“The cumulative cost of one homicide to a city is around $10 million,” writes Thomas Abt in his book "Bleeding Out." But for the victims, witnesses, and survivors of homicide and gun violence, the cost is incalculable.
Ultimately, as several speakers explained, the path to advancing this clean energy economy is being blocked by the tremendous wealth and power that the fossil fuel industry exerts over the nation's political and regulatory system. A study by the Political Economy Research Institute at UMASS-Amherst, on the other hand, that found that rapidly transitioning to a renewable energy economy could create over 2 million net new jobs.
Dave retired from Schweitzer-Mauduit Mills in Lee, Mass., with 32 years of services. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and was a member of the Stockbridge Sportsman’s Club.
"We are teachers. We travel the world spreading our message of peace, love, and harmony. What could be better or more important than that.”
-- Ladysmith Black Mambazo founder and leader Joseph Shabalala
Ruth loved gardening and reading. At the Ramsdell Library in Housatonic, you’d be hard pressed to find a book without her name in it. She also had a tender heart for all animals and nursed many back to health.
In January 2011, 1Berkshire received $300,000 from General Electric and then proceeded to develop a public relations and social media campaign to oppose dredging GE’s PCB pollution from the Housatonic River. The surreptitious funding and anti-environmental campaign led to the resignation of two 1Berkshire directors, both members of Berkshire Creative.
Based on the preliminary investigation, the female was traveling at a moderate rate of speed when she failed to negotiate a corner, causing her to strike the tree head on.
"Sustainable economic development will occur because our regions will be far more attractive to young entrepreneurs and investors when we are connected again by passenger rail to New York, and to the world.”
-- Train Campaign founder Karen Christensen of Great Barrington
If there was one word to describe Peggy that word is love. She loved people. She especially cherished spending time with her family; each one of her nieces and nephews held a special place in her heart. She loved to laugh, she loved food, music, and dogs -- who loved her back.
Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist David Cay Johnston wrote a prescient story last May about how electricity prices might soar if Wall Street succeeds in its attempts to manipulate power supply. New England will be a “test-case” for “Enron-style price-gouging,” which is “making a comeback. Under the rules of the electricity markets, the best way to earn huge profits is by reducing the supply of power.”
A favorite family picture is one of Dottie rappelling off a cliff during Escape and Evasion School. From 1953 until 1955 Dottie served with the 6481st Medical Air Evacuation Group stationed in Seoul and Tokyo. While serving her country at war Dottie earned numerous commendations, including a battle star and was promoted to first lieutenant.
The land in question falls under Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) regulations that prohibit working land within 100-feet of a reservoir and wetlands, and the town’s rules that put a 500 foot buffer between a reservoir and any permitted activity.
The romantic vision of closer-to-nature of log homes turned into a toxic nightmare for Great Barrington where the town and the Community Development Corporation of South Berkshire had to deal with the demise of New England Log Homes that processed timber on an 8-acre site on Bridge Street.
The original bylaw [defining the responsibilities of the Finance Committee] in the town charter, and adopted in 1974, assigns a budget advisory role to the committee. The new bylaw asks for more from the town and extends the role to the [regional] school district.
And who are the blessed among us? Park Street in Housatonic. The Brooklyn District of Great Barrington: Quarry Street, Pine Street, Higgins Street, Humphrey Street, Grove Street, Crosby Street, Warren Avenue. And Monument Valley Road is also on the list.
"This is about justice. We have a responsibility to both nature and people. As a bridge to the community, we are paying attention to what’s going on in Mexico and in the world.
-- Mario Hernandez, director of the El Charco del Ingenio botanical garden in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
"The community is getting clean energy, $230,000 [annually] in money that was not there before, a LOT of conservation land, and public access for fishing and kayaking on the river.”
-- Kirt Mayland, developer of the Housatonic Solar Project
