Participants run in the first Freedom 5K at the 2016 at Cancer Center Community Crusaders Remembrance Day.

Beating cancer: The Cancer Center Community Crusaders, known as the 4Cs, hosted their third annual Community Remembrance Day on June 4 at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center Campus in Bennington, Vt. Nine crews and more than 300 participants at the event contributed to the group’s nearly $40,000 fundraising total for the year. Remembrance Day activities included inflatable bounce houses, face painting, cupcake tastings, entertainment, a dunk booth, and food provided by the Mt. Anthony Fighting Patriot Booster Club. The program also included inspirational speeches and awards for fundraising crews.

This year’s event included the first Freedom 5K Run/Walk, a revolutionary-themed course through historic Old Bennington. Local organizations, including the Bennington Fire Department and Mt. Anthony Fighting Patriot Booster Club, supported the event with their participation and donations. The following day, June 5, the Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center providers and staff celebrated life with survivors at their annual National Cancer Survivors Day celebration. The event hosted a gathering of over 250 participants and included lunch, music, raffle, and socializing for former patients, family members, and caregivers.  

The Cancer Center Community Crusaders provide financial, physical, and emotional support to members of the community and their families as they strive to obtain the best cancer care and treatment possible. All funds raised by the Cancer Center Community Crusaders stay in the communities of Bennington and Windham counties in Vermont and nearby New York and Massachusetts. Patients need not receive treatment at Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center to be eligible for funds. For information about the Cancer Center Community Crusaders and how to participate, call Carson Thurber at 802-447-5488 or e-mail carson.thurber@svhealthcare.org.

'Back-Packed for Success': The Family Place is hosting a back-to-school event for kids entering K through 12th grade at local northern Berkshire elementary schools. Students and their parents will receive a free backpack filled with school supplies.

The event for families living in Florida & Savoy will be located at Gabriel Abbott Elementary School, 56 North County Road, Florida, on Wednesday, Aug. 17, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event for families living in Williamstown, North Adams, Clarksburg, Adams and Cheshire will be located at The Family Place, 61 Main St., North Adams, on Thursday, Aug. 18, from 1 to 3 p.m.

This event requires advance registration as supplies are limited. Contact The Family Place at 413-663-7588 between Aug. 1 and Aug. 12 to register.
 

Back on track: Enrollment for the Northern Berkshire Adult Basic Education Program fall classes at MCLA is under way, with classes starting Sept. 12. High School Equivalency preparation (GED), English for Speakers of Other Languages/US Citizenship preparation and Basic Skills will be offered.

New programs include Bridge to College, classes to strengthen academic and readiness skills needed to transition to college, Career Pathways, college and career readiness, and more also will be offered. For information or to enroll, call 413-662-5330 or email t.margulies@mcla.edu.
 

Lake closing: Pontoosuc Lake will be closed on Tuesday, Aug. 9, for a late season herbicide application to control the invasive aquatic plant European Naiad, a late growing annual which is not affected by the earlier June treatment. The lake is closed to all uses on the day of treatment.  Use of lake water for irrigation, drinking, cooking, and watering livestock is prohibited for 10 days.  Volunteers from the Friends of Pontoosuc will place printed posters around the lake before the application.

Solitude Lake Management of Shrewsbury, Mass. will be performing the work. For additional information, contact Lee Hauge at 413-442-6691.
 

Bridge work: Department of Public Works Superintendent Joe Sokul reports that Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will start repairs on the Bridge Street bridge in Great Barrington beginning next week.

Contractors will be on site Monday, Aug. 8, setting up the traffic management plan for the area. Work, which will be completed Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., will include structural repairs and painting to bring the town-owned bridge up to MassDOT standards for safety and efficiency.

During construction, the bridge will be limited to one lane of alternating traffic. Accommodations for pedestrians will be in place. MassDOT will have an engineer on site until the project is finished. It is anticipated that the project will be completed in the spring of 2017.

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