BIC to Host TEDx Berkshires 2024

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC) are hosting TEDx Berkshires 2024.  
 
TEDx Berkshires is a local, independently organized event.This year's event will be held on Thursday, OCt. 10, 2024, from 1:30 – 5:00 pm, with a reception to follow. 
 
Tickets are now available for this in-person event.
 
"Innovation usually starts with an idea, sparked in response to a need for change or a desire to improve," shares TEDx Berkshires Executive Producer Stephen Boyd, the CEO of Boyd Biomedical and Chair of the Berkshire Innovation Center.  "The TEDx Berkshires stage offers the perfect showcase to share the success of diverse ideas and the vision of the Berkshire Innovation Center. Collective wisdom always wins, and we are thrilled to promote this year's event as a growing community focused on life-long learning and exploring technology together."
 
2024 Speakers:
  • Tammy Valicenti, Licensed Psychotherapist, will present on transforming trauma with EMDR.
  • Dr. Robert Gentleman, Professor, Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard University, will present on the use of transformer models in teaching.
  • Justin McKennon, Principal Scientist, Electro Magnetic Applications, will present breaking into the world of innovation and technology in his talk Establishing Your Roots.
  • Dr. Elisabeth Reynolds, Professor of the Practice, MIT, will present her call-to-action in support of small and medium-sized manufacturers.
  • Brad Corrigan, Musician, Founder and CEO,  Love Light + Melody, will present about reimagining poverty through the lens of belonging to each other.
  • Sarah Eustis, Founder and CEO, Main Street Hospitality, will present on generational hospitality stewardship and reinvention.
  • Michelle Jungmin Bang, Award winning Eco-entrepreneur, and Author, Sun & Ssukgat, will present on discovering the gift of time through Asia's centuries-old self-care wisdom.
  • Dr. Jeff Wetzler, Author, Co-Founder of Transcend Education, will present on how to learn something from anyone (…and why to try).
  • Melissa Lavinson, Executive Director, MA Executive Office of Energy Transformation will present on the challenges and opportunities involved in the complex efforts related to meeting the Commonwealth's decarbonization goals.
This is the second year that the Berkshire Innovation Center will be the host of TEDx Berkshires.  The inaugural TEDx Berkshires was held in Lenox in 2010 and was produced by Ethan Berg, Jamie Berg, and Dr. Mark Liponis. 
 
"TEDx Berkshires has always been a fun and stimulating form of "intellectual recreation" said Ethan Berg.  "I am particularly excited the talks will be hosted in the state-of-the-art BIC facility where so much of the Berkshire community comes to turn ideas into action."
 
Tickets for TEDx Berkshires are $100 for seating in the main stage area, or $75 for seating in the auditorium, and will include a reception following the TEDx talks. 

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Pittsfield Council OKs Underground Fiber Network

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — More underground fiber internet cables will be installed in Pittsfield. 

On Tuesday, the City Council approved Gateway Fiber's request to install an underground fiber network infrastructure within the city's right-of-way.  

The company was given the go-ahead for an aerial network last year alongside Archtop Fiber, marking the beginning of construction with a ribbon-cutting at the Colonial Theatre. Gateway Fiber will offer subscription plans ranging from $65 to $150 per month, depending on speed. 

Wards 3 and 4 will see the most work in the first phase, according to an underground fiber deployment plan.  Fourteen streets in Ward 4 will see underground fiber deployment; 13 streets in Ward 3.  

Ward 4 Councilor James Conant voted in opposition for personal reasons, as he signed up for Gateway Fiber briefly last year and said he had poor service and poor communication from the company. 

Some councilors and community members appreciated bringing competition to Spectrum internet services. Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey pointed out that it costs about $90 per month for 500 megabytes per second with Spectrum, and that all three fiber services that have come to Pittsfield are cheaper. 

Operations Manager Jennifer Sharick explained that they were seeking approval for underground fiber deployment as part of the next phase in Pittsfield. The city was found to be a "very" viable community for underground fiber. 

Gateway Fiber, she said, originally served a community of 250 residents outside of St. Louis, Mo. 

"Following the pandemic, we saw the need, and what people need for fiber and reliable internet service to bring residents and businesses the opportunity for connectivity," Sharick said. 

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