Cancellations Due to Potential COVID-19 Outbreak

COVID-19 CANCELLATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker issued an emergency order Monday for only essential services to continue operating and reduced the 25-person gathering limit to 10.

All businesses and organizations that do not provide "COVID-19 Essential Services" are to close their physical workplaces and facilities to workers, customers and the public as of Tuesday, March 24, at noon until Tuesday, April 7, at noon. These businesses are encouraged to continue operations remotely. More info can be found here.

Mass. restaurants and taverns may still offer take-out or delivery service between now and April 7th. The ban on gatherings of more than 10 people includes community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based, entertainment and sporting events that bring people within a confined area.

Mass. public and private schools and child care centers not serving essential personnel will remain closed through May 4.

Gov. Baker's March 25 order prohibits reusable bags from grocery stores and lifts any local bans on plastic bags. It also bars retailers from charging for bags.

The Registry of Motor Vehicles has announced that all driver’s licenses, ID cards, and Learner’s Permits that have expired or are expiring between March 1, 2020 and April 30, 2020, will have a 60-day extension applied to the current expiration date within their system.

Also, all non-commercial vehicle inspection stickers that expire on March 31 (sticker#3) must be inspected by May 31, 2020. Those that expire on April 30 (sticker #4) must be inspected by June 30, 2020.

Vehicle registrations will NOT be extended at this time. Most vehicle registrations can be renewed online at Mass.Gov/RMV.

The ONLY RMV branch currently open in Berkshire Co. is in Pittsfield, and only for necessary transactions that cannot be completed online.

The Federal Gov't has delayed the deadline date for acquiring REAL ID's, from Oct. 1 of this year to Oct. 1, 2021.

Private businesses in MA & VT may have changed their hours of operation or closed due to restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 outbreak. You may want to call ahead to check their status.

Banks have restricted most operations to drive-thru, ATM, or online transactions. Other services may be available by appointment. Call specific locations for information.

Big Y, Stop and Shop, Adams Community Market, and Price Chopper/Market 32 are among area grocery stores which have set aside special early morning shopping hours for the elderly and immunocompromised. Check with local stores for times.

North Adams City Hall is closed to the public. Any payments, forms, or documents that need to be submitted to the city and that cannot be transmitted electronically can be deposited in the secure drop boxes at both entrances to City Hall.

North Adams Public Library, the Mary Spitzer Senior Center, and the Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans Memorial Rink in North Adams are closed to the public.

North Adams city parks and playgrounds are open for "passive recreation" only; basketball courts, the skate park, and playground equipment are CLOSED.

The Child Care of the Berkshires Monument Square Center in North Adams will be closed.

The North Adams Retirement Board offices will be closed to the public through March 30. Members will still be able to conduct business with the board online or by phone.

Northern Berkshire Community Coalition North Adams office remains open, but by appointment only, Monday through Friday from 9 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. with no Saturday hours. Please call (413) 663-7588 to schedule an appointment. All nbCC events and group programs have been temporarily suspended.

The UNO Community Center open hours, programs, and rentals have been temporarily suspended.

The Beacon Recovery Community Center (BRCC) program has been temporarily suspended. But they invite anyone who struggles with addiction of any sort, is affected by addiction, or wishes to support those on their recovery journey to join in a daily All Recovery phone-in meeting between 2 and 3 PM each day. To join the conference call or If you or someone you know needs support, call (413) 663-7588 ext. 29 or email scross@nbccoalition.org for help.

nbCC's Bike Collective open hours have been temporarily suspended.

All Town of Clarksburg Buildings remain closed.

Most Adams Town Hall offices are operating with essential staff only Monday-Thursday, 9AM-1PM and available via telephone and email. Services also available online.

The Adams Council on Aging/Visitors Center is closed to the public; Limited Van Service by appointment only.

The Adams Free Library is closed.

Paid metered parking is now suspended town-wide in Adams until further notice.

Williamstown Town Hall is closed to the public. Nearly all services are available online. In addition, tax and excise payments, parking tickets and dog license materials can be left in the dropbox outside the front door 24 hours a day, or mailed in.

The Williamstown Council on Aging has canceled the majority of programs at the Harper Center. Activities requiring an appointment (foot care, taxes, SHINE) and transportation for medical appointments and food shopping will continue to be available.

