News Headlines
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Two-Day Wildlife Tracking Certification Course Offered
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Washington State Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Grocery Manufacturers Association
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Reaching Your Goals: An Introduction to Estate Planning and Land Conservation
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Celebrate the Protection of 200,000 Acres of Conservation Land for Massachusetts Citizens and Wildlife
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Calling all Western Mass. Dry Cleaners – Apply for a TURI Grant
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Excellent Employment Opportunity: Dir. of Marketing & Communications Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
Two-Day Wildlife Tracking Certification Course Offered
Do you want to hone your wildlife tracking skills? Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT), Project Native, and Berkshire Natural Resources Council are pleased to announce that George Leoniak of CyberTracker will be offering a two-day wildlife tracking certification course on the weekend of October 26th and 27th. George is a recognized Track and Sign Evaluator for Cybertracker Conservation in North America. The course costs $170 and will be located in Berkshire County. Class size is limited.
The CyberTracker two-day wildlife tracking certification course is a practical field test that emphasizes open, honest dialogue and real learning. Common questions include: What species made this track? Which foot made this track (left, right; front, hind)? The CyberTracker system is a rigorous standard for evaluating and certifying wildlife trackers. Tracker certification improves the credibility of field observations while strengthening participants’ tracking skills
More information on the CyberTracker Certification can be found here: http://trackercertification.com/
More information on George Leoniak can be found here: http://www.leoniaktracking.com/about_george_leoniak
Call or email Elia Del Molino at elia@thebeatnews.org or 413-429-6416 to enroll. Space is limited!
Washington State Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Grocery Manufacturers Association
Just Label It Continues to Demand Transparency from GMA Members
Washington, D.C. (October 16th, 2013) – Today, Washington State’s Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed suit against the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), big food’s national lobby group representing brands like General Mills, Kellogg’s, Kraft and Pepsico, for violating the state’s campaign disclosure laws. Ferguson alleges that GMA, the largest contributor to the ‘No on 522’ campaign, illegally collected and spent a sum of $7.2 million to defeat Washington’s GE labeling initiative, while hiding the identity of its contributors.
“It’s time these companies listen to consumers, and support full transparency when it comes to genetically engineered ingredients,” said Scott Faber, executive director of Just Label It. “Consumers deserve the right to know what they’re eating and feeding their families.”
Just Label It launched a petition in August 2013 targeting many of the GMA’s members, demanding that Monsanto, General Mills, Kellogg’s, Kraft, Pepsico and 60 other major food and chemical companies stop trying to keep Americans in the dark about which products contain genetically engineered ingredients. The petition has collected more than 100,000 signatures to date.
Polls show that more than 90% of American consumers want to know about the food they’re eating, a right held by citizens in 64 countries around the world that already require mandatory labeling of GE foods.
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About Just Label It
JUST LABEL IT (JLI) is a national coalition of 650 diverse organizations dedicated to the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods, also referred to as genetically modified, or GMOs. The Just Label It message is simple: consumers have a right to know about our food so we can make informed choices about what we eat and feed our families. For updated information, visit the Just Label It website, (www.justlabelit.org)
Reaching Your Goals: An Introduction to Estate Planning and Land Conservation
Tuesday, November 5th, 6PM, Buckland Public Hall, 15 Upper St. Buckland, light dinner included.
Thursday, November 14th, 2PM, Sheep Hill, 671 Cold Spring Road, Williamstown, hearty refreshments will be served.
Creating a plan for the future of your land can be an overwhelming process. Come to either of these workshops for an overview of essential estate planning tools that help you accomplish your goals, whether they are minimizing taxes, passing the land on to the next generation, or keeping it open and undeveloped in the future. An experienced local estate planning attorney will be on hand to answer your questions, and we’ll hear from local landowners who have put a plan for their land in place.
Please reserve your seat in advance by calling Wendy Ferris at 413.625.9151 x111 or email wferris@franklinlandtrust.org.
The Department of Fish and Game & Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Invite You to Celebrate
the Protection of 200,000 Acres of Conservation Land for Massachusetts Citizens and Wildlife.
Please Join Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan,
Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Mary Griffin,
Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Director Wayne MacCallum,
and the Fisheries and Wildlife Board at the site of a recent acquisition that helped us achieve this significant milestone.
Maple Hill Wildlife Management Area
Maple Hill Road, West Stockbridge, Massachusetts
October 29, 2013 at 10 A.M.
Let us know if you are planning to attend by emailing mass.wildlife@state.ma.us.
We look forward to seeing you!
Driving Directions:
Google Maps point for the driveway into the field: http://goo.gl/p6OImt
Nearby address for GPS: 55 Maple Hill Road, West Stockbridge (look for event signs in area).
