GB to host virtual coffee conversation with town manager

Great Barrington — On Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 10 a.m., the Great Barrington town manager’s office will hold another virtual coffee chat with the town manager via Zoom. The event is open to the public.

“This is the second in a series of meetings designed to open the lines of communication between our business community and Town Hall,” said town manager Mark Pruhenski. “You’ll have my undivided attention on this call. Let’s see how we can work together to help our businesses survive and thrive during this difficult time.”

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85777533354?pwd=SU5XT011VDBqaU9YdWZBUmtQWlNLQT09

Meeting ID: 857 7753 3354
Passcode: 747207

Join by phone: 1 (929) 205-6099

For more information, contact the town manager’s office at (413) 528-1619 x2.

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Pittsfield firefighters receive federal grant

Pittsfield — The Pittsfield Fire Department will receive $140,874 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants program as part of a regional award. The grant will be used for reimbursement and/or purchase of emergency medical personal protective equipment, and disinfection/decontamination supplies and equipment used in the responses to COVID-19 incidents. The Pittsfield Fire Department is serving as the host applicant for this award. Other communities/entities sharing in this award include Adams; Cheshire; Clarksburg; Dalton; Florida; Blandford; Lanesborough; North Adams; Savoy; Stamford, Vermont; Williamstown; Stockbridge; Sandisfield; Great Barrington; and Sheffield.

Eligible applicants for the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program include local fire departments, fire districts, nonaffiliated EMS organizations, tribal fire departments and state fire training academies. The grant applications are submitted from each agency directly to FEMA, where the applications are reviewed and scored by fire service personnel from throughout the nation.

FEMA obligates funding for this project directly to the recipient agencies. It is the recipient agency’s responsibility to manage its grant award within federal guidelines with technical assistance and monitoring provided by FEMA fire program specialists.

Since 2001, the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program has helped firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.