A grab ‘n go lunch and breakfast will be available for students through the North Adams Public Schools Food Services department. Monday through Friday, from 11:00 am to Noon. Meals will be provided via a drive through pick up at Colegrove Park Elementary School and Brayton Elementary School, at Mohawk Forest Apartments, Greylock Valley Apartments & in the UNO Center Back Parking Lot.
North Adams Public Schools is now able to offer Saturday and Sunday breakfast and lunch. Pick up your weekend meals on Fridays at each meal site.

Hoosac Valley Regional School District will have free Grab and Go breakfast and lunch packages for all children in the district age 18 and under. Pickup will be between the hours of 9-11 A.M. Monday through Friday at the back door of the Hoosac Valley Elementary School cafeteria.

The Mount Greylock Regional School District will be offering access to grab-and-go lunches Monday through Friday for the next three weeks. Meals will be available for pick-up at the Lanesborough Elementary School and Williamstown Elementary School main entrances between 9:30 and 10:30 each day. Please call or email the food service department the day before at (413) 458-9582 x1195 or lunches@mgrhs.org. Leave a message that includes the number of lunches you need and which school will be your pick-up location. Identify the student for whom you are picking up meals & indicate whether you will be accessing this meal service over the remaining days.

Starting Wednesday, April 1, the Al Nelson Friendship Center Food Pantry in North Adams will temporarily operate from the St. Elizabeth Parish Center. Pre-boxed food will be distributed from the center's double red doors on Holden St. from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. and 3:30 to 5:30 P.M. on Wednesdays. They ask that people who are ill not come to pick up food. Food pantry volunteers will no longer be able to give rides home.

The Berkshire Food Project will be providing take out meals only this week, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. There will be no entrance to the building and no access via kitchen door. Please go to the breezeway doors to get meals. Normal hours - 11:30 AM - 1 PM.

Williamstown Food Pantry will pre-bag items and leave them on a table outside for people to drive by and pick up this Wednesday. Volunteers will not be able to assist clients.

St. John Paul Charity Center food pantry in Adams will be closed until further notice.

The Diocese Of Springfield has suspended Sunday and weekday Masses for the public, and has relieved the faithful of the obligation to attend weekly Mass. St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in North Adams will record a private Mass weekly which will be televised Sundays at 10 A.M. on Spectrum Cable Public Access Channel 1301 in North Berkshire.

Mount Greylock State Reservation Visitor Center in Lanesborough and Savoy Mountain State Forest Campground in Florida, closed until April 1.

OLLI, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College, is canceling or postponing events. Online learning is available.

MASS MoCA museum galleries are closed. All events are either postponed or cancelled.

Clark Art Institute: Events canceled through April 30. Galleries closed. The Clark’s 140-acre campus and walking trails remain open to the public.

Berkshire Museum is closed. All events and programming will be suspended.

All Massachusetts 4-H programs, activities, and club meetings are canceled until further notice.

Family Center Playgroups canceled through March.

All Episcopal Churches in Berkshire County are suspending all public services and events from Monday March 16, through Saturday March 28.

Northern Berkshire Community Coalition's Youth Leadership Program has postponed its annual youth-led forum at The Green, North Adams, until mid-May.

All schools in the State of Vermont are closed for the rest of the 2019-20 school year, by order of Gov. Phil Scott.

Bennington Town Offices are closed. All public meetings involving town boards and located within town facilities have been cancelled until further notice, except for Select Board meetings.

All bars and restaurants in Vermont are closed, effective at least through April 6. Food takeout and delivery service will be permitted.

Bennington Museum galleries and exhibitions are closed through April 6. The Museum is cancelling all public programs, group tours, and school programs through April 30.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1

EforAll Berkshire County has postponed the “Yes You Can Start Your Own Business” workshop at Greylock Federal Credit Union, 75 Kellogg St., Pittsfield.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11
The community paper shredding event sponsored by Northern Berkshire Solid Waste Management District & Pro-Shred Security at the Lanesborough Town Hall has been postponed and will be rescheduled in June.

SATURDAY, APRIL 18
Annual Mercy Sunday weekend at the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy scheduled for April 18-19, has been canceled.