Berkshire Green Drinks Will Discuss Rare Butterfly Species

08:09AM / Wednesday, March 05, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Entomologist Jessica Duffy will discuss two rare butterfly species, the Veined White and the West Virginia White, at the Berkshire Green Drinks event on Wednesday, March 12.

The hybrid event will be held both online via Zoom and in-person at Hot Plate Brewing Co. (1 School St., Pittsfield). The in-person social gathering begins at 5:15 p.m., with the presentation and Zoom meeting starting at 6:00 p.m.

Duffy's presentation will cover the butterflies' natural history, including their host plants, and the impact of introduced parasitoid wasps and invasive garlic mustard on their populations. Following the presentation, the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) will organize volunteer surveys of the butterflies' habitat and garlic mustard removal efforts in spring 2025 to support Duffy's ongoing research.

Duffy holds a Master's degree in Entomology from UMass-Amherst and has worked with the U.S. Forest Service and the USDA. Berkshire Green Drinks, sponsored by BEAT, is a monthly informal gathering open to the public.

This month's event is co-sponsored by Hot Plate Brewing Co. More information and registration are available at https://tinyurl.com/March2025-Berks-Green-Drinks.

Tags: BEAT,

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ServiceNet Hopes to Open Pittsfield Warming Center in Nov.

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:48AM / Thursday, October 15, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A warming center is again planned in the First United Methodist Church for the cold months.

During last week's Homelessness Advisory Committee meeting, Erin Forbush, director of shelter and housing at ServiceNet, reported that they hope to begin operating the nighttime center in mid-November.

It would operate from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. in the church, which abuts The Pearl shelter. Forbush said the warming center would be the same program as in the past.

"Again it's a warming center, so there's no cots or beds, but it is certainly a place to come in, and we'll have a hot coffee or cocoa ready for folks," she explained.

"It will be a place to be inside and warm."

This year, ServiceNet hopes to secure full funding from the state so the warming center can open on Sundays at 5 p.m. In years past, they found that Sunday is the most challenging day for unhoused individuals because many community spaces aren't open.

The First Housing Resource Center, managed by Hearthway, opened earlier this year as a low-barrier option for people to rest and access amenities. It is open seven days a week, and Forbush said if people could come to the warming center on Sundays at 5, there would be a fuller day of coverage.

"It does still leave a little gap for Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, as spaces like the library close at five, but we know that Sundays were something that people were looking for," she said.

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