GOVERNMENT

Fair season is about to begin in the Capital Region, and a beloved 90's Country artist will perform at the Columbia County Fair. It has been one of the most amazing summers ever for Country concerts here in the Capital Region. And now in addition to our 10 Country concerts at SPAC, it is time to start gearing up for all the amazing concerts we see at our local county fairs.

In a press release, Churchtown Fire Company announced they will not be responding to fire or medical emergencies in the district as of Monday. The Claverack and Taghkanic Town Boards decided to dissolve and incorporate the Churchtown Fire Protection District into their respective Fire Districts.

In response to Mr. Gardner’s June 30 Letter to the Editor criticizing Selectboard Vice Chair Leigh Davis’ request to publicly release executive session meeting minutes from the Housatonic Rest of River Municipal Committee:. To those who sigh with relief that the PCB dump is not in their backyard...

There is so much to love about the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts in the summertime. Whether it's hiking one of the area's many beautiful trails like Mount Greylock or Monument Mountain, swimming in our natural bodies of water, checking out the county's variety of summer concert offerings, enjoying ice cream, or experiencing a North Adams SteepleCats game there is much to love about the Berkshires during the warm weather months.

After 140 years, the tower had to close in 2017 due to structural upgrading and now has been fully restored. Until then the town upheld the wishes of its original sponsor, David Dudley Field, to have the chimes played every day at 5:30 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Field himself played them for 45 years, starting in 1878. After that, volunteers upheld the tradition until 2017.

CANAAN–Sallie LaValle, president of the Queechy Lake Club (QLC), reports the club has celebrated its 41st anniversary and is a founding member of the New York State Federation of Lake Associations. QLC volunteers monitor water health, check for possible contamination and record environmental trends throughout the year. Ms. LaValle...

KINDERHOOK–An annual Juneteenth celebration was held on June 19 at Rothermel Park in the Village of Kinderhook. This is the third year of the federal holiday designation which commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, TX, received the word that they had been freed from chattel slavery for 2-1/2 years. The Juneteenth event was sponsored by a coalition of pastors, ministers and lay leaders called God Belongs In Our Country.

MONTEREY, Mass. — On July 6 at noon, Timothy Abbott, from Spencer's Additional Continental Regiment, will share the stories of soldiers from Berkshire County who enlisted in the Continental Army and State Levies. Their involvement in the American Revolutionary era and their experiences in the military will shine a...

LIVINGSTON, NJ — The Township of Livingston has released its 2024 Water Quality Report, which is now available online BY CLICKING HERE and in printed form from the Water Department upon request. Residents should look for an envelope from the township marked “Important Information About Your Drinking Water.”CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE TAPINTO.NET NEWSLETTER “That envelope contains information on accessing the 2024 Water Quality Report, updates on our handling of and progress relating to the ongoing PFAS levels in local wells, and information about our Lead Service Line Inventory Survey,” said Utility Engineer Nathan Kiracofe. “We encourage everyone to read the 2024 Water Quality Report online or request a hard copy.”  Hard copies of the report will be available upon request from the Water Department beginning on Friday, July 5. To request a hard copy, residents should contact the department at water@livingstonnj.org or 973-535-7951. The Livingston Water Department is located on the second floor of Livingston Town Hall, 357 S. Livingston Avenue.DOWNLOAD THE FREE TAPINTO APP FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS. AVAILABLE IN THE APPLE STORE AND THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE.     For more local news, visit TAPinto.net

STOCKBRIDGE – Berkshire Botanical Garden presents the following upcoming programs. Music Mondays continue on July 8 with Wanda Houston and her blend of 1940s through 1960s R&B and jazz. Performances run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Food trucks will be available at selected performances. Cost is $15 members, $20 nonmembers; Thursday, July 11 and Friday, July 12, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., “Botanical Oil Painting.” Join Casey Krawczyk for an exciting summer class and delve into selected botanicals with a comprehensive study of their intricate color, form and shape while creating a unique and beautiful oil painting. Cost $235 members, $255 nonmembers; Thursday, July 11, “Sunset Yoga in the Garden.” This drop-in, outdoor program, held on the Great Lawn, is appropriate for all skill levels. Classes are held Thursdays from July 11 to September 12, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and are led by Kathi Cafiero, a Kripalu-certified yoga instructor who has been teaching the physical and mental benefits of yoga for over 25 years. Please bring a yoga mat and any props you may need. No bathroom facilities are available. Free to all members and non-members, and no registration is required. Drop-ins welcome; Saturday, July 13, “Wild Edibles,” 1 to 3:30 p.m. Join Russ Cohen at River Walk, a project of Great Barrington Land Conservancy for a walk focusing on edible native plant species, including species that you might like to plant in your yard. Russ will share some samples of foraged treats, made from wild edible plants, to taste at the beginning or end of the walk. No transportation will be provided for this class. Please meet at River Walk, 7 Cottage Street, Great Barrington. Cost is $40 members, $65 nonmembers. To register or for more information, visit www.berkshirebotanical.org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.

Great Barrington — Construct Inc., the leading nonprofit provider of affordable housing and support services in the Southern Berkshires, has been awarded a $3.1 million grant from the Healey-Driscoll administration’s 2024 Affordable Housing Development program. The state funds will help construct and subsidize 11 units at Cassilis Farm, a Gilded Age estate in New Marlborough, making them affordable to families and workers at or below 60 percent of the area median income (AMI).