But, time is running out.
According to Deborah Leonczyk, executive director of the Berkshire Community Action Council, which administers the federal program locally, utilities usually start shutting down clients for nonpayment after May 28. This year, the risks associated with the pandemic forced a moratorium on shut-offs until July 1.
So, officials fear that folks might not realize that the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program application deadline falls before the deadlines for shut-offs. If they try to apply after the deadline, they will be denied, which could lead to a new set of problems.
âI just really hope people know how important it is to fill out that application,â Leonczyk said. âFolks need to understand that they will be shut off if they donât file their application on time. After the deadline, it will be too late.â
You might know the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition from one of the many hats it wears, from organizing the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service; its bike collective; community recognition awards; National Night Out events; the annual Voices of Recovery Walk; or its annual back to school kick off with backpack give-aways. nbCC photo
NORTH ADAMS â Jobseekers, have you thought about what you can do for your community by working with the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition?
A nonprofit organization that began when Sprague Electric Co. ended operations some 35 years ago, nbCCâs expertise in convening helps organize a community voice and community efforts to strengthen the local social safety net.
What do you bring to the community table? benningtonbanner.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from benningtonbanner.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Amelia Chandler loves The Whiskey Treaty Roadshow, a local five-piece collaboration performing Americana, rock and roots-folk music.
âI love that theyâre these hometown guys who have come together and collaborated with each other and told the story of their lives, but also the lives of people in this area who can connect to those stories,â she said.
Chandler, a Pittsfield resident, also loves live music in general.
âMusic is a lifeline for me,â she said. âI am not a musician, by any means, but music is a lifeline. I love to sing along and dance and, just the experience â itâs life. Itâs my breath. Itâs oxygen.â
BUSINESS MONDAY: One mile at a time
Many groups are working together for better transportation options in and to the Berkshires.
It’s no secret that it can be challenging to get to, and around, the Berkshires.
If you don’t own a car, getting from Point A to Point B can be time-consuming. Agencies like Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA), the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), and local Councils on Aging help plug some of these gaps, but the region’s size and geography continue to present obstacles.
Transportation into and out of the Berkshires is even more lacking. The region recently lost daily rail service to Boston and Albany when Amtrak changed the schedule of the Lake Shore Limited train to a tri-weekly service. Although Berkshire residents still enjoy bus service, bus and rail service to the area is often slower than driving yourself, and can be unreliable. Despite the less-than-rosy current picture, recent years have seen forward progress and we have go