Senator Mark September Staff Office in Berkshire County

08:18AM / Wednesday, September 03, 2025Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — State Senator Paul W. Mark announced that his staff will host office hours at six locations in Berkshire County in September.

Residents of any of the 57 municipalities in the Senator's Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Hampshire District are encouraged to share ideas on current or potential state legislation, or to ask for assistance with issues involving any state agency.

Appointments are not required.

Adams: Tuesday, Sept. 16 , from 9 a.m. to noon. Town Hall, 8 Park St., Adams.
Dalton: Monday, Sept. 29 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.. Senior Center, 40 Field St., Dalton.
Great Barrington: Monday, Sept. 15 from 9 a.m. to noon. Town Hall, 334 Main St., Great Barrington.
Lenox: Monday, Sept. 15 , from 1:00pm-3:00pm. Lenox Town Hall, 6 Walker St., Lenox.
North Adams: Tuesday, Sept. 16, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. MCLA Alumni Relations Building, 228 E. Main St., North Adams.
Pittsfield: Thursday, Sept. 11, and Thursday, Sept. 25, from 9 a.m. to noon. District Office. 773 Tyler St., Pittsfield.

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Scenic Vistas, Open Spaces Central to Berkshire's Rural Character

By John TownesSpecial to iBerkshires
05:19AM / Thursday, August 27, 2026

This is the first of a two-part series looking at types of land trusts, their missions and their place within the Berkshires.

Land is an essential resource for life. We all spend the vast majority of our lives directly connected to the land or in structures built on it. Land is also a central core of the global ecosystem that makes the earth sustainable for all lifeforms.

The landscape has special significance in the Berkshires. It is a central element in the region's scenic rural character and quality of life, as well an economic resource that is a basis of tourism.

Access to land, and control of its use, is largely based on ownership. This system enables people to own homes, build businesses, establish communities, and pursue other goals and activities.

However, the private use and control of land can also be a source of contention and conflict — from debates about development at local planning boards to international wars over territory.

Traditionally, local and regional planning policies and regulations such as zoning have been used to balance the concepts of private ownership with shared public goals and needs. In addition government ownership provides land for schools, roads, infrastructure, parks and nature preserves, and other public purposes.

In recent decades another form of land ownership and control has gained increasing visibility and prominence. This concept is often known as land trusts.

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