Peacemaker Awards ceremony planned for May 8

GREENFIELD — The Interfaith Council of Franklin County and the Traprock Center for Peace and Justice have worked together for the 24th year to identify youth who are working for social justice and to award them for their efforts.

This year’s Peacemaker Awards ceremony will be held at the Greenfield Public Library on Wednesday, May 8, at 6 p.m. State Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, and the Rev. Andrea Ayvazian will speak to the awardees. The public is welcome.

Tickets on sale for Berkshire Flyer

PITTSFIELD — Amtrak, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the New York State Department of Transportation, has announced tickets are now on sale for the Berkshire Flyer, the summer passenger rail service that operates between New York City and Pittsfield.

The service, which began as a successful pilot in 2022, will resume on Friday, June 21, through Monday, Sept. 2, for Labor Day weekend.

“We’re thrilled to announce this season’s Berkshire Flyer service,” Massachusetts Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt said in a statement. “The Berkshire Flyer makes visiting western Massachusetts on weekends convenient, relaxing and easy. We are pleased to continue our successful partnership with Amtrak, the New York State Department of Transportation and CSX.”

“I have been a staunch supporter of the Berkshire Flyer from the beginning. As a catalyst for regional economic growth and sustainability, it underscores the importance of improved and expanded passenger rail service throughout the commonwealth. I am thrilled that the service will soon be underway for the summer of 2024,” Congressman Richard Neal said in a statement. “FY23 marked a nearly 50% increase in ridership from FY22, a testament to the desirability of the service. We all know what the Berkshires has to offer in the arts, culture, history and hospitality, and the Berkshire Flyer serves as an accessible, convenient mode of transportation that allows tourists to visit throughout the summer months.”

The Berkshire Flyer departs from Moynihan Train Hall in New York City at 3:16 p.m. on Fridays and arrives at Joseph Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center in Pittsfield at 7:27 p.m. The train will make all intermediate station stops as the scheduled Amtrak Empire Service train does in New York State on Fridays, which include Yonkers, Croton-Harmon, Poughkeepsie, Rhinecliff, Hudson and Albany-Rensselaer Station. The Sunday return trip, making all the same station stops, will depart from Pittsfield at 3:35 p.m. and arrive in New York City at 7:55 p.m. The new Sunday Berkshire Flyer train from New York City to Pittsfield will depart from Moynihan Train Hall at 10:50 a.m. and arrive in Pittsfield at 3:15 p.m.

Passengers planning a trip are encouraged to purchase tickets early by visiting Amtrak.com, the Amtrak app or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL.

Greenfield Farmers Cooperative Exchange accepting scholarship applications

GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Farmers Cooperative Exchange is now accepting applications for its scholarship program for those pursuing a future in agriculture beyond high school. The deadline to apply is May 31 and awardees will be notified by July 1.

In 2023, the Greenfield Farmers Cooperative Exchange launched the scholarship program with the following priorities in mind: keep the application process simple and straightforward for applicants; ensure the application eligibility criteria is inclusive of those who may be pursuing a “non-traditional” pathway in pursuit of a career in agriculture; avoid traditional decision-making biases, such as one’s grade point average, when considering applicant award merit; and open up the application process widely to attract applicants near and far, rather than through a selection of particular schools.

“We love this scholarship program because it was designed as an opportunity to support a variety of potential applicants, going beyond other traditional scholarship programs,” board President Jessica O’Neill said in a statement. “We want to be sure that not only those pursuing a college degree in agriculture, but also those electing to enroll in an agricultural-related program or training certificate course are eligible to receive an award. When you get down to it, there is no future without agriculture. The scholarship program is one way we can support the young generation who are our future farmers.”

In its first year, the scholarship program received 10 applications. Three scholarships were successfully awarded. Up to $1,000 is available per person.

Those who are interested may find an application online at greenfieldfarmerscoop.com/scholarship. Payment will only be made following the receipt of verification of successful completion of at least one semester.