Public Service Announcements (PSAs)

PSA From Stockbridge Agriculture and Forestry Commission

In celebration of Earth Day and Arbor Day, the Austen Riggs Center, in collaboration with the Town of Stockbridge Agricultural and Forestry Commission, will host a FREE TREE SEEDLING GIVEAWAY, on Saturday 4/23/2022 (rain date 4/30/2022). Distribution will take place on the lawn of the Austen Riggs Corner House, 46 Main St (on the corner of Main St and Elm St), from 9:00am -1:00pm, and will be limited to 2 seedlings per person. Bare-root seedlings of northern red oak (Quercus rubra), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) and river birch (Betula nigra) will be offered. Children from the Austen Riggs Nursery School have prepared pollinator seed cards, and volunteers from the Forestry Commission will be available for consultation on how to plant the seedlings.

To learn more about the Stockbridge Agriculture and Forestry Commission, visit: https://stockbridge-ma.gov/boards-and-committees/

To learn more about the Austen Riggs Center, visit:

www.austenriggs.org

PSA From Tri-Town Health

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY For residents of: Alford Becket Dalton Egremont Great Barrington Lee Lenox Monterey Mount Washington New Marlborough Otis Richmond Sheffield Stockbridge Tyringham West Stockbridge.

When: Saturday, May 14th, 2022, 9:00 AM — 1:00 PM Where: Lee Wastewater Treatment Plant 379 Pleasant Street, Lee, MA, 01238

What to Bring: Pesticides, Fungicides, Rust Proofers, Drain Cleaners, Fuels/Gasoline/Kerosene, Thermometers, Herbicides, Wood Preservatives, Oven Cleaners, Brake &Transmission Fluids, Thermostats, Insect Sprays, Wood Strippers & Stains, Floor Cleaners, Car Wax, Polish, Rodent Killers, Paint Thinners, Metal Polish, Engine Degreaser/Motor Oil Button Batteries, Muriatic Acid, Lead & Oil-Based Paint, Arts & Crafts Supplies, Swimming Pool Chemicals, Flea Powder, Varnish, Photo Chemicals, Driveway Sealer, No-Pest Strips, Full Aerosol Cans, Chemistry Kits, Antifreeze, Chemical Fertilizers, Sealants, Rechargeable Batteries, Car-Lead-Acid Batteries, Lighter Fluid, Adhesives, Mothballs, Solvents, Latex Paint, Medical Wastes, Asbestos, Fireworks & Explosives, Ammunition, Construction Debris, Gas or Propane Cylinders, Smoke Detectors, Radioactive Material, Fire Extinguishers, Fluorescent Lamps, Electronics, PCB's, Medications, Medical Sharps.

Pre-Registration is required. Please register online at www.tritownhealth.org

For additional questions, call Tri-Town Health Department at 413-243-5540

Photo: Jay Rhind

PSA From Lis Danish Wheeler, Laurel Hill Association

Earth Day 2022, Roadside Litter: can you help us pick it up?

Greetings All,

For the last two years, many townspeople came out to celebrate Earth Day in Stockbridge by picking up litter in their neighborhoods even when we were feeling the strain associated with a pandemic. Thank you all!

Will you be available again this year? If so, that would be terrific. This year will mark Earth Day 52! We can all feel good about how our individual and collective actions make a difference in our beautiful town.

Having spoken with Tri-Town Board of Health on March 18th, I learned all mask mandates are rescinded in Massachusetts at this time. However, they do suggest for those who are immunocompromised or unvaccinated, maintain the six-foot social distancing and wearing your mask.

You can RSVP to laurelhillassociation.org

Just say yes or no to Earth Day and with your reply please let us know where you will pick up litter so we can make sure we cover all streets and sidewalks.

Feel free to pick up litter anytime that is convenient between Monday, April 18 and Sunday, April 24.

Looking forward to seeing everyone out doing their part to keep our town cleaner and healthier for everyone. Lis

PSA From Brian Cruey, Naumkeag

Stockbridge Night at Naumkeag's Daffodil and Tulip Festival — April 30th 4 - 7pm. Naumkeag will hold a special Stockbridge night at their annual Daffodil and Tulip Festival on April 30th from 4pm - 7pm, where the evening's tickets will be reserved for use by Stockbridge residents only. The move is an effort to make sure that town residents can get tickets as the event will often sell out.

"Given the popularity of some of our events, we know that tickets can be hard to come by," Naumkeag Director Brian Cruey said. "It's very important to us that everyone in town has access to and are able to enjoy these events."

Town residents can access tickets by using the special link provided below. Tickets must be bought in advance and entry will be timed to make sure that flow and parking run smoothly. Ticket prices are $15 for members of the Trustees and $20 for not-yet members. If any town resident requires financial assistance to attend, please reach out to Amanda Duquette at aduquette@thetrustees.org.

Tickets for Stockbridge Night at the Naumkeag Daffodil and Tulip Festival can be purchased at:

https://tickets.thetrustees.org/calendar/6228ddaa102cf83646791f2c?view=list

Thanks again for your help in spreading the word!

Brian

Stockbridge Night at Naumkeag's Daffodil and Tulip Festival — April 30th from 4pm - 7pm. Photo courtesy of Naumkeag

PSA From Berkshire Agricultural Ventures launches Market Match Fund

Great Barrington MA — Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV) announces the launch of the Market Match Fund, an economic development and food access initiative to support Berkshire County farmers markets. The Market Match Fund is designed to provide a consistent, annual funding stream to match customer SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Access Program) benefits at these markets.

The term "market match" (sometimes referred to as "double up bucks") is an incentive program independently adopted and managed by farmers markets. The program is structured to reward SNAP participants when they spend their SNAP dollars at local food markets. Typically, markets will match 1:1 (or occasionally double) SNAP dollars spent up to a specific amount.

The Market Match Fund currently enables BAV to support markets in offering a 1:1 SNAP match up to $30, with the hope of either removing the $30 limit or raising the SNAP match to 2:1, depending on the success of fundraising efforts.

Until now, Berkshire County farmers markets that offer matching programs have fundraised independently of each other, which can present challenges to markets, especially small markets who often don't have the time or expertise to raise enough funds on their own. As a result, some markets weren't able to raise enough funds to sustain their matching program through the entire market season, and some didn't offer the program at all. By establishing this centralized fund, BAV is eliminating these capacity and fundraising barriers.

With the Market Match Fund, BAV hopes to 1) improve markets' operational efficiency without adding to their expenses or workload; 2) expand the regional economy by guaranteeing farmers and food producers access to an additional revenue stream; and 3) increase access to affordable, fresh, locally grown and produced food in communities where these markets are located.

BAV is accepting grant applications for the Market Match Fund from farmers markets throughout the Berkshire-Taconic Region now through April 22nd. To learn more, visit www.berkshireagventures.org.

Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV) is a nonprofit organization working to support the development and viability of local farms and food businesses throughout the Berkshire-Taconic Region (Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut), helping to build a thriving local food economy, improve access to fresh food for everyone, and address climate change through regenerative agriculture. For more information on BAV's low-interest loans, grants, and technical assistance, please contact us at info@berkshireagventures.org

Produce display at the Pittsfield Farmers Market. Photo courtesy of Roots Rising