Crane & Co. donates 685 acres to Berkshire Natural Resource Council
Dalton — Crane & Co. has donated 685 acres of undeveloped woodlands known as The Boulders to the Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC). The donation of the property to the BNRC will ensure that the land is properly maintained for the enjoyment of the community. The Boulders property spans Dalton, Pittsfield, and Lanesborough and is already covered by a conservation restriction. Crane has owned the land since the 1800s and has maintained a network of bike trails and walking paths throughout the property.
With funding from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, BNRC plans to enhance the hiking trails and improve public access with clean and attractive parking areas for visitors. BNRC currently owns nearly 10,000 acres throughout Berkshire County, all of which is open for public passive recreation.
–E.E.
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Tax possession property auction
Adams — On Wednesday, December 2, Sullivan & Sullivan Auctioneers, LLC will return for a second round of tax possession property auctions. One year after its last tax possession auction, the town is preparing for another successful auction during which it expects to sell all of the nine properties on the roster.
In December 2014 Sullivan & Sullivan auctioned off five properties for the town. The sale of the properties is an immediate source of income for the town with lasting effects, as the properties return to the tax rolls.
The auction will be held at 2 p.m. at the Adams Visitor Center. Tax possession properties offered for auction will be sold as is. Buyers will have 30 days to close the sale with the town. For further information regarding the auction, contact Sullivan & Sullivan Auctioneers, LLC at (617) 350–7700.
–E.E.
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Berkshire Money Management gifts Rites of Passage Empowerment
Pittsfield — Berkshire Money Management has presented the Rites of Passage and Empowerment program (R.O.P.E) with a major gift toward the group’s trip to South Africa in February 2016.
The $5,000 contribution marks the largest private donation presented to the group since its inception five years ago. The investment will support the girls’ engagement abroad, which will include a community service project assisting in the restoration of students’ homes and a gift toward the Mother of Peace orphanage in Illovo, South Africa.
The 2016 trip will be the second visit of its kind, as other members of R.O.P.E first traveled to Ghana in 2014.
–E.E.
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Job training workshops at Goodwill
Pittsfield — Beginning Monday, November 30, Goodwill of the Berkshires will offer a retail associate training program at its Job Skills Maker Space at 158 Tyler St. Classes will run Monday through Thursday for two and a half weeks. A GoodWorks Soft Skills Workshop will begin on Friday, December 4. The six-week workshop will be held at Berkshire County Head Start each Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for six weeks, and will cover the topics of organization, decision-making skills, customer service, and team building with a focus on dependability, job seeking, and job retention. Starting Monday, December 7, the six-week Business 101: Custodial Certification Training will be offered. The program will provide classroom and hands-on training in commercial cleaning practices.
Ongoing job training programs at Goodwill prepare people for careers in recycling, logistics (warehousing and distribution), and office work. Training is available at no-cost or low cost to agencies and individuals.
To learn more or apply for Goodwill Job Training Programs, contact Pam Bennett at pbennett@goodwill-berkshires.org or (413) 442-0061.
–E.E.