From points East:
l Take I-90 (Mass. Turnpike) west to Exit 1 in West Stockbridge.
l At the end of the exit ramp, turn right onto MA-41 N.
l After 300 feet, turn left onto MA-102 W/MA-41 N (State Line Road).
l Stay on MA-102 W through town, and take a left at the fork where MA-102 W splits off fromMA-41 N.
l After 0.7 miles, turn left onto Maple Hill Road. This is after you cross over the Mass Pike.
l Take Maple Hill Road three-quarters of a mile to the top of the hill, and turn right onto the dirt driveway to the parking area.
From Pittsfield and points North:
l Take Route 7 in Pittsfield, and turn onto West Housatonic Street.
l Take West Housatonic Street 0.8 miles and turn left onto Barker Road.
l Take Barker Road 3.1 miles, and continue another 6.5 miles on Swamp Road.
l Turn right onto MA-102 W/MA-41 N, and after 0.2 miles, take a left at the fork MA-102 W splits off from MA-41 N.
l After 0.7 miles, turn left onto Maple Hill
Calling all Western Mass. Dry Cleaners – Apply for a TURI Grant
Switch from using perchloroethylene to wet cleaning
Apply for a TURI Grant
TURI will award a grant of up to $15,000 to one Massachusetts commercial cleaner to switch from perchloroethylene (perc) dry cleaning to dedicated professional wet cleaning.
We’re looking for a cleaner in Western Massachusetts who is interested in making this change.
Visit our web site to download the simple application along with case studies from other shops that have switched to professional wet cleaning.
Benefits of Professional Wet Cleaning
Wet cleaning has been proven to be a feasible alternative – cleaners say they spend less time in their shops, the air is cleaner, they no longer have to deal with regulatory oversight, and the whites are whiter and brights are brighter. But don’t take our word for it, take a look at what these cleaners have to say:
AB Cleaners, Westwood (see a video of the demonstration)
Ace Cleaners, North Andover
Best Neighborhood Cleaners, Medford
King & Queen Cleaners, Milford
Silver Hanger Cleaners, Bellingham
Why should you move away from perc?
Short-term exposure to perc can cause health effects such as skin, eye, and respiratory irritation, headaches, and nausea. Very high exposure can cause death. Long-term exposure may damage the liver, kidneys, or central nervous system. Read more.
The Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) program has listed perc as a higher hazard substance, meaning that larger users of perc (over 1,000 pounds per year) now have to report and plan under the program.
Note: if you are on a septic system you would need to install a collection tank, as discharge from industrial laundry or dry cleaning is not allowed to the septic.
Send in Your Application Today
The application is simple! Just fill out the 2-page form found at www.turi.org/drycleaning and return to:
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Toxics Use Reduction Institute
Attn: Joy Onasch
Toxics Use Reduction Institute, Ste 500
600 Suffolk St. Lowell, MA 01854
If your application is a finalist, we’ll call to set up a visit to your shop.
Please call or email with any questions:
Joy Onasch, joy@turi.org, 978-934-4343
More information about professional wet cleaning and the grant program can be found at www.turi.org/drycleaning.
Excellent Employment Opportunity: Dir. of Marketing & Communications
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation (BTCF) is currently seeking a high performance individual for a key management position. Please share this announcement with those you believe would make a strong candidate for our dedicated team working to make a difference in our community:
Brief Job Description:
The Director of Marketing & Communications will build upon BTCF’s existing brand and messaging to:
- Deepen the visibility of the Foundation to strengthen relationships and enhance giving
- Develop and execute communications strategies for all forms of communication both digital and print
- Create and coordinate all written and visual material about BTCF and selected funds
- Oversee all publicity
View Full Job Description
We believe the strength of our organization depends on our commitment to value, respect and embracing diversity. We look forward to hearing from talented people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and perspectives.
About BTCF
Berkshire Taconic’s mission is to build stronger communities and a better quality of life for all residents in Berkshire County, MA, Columbia County, NY, northeast Dutchess County, NY and northwest Litchfield County, CT.
Since 1987, Berkshire Taconic has managed a growing collection of charitable funds created by individuals, families and businesses. Each year, the foundation distributes over $7 million through grants and scholarships for programs in the arts, education, health and human services and environmental protection, helping thousands of donors achieve their philanthropic goals and hundreds of nonprofits carry on their good work.
Berkshire Taconic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity, governed by a dedicated Board of Directors and managed by an experienced professional staff.
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
800 N Main Street
PO Box 400
Sheffield, MA
01257-0400
t: 413.229.0370
f: 413.229.0329
info@berkshiretaconic.org
berkshiretaconic.org