Community Development Corporation of South Berkshire announces tax credit opportunity
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Community Development Corporation of South Berkshire (CDCSB) announces another round of funding for a statewide program that can help donors lower their tax liability while helping build affordable housing and support small business. For more than 30 years, the CDCSB has been dedicated to building low-moderate income affordable housing, creating job opportunities and promoting economic development in south Berkshire County.
Each year, the Massachusetts Community Investment Tax Credit (CITC) program offers credits to individuals, businesses, foundations, and nonprofits in return for donations to support the CDCSB’s work in affordable housing and job creation.
How it works: Tax credits are available to individuals, businesses, nonprofits and foundations who donate $1,000 or more to the CDCSB. Donors are eligible to receive a 50% tax credit toward their Massachusetts tax liability. Those that do not have a Massachusetts state tax liability will receive a refund for 50% of the amount of their original donation. Additionally, participants in the program may see an additional federal tax benefit.
Community members who wish to receive the CITC credit can learn more about it at the CDCSB website (https://cdcsb.org/donate/citc/) or contact Emmalyn Gaertner at 413-528-7788 or emmalyn@cdcsb.org.
— S.B.
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Agricultural Commissioner to visit Berkshire Farms
BERKSHIRE COUNTY, Mass. — On Wednesday, July 20, Massachusetts Agricultural Commissioner John Lebeaux will visit three farms in the Berkshires. Berkshire Grown annually organizes a summer tour with the commissioner. “Farm visits like these are crucial to helping our state government get a clear understanding of the challenges facing farmers in the Berkshires,” says Margaret Moulton, Executive Director of Berkshire Grown. PLEASE NOTE: THIS TOUR IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
The tour will visit three farms in the region: Holiday Brook Farm – a multi-generational family farm with a revived vegetable operation in Dalton; Robinson Farm in Becket, a livestock farm focused on beefalo breeding and cattle for direct meat sales; and Woven Roots Farm, a diversified vegetable farm in Tyringham with an intensive focus on community engagement.
— S.B.
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Berkshire Community College Announces Faculty Awards
PITTSFIELD, Mass. —Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces four of its faculty members have won Courses of Distinction Awards from Massachusetts Colleges Online (MCO). The awards were created to recognize faculty whose course designs and practices best exemplify online education’s potential to enhance teaching and learning.
The winners are:
Course Delivery Method, Online: Tattiya Maruco, Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
Course Delivery Method, Hybrid/Blended: Chris Laney, United States History to 1877
Innovative Features, Creating a Community of Practice: Nell McCabe, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Literature (honors course)
Innovative Features, Tech Whiz: Charles Park, Technical Writing
— S.B.
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Ilana Steinhauer receives RWJF Award
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Sixth Annual RWJF Award for Health Equity Presented by the NAFC Awarded to Ilana Steinhauer
The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics announced that the Sixth Annual Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Award for Health Equity Presented by the NAFC has been awarded to Ilana Steinhauer, Executive Director of Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires, Great Barrington, MA.
Ilana Steinhauer is not only the Executive Director of VIM Berkshires but also serves as clinical director and is an active nurse practitioner. Operating in a rural community with a lack of public transportation, Ilana helped create a transportation program to get patients to and from appointments, eliminating a major barrier to care. Ilana also helped ensure that resources were available to address the COVID-19 pandemic by educating the community, helping identify places to quarantine for those living in congregate housing, and ensuring equitable access to vaccines. Greater than 95% of the clinic’s patients have received COVID-19 vaccinations. Within VIM, Ilana ensures equity is central to the organization’s culture. She hired a Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) expert to work with staff, volunteers, and board members and launched a multicultural action group representing all key constituents.
For more information regarding the award visit: RWJF Awards for Health Equity
— S.B.
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Public Health Advisory issued over Xylazine found in local drug supply
BERKSHIRE COUNTY, Mass. — Berkshire District Attorney’s Office Issues Public Health Advisory About Xylazine in Local Drug Supply
The Berkshire District Attorney’s Office cautions the community about the presence of Xylazine in the drug supply.
Massachusetts Drug Supply Data Stream (MADDS) at Brandeis University noted a significant percentage of opioid samples testing positive for the presence of Xylazine, especially in Western Massachusetts. MADDS found the drug in both powder and counterfeit pain pills. The Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab finds Xylazine frequently used as a cutting agent.
Xylazine can cause over-sedation, decreased consciousness, low blood pressure, slowed heart rate, and reduced breathing. In combination with opioids, Xylazine increases the risk for overdose, and over-sedation for long periods of time can cause damage to muscles, nerves, and kidneys.
The District Attorney asks that everyone learn the signs of overdose and act immediately – call 911, administer Naloxone, perform rescue breathing, and stay with the person until help arrives. While Narcan will not reverse the effects of Xylazine, Narcan will reverse the effects of the opioid present, so always administer Narcan.
The Good Samaritan Law protects those who report an overdose from arrest and prosecution for drug possession. Implementing harm reduction strategies across the county and treating people with compassion is an evidence-based solution to the opioid and overdose epidemic.
The Massachusetts Drug Supply DATA Stream website provides health bulletins and alerts to assist in identifying changes to the drug supply. Berkshire Harm Reduction provides safer use supplies, advice, medical care, and more. For additional resources in Berkshire County, please see the Berkshire Overdose Addiction Prevention Collaborative website.
— S.B.
