GBFD, American Red Cross install smoke detectors
Great Barrington — Great Barrington Fire Department chief Charles Burger has announced that GBFD partnered with the American Red Cross to provide free smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to town residents last week.
On Wednesday, Feb. 22, Great Barrington firefighters installed smoke and CO detectors in 18 houses throughout town as part of the American Red Cross Home Fire Preparedness Campaign, which aims to reduce the number of deaths and injuries from fires by 25 percent by 2020.
As part of the campaign, members of the American Red Cross worked with GBFD to educate residents about fire safety while firefighters installed the detectors. Since launching the campaign in 2014, the American Red Cross, working with fire departments throughout the country, has installed more than 700,000 smoke detectors.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, seven people on average die in U.S. home fires per day, and three out of five home fire deaths happen in homes with no working smoke alarms.
GBFD will be installing more smoke and CO detectors throughout town in the near future. Residents who are interested in receiving a free device as part of the American Red Cross Home Fire Preparedness Campaign must have a house built prior to 1975 that does not have hard-wired detectors. Those who would like to set up an appointment should call GBFD at (413) 528-0788.
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Pignatelli honored by Mass Mentoring Partnership
Boston — Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli was one of 25 individuals and organizations honored by Mass Mentoring Partnership at its 25th anniversary gala, which took place at the John Joseph Moakley Courthouse on Tuesday night. MMP serves more than 250 mentoring and youth development program statewide supporting more than 33,000 youth in mentoring relationships.
Pignatelli has been a champion of youth development throughout his time in the State House. In addition to taking the lead on increasing funding for MMP, which funds mentoring programs across the state, Pignatelli has also been the lead sponsor of an earmark for the Berkshire Youth Development Project for 10 years.
“State Representative Smitty Pignatelli is the House champion of the mentoring line item and has been a critical voice for youth in the Berkshires and across the Commonwealth. His leadership to sustain and grow investment in mentoring has been key to MMP’s efforts to close the mentoring gap across the state. Smitty has been a true champion for mentoring as well as a mentor to MMP in this work,” said Marty Martinez, CEO of MMP.
Other individuals and groups who were honored on Tuesday night include the Boston Red Sox, Highland Street Foundation, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Bank of America, EY, Yawkey Foundations, Liberty Mutual, the Rodman Ride for Kids, and Senate President Stanley Rosenberg.
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Hinds’ staff sets community office hours
Pittsfield — Sen. Adam G. Hinds, D-Pittsfield, has announced the dates, times and locations of his March 2017 district staff community office hours.
As part of his ongoing efforts to be accessible to all constituents no matter where they reside, Hinds has directed his district staff members A.J. Enchill and Jon Gould to hold roving office hours outside of their primary work locations once a month. Enchill is based in Hinds’ Pittsfield office and Gould splits his time between Pittsfield and Williamsburg.
Hinds’ staff will be available to meet with constituents from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8, at the Great Barrington Town Hall, 334 Main St., in Great Barrington and the Blandford Town Hall, 1 Russell Stage Rd., in Blandford.
Appointments are not necessary but can be booked in advance by calling the Pittsfield office at (413) 344-4561 or the Williamsburg office at (413) 768-2373. Those seeking to interact with Hinds and his staff may email him at Adam.Hinds@masenate.gov or call the offices during normal business hours Monday through Friday. The State House office, where the budget and policy, media relations and scheduling functions are handled can be reached at (617) 722-1625.
