Berkshire Green Drinks: All About Bats

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Jennifer Longsdorf, the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program Coordinator at MassWildlife, will speak at the September during an online only Berkshire Green Drinks event on Wednesday, Sept. 11. 
 
This free event will take place online via Zoom. The Zoom meeting will start at 6:00 PM. 
 
According to a press release:
 
Bats are fascinating and unique creatures that play a critical role in many environments around the world. However, dramatic population declines have put bats in the spotlight. Discover how human activity and White-nose Syndrome have decimated bat populations. Join BEAT and Jennifer Longsdorf to learn the general facts and help dispel common myths and fears about the most underappreciated and misunderstood mammal on Earth. Jennifer will end with some tips on how to help conserve and protect these ecosystem superheroes.
 
 
A graduate of the University of New England in Maine, Jennifer Longsdorf has been with MassWildlife for nearly 13 years as the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program Coordinator. During this time, Jennifer has been involved with a variety of conservation and restoration projects, aiding northern red-bellied cooters, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and coastal waterbirds, among other species. For the past several years, Jennifer has mainly served as MassWildlife’s bat conservation program coordinator and wildlife rehabilitation program manager.
 
Berkshire Green Drinks (formerly Pittsfield Green Drinks) is an informal gathering on the second Wednesday of the month that is free and open to everyone with any environmental interest. A guest speaker talks about an environmentally related topic for approximately 30 minutes beginning at 6 PM; the presentation is followed by a discussion and Q&A. 
 
Berkshire Green Drinks is sponsored and organized by the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT). For more information regarding Berkshire Green Drinks, contact Chelsey Simmons, chelsey@thebeatnews.org, (413) 464-9402.

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Hinsdale OKs Police Department Audit After Fatal Shooting

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

HINSDALE, Mass. — The town has approved $25,000 for an administrative review of the police department, more than two months after police fatally shot 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil during a mental health crisis. 

Town Administrator Robert Graves said the shooting on Jan. 7 is not the only focus of the audit, and it will be several months before the Select Board receives a final report. 

During a special town meeting on March 11, an article appropriating $25,000 from free cash for an independent consultant to conduct a professional evaluation and audit of the Town's Police Department was approved. The audit includes a review of the department's policies, protocols, operations, and procedures, and concludes with a written report. 

"The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office and Massachusetts State Police are investigating the shooting, and we await their conclusions.  As we look to move forward, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, our insurance company (MIIA/Cabot Risk), and our legal counsel have recommended that the town hire an independent law enforcement consultant or firm to conduct a comprehensive administrative review of our police operation," Graves wrote in an email to iBerkshires on Friday. 

"This event is not their focus; they will assess the overall operation. We want a written assessment of our police operation's strengths and weaknesses to help Hinsdale make future changes and improvements." 

He said after completing the procurement process and signing a contract with a reputable consultant or business, it will most likely be several months before the Select Board receives the final report. 

"Still, it will help the town and police department move forward," Graves wrote. 

Last weekend, family and friends of Kauvil stood in Park Square asking for justice. A flier for the standout reads "Biagio was killed by police while experiencing a mental health crisis. Now, over seven weeks later, authorities have not yet provided any updates.

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