BERKSHIRE ROBOTICS CHALLENGE 2024
Due to popular demand, the Berkshire Innovation Center is adding an additional house team for the 2024 Berkshire Robotics Challenge. This BIC Team will practice at the new BIC Works @ MoCA in North Adams starting in January. If you are a 4th grade student interested in STEAM, robotics and coding, they would love to have you join them!
Team BIC WORKS will meet on Mondays from 3:30 - 5:30 PM at BIC Works on the First Floor of MASS MoCA building 2.
Interested in joining or coaching?
Email: ben@the-bic.org
What Mammal is That?
Sheep Hill
January 20, 1-3pm
FREE hands-on discovery program
Register for this FREE event at: https://rurallands.org/events/what-mammal-is-that/
Questions? programs@rurallands.org
1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program
The program is designed for students who are currently in their sophomore year and moving into junior year next year. It quicks off with a retreat in June and runs through April 2025.
Find out more here: https://1berkshire.com/1berkshire-programs/youth-leadership-program/
The application deadline is 11:59pm on Friday, 2/16.
On Saturday April 6, 2024, Berkshire AHEC’s Tobacco Free Community Partnership Program will be holding Berkshire Baby Bonanza 2024 at the Stationery Factory in Dalton from 11AM – 2PM. This event will be hosted by the 2024 Community Baby Shower Committee and the Berkshire AHEC Tobacco-Free Community Partnership Program.
Berkshire Baby Bonanza 2024 is focused on providing information that is geared towards those contemplating pregnancy, pregnant individuals, post-partum individuals and their partners, as well as parents and caregivers of infants and toddlers. Community Baby Showers in the past have been a great success, with many Berkshire County agencies participating and 200 - 300 people attending. See flyer for details.
Prior to December break, we had an emotional send-off for one of our long-time tech employees, Cal Rowland. Our celebration even included a special celebrity guest! Cal's presence brightened our halls although much of his work took place "behind the scenes." He was a valuable member of our team and he will be missed. Congrats, Cal on a much-deserved retirement. Enjoy!
North Adams Mobile Food Bank
Friday, 1/5
11am to noon
In the event the mobile is cancelled due to winter weather the Food Bank website is updated and the hotline (413)-419-0079 contains a notice of the cancellation. They would also send out information through social media and our community partners as soon as possible.
Upcoming programming from the Family Center.
Upcoming programming at the North Adams Public Library.
Congrats to all who were sworn in over the weekend, including the Mayor, City Councilors, and School Committee Members, Cody Chamberlain, Tara Jacobs, and Alyssa Tomkowicz! Thanks for all you do to serve our community. North Adams Public Schools looks forward to working with all of you!
This afternoon, Drury High School hosted Crew Olympics. There were flags and fun had by all!
Colegrove's having fun during Spirit Week! They even had a special visit from JiJi and an elf!
Colegrove staff partnered with their PTG to host their annual Winter Fest last night. Here are some photos of their band and chorus students performing at the event. Thanks to everyone who participated! A good time was had by all!
Food and meal resources:
The Food Bank of Western MA has a SNAP Outreach team and they help with applications: https://www.foodbankwma.org/get-help/snap-outreach-enrollment/. To reach the enrollment team by phone at (413) 992-6204.
SNAP outreach flyer: https://www.mass.gov/doc/snap-outreach-flyer-english/download
HIP outreach flyer https://www.mass.gov/doc/english-healthy-incentives-program-hip-flyer/download
CHP operates a Food For All program offering bags of groceries for their clients. Here is the link to the resources countywide: https://chpberkshires.org/family/food-for-all/. In partnership with Berkshire Grown and the Mass. Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), CHP operates a mobile farm stand, which travels to CHP practice locations each week loaded with food grown by local farmers. Patients and clients are welcome to stop in on pickup days and grab a bag filled with produce from local Berkshire farmers who participate in the MDAR program.
For North Adams:
2nd and 4th Mondays of the month | 1-2:30 PM
CHP North Adams Family Medical and Dental
71 Hospital Avenue, North Adams
Link to Food Pantries and Meal Sites in Berkshire County: https://5il.co/2aw0c
North Adams Mobile Food Bank
Friday, 12/15
11am to noon
Brien Center Parking Lot (American Legion Drive).
Please note that parking is limited at the American Legion. If the lot is at capacity, please come back and see us anytime before noon. In the event of inclement weather, we will send out updates through social media. The Food Bank also has a line that people can call to check on the status of the mobiles 413-419-0079.
The community is also invited to join Berkshire Food Project for their holiday meal on Wednesday, December 20 from 11:30 – 2 at the Berkshire Food Project, 134 Main St (entrance on Summer St). They will be serving turkey, ham, plenty of sides and holiday cookies. All are welcome for a no-cost meal and holiday cheer!
2024 Western Mass Family Leadership Series
The series is for family caregivers who are interested in learning about leadership and advocacy, creating a vision, policy making, and self-care, as well as being a networking opportunity.
See flyer for details.
Brayton Elementary School Book Fair
December 11 - 15
This year's Book Fair at Bryton Elementary School is going to be epic! More Books. More Choices. More Fun.
Start exploring together on our school's Book Fair homepage!
2024 Williams College Winter Basketball Clinic through Special Olympics MA
Basketball clinic for athletes ages 5 through 18 at Williams College. Both Traditional Athletes and Unified Partners are welcome! A traditional athlete is an individual diagnosed with an intellectual disability. A Unified Partner is an individual not diagnosed with an intellectual disability. The program will run on Sunday mornings from 11 am to 12:30 pm in the Chandler Gymnasium on the following dates: January 7th, January 14th and January 21st.
Register here: https://www.specialolympicsma.org/play-sports/find-sports-programs-near-you?*=williams
If you do not receive a confirmation email after registering, please contact Ops@SpecialOlympicsMA.org
Upcoming programming by the Family Center
Housing Resource & Rental Assistance guides from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
English: https://5il.co/2adqh
Spanish: https://5il.co/2adqg
Chinese (simplifies): https://5il.co/2adqf
"Lights of the Future"
LumiNAMA
Created and curated by Drury High School, Foundations of Art students
Art students in grades 9-12 created slab-rolled clay luminaries carved with simple images of a few of their favorite things. We are honored to be a part of this event and learned about the application process for art shows, creating slab ceramics, curating and installing art.
We encourage everyone to view the wonderful window exhibits as part of LumiNAMA and vote for their favorites at https://www.luminama.com/voting!
