Marina Dominguez, the Head of the Katunemo Arts Collective, received the Under 40 Change-Maker award for working to support immigrants in building their businesses as entrepreneurs, artists, and performers.
Last year, Gov. Charlie Baker proposed cuts in regional transportation authority funding that would have left BRTA with an operating deficit of $378,400.
Interviews will take place at Town Hall Tuesday, March 26, and Wednesday, March 27. The public is invited. Town residents wishing to submit questions for the candidates must do so no later than Friday, March 22, at 5 p.m.
The award winners have been selected based upon factors such as whether projects will increase ridership, demonstrate innovation, serve a priority population, be financially sustainable and provide cost savings or operational efficiencies.
The Public Transit Advisory Committee will be charged with regularly evaluating the public transportation needs of South County residents, through surveys and public input meetings, in order to provide recommendations to the town manager, the selectboard and the BRTA.
In his letter to the editor Tate Coleman writes: “One of the reasons people may choose not to utilize public transit in rural areas is they may not know about the system.”
Among the issues Amatul-Wadud is raising in her run for Congress are climate change; universal public education; and affordable, high-speed internet access for every resident of the 1st Congressional District.
The six candidates for Great Barrington Selectboard range from two men and one woman who have been on the scene for a long time to younger office seekers looking for generational change on the board.
In a letter to the editor, Rita Vrhel writes, 'Her knowledge of Sheffield and regional needs is extensive. Her connections are deep as is her love for Sheffield.'
The Massachusetts Senate voted to pass a bill designed to protect the personal information of consumers in the case of data breaches like the one seen at Equifax, and provide free credit freezes for all consumers.
Great Barrington Town Manager Jennifer Tabakin suggested better marketing targeted toward students and perhaps the many senior centers across the county. In addition, she wondered why the so-called CharlieCards, the BRTA's cashless payment system, were not available for purchase at places like supermarkets and pharmacies.
In his letter to the editor Tate Coleman writes: “The bus is a valuable resource in the community, and will hopefully become more utilized when bus stop signs are put up.”
Sen. Adam Hinds, who was among those who signed the letter, said he is 'deeply disappointed that the Berkshires were not given a high enough priority to have a member on the commission.'
In the last few years, Stanton has guided the selectboard through the sale of the old Castle Street firehouse, the reconstruction of Main Street, and the approval for the conversion of the former Searles High School to an upscale 88-room hotel on Bridge Street.
In his letter to the editor, Chip Elitzer writes: "A new train service to the Berkshires from NYC makes no sense. Metro-North already runs a frequent, reliable, inexpensive service between Wassaic and Grand Central."
