Pew Research Center, when done correctly, aggressive diversity hiring can be a powerful tool in restoring community confidence in police departments. Said Keesee, “Communities of color suggest that police departments that reflect the demographics of their communities will help build trusting relationships. Yet, officers of color express the conflict between the communities they serve and simultaneously represent has created a unique burden that they alone must carry. Are officers of color the solution to the issues of race and policing?”
The talk is free and open to all. For more information, contact (413) 229-7993 or rickypenrose@gmail.com.
–E.E.
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Volunteer Income Tax Assistance tax rally
Pittsfield — Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity and Berkshire United Way will offer a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) tax rally during this year’s National Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 16 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity.
During the rally, community members with household incomes of $54,000 or less and who missed filing their tax returns during any of the years between 2013 and 2015 can stop in and have their back taxes filed for free by IRS-certified VITA volunteers. An online checklist of what information/paperwork is necessary to file is available. Attendees will be entered into a drawing to receive one of three $25 Big Y gift cards.
Filing of 2016 returns will commence on Saturday, Feb. 4.
–E.E.
