Northern Berkshire Community Coalition Forums

Northern Berkshire Community Coalition Forums » Recent Topics http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ A place for Northern Berkshire communication en Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:09:39 +0000 suzy on "Consider starting a facebook page" http://nbccoalition.org/forums/topic/consider-starting-a-facebook-page#post-57 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:31:36 +0000 suzy 57@http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ Have you considered starting a facebook page for the nbcc? It's been helpful for our business in keeping in close contact with our customers and updating them on events, as well as, allowing us to invite them to events and then send reminders. It might be useful in spreading information about the group, or at least, widen the potential for members that could be helpful in spreading the information you want to make available to the people who need your services the most. i'd be happy to help set up the account. thanks, suzy helme pdiggs on "role models here" http://nbccoalition.org/forums/topic/role-models-here#post-58 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:46:56 +0000 pdiggs 58@http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ I've become interested in finding role models in Berkshire County, folks of all ages, races, education levels, etc. Of course Utne's listing, and others like it, are wonderful and no doubt list the most visible and touted national leaders. But at the grassroots level, I'm hoping there are high school students, young adults, middle-aged people, and grandparent-people who love mentoring, have things to say to others, who are confident and inspire self-reliance. Could someone start a listing? This site seems like one of the best in the county to develop it. Peggy Diggs Albashevkin on "Health Reform Forum" http://nbccoalition.org/forums/topic/health-reform-forum#post-55 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:30:47 +0000 Albashevkin 55@http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ We're about to embark on a very challenging topic for the brief time we have in a Coalition forum..the topic is health care reform and our guests include Congressman John Olver, Ric Palmisano, President of Northern Berkshire Health, Dr William Kober, State Representative Dan Bosley, and Andrea Peters. It's my hope we can all walk away with a better sense of what folks in DC are discussing in relation to health care reform. The October Coalition forum will be held Friday, October 9th from 10 to noon at the First Baptist Church in North Adams. To keep this topic flowing.. We're going to use the National Press Club method of index cards and look for people to file their questions on index card so we can get a good conversation going after the presentations. I'm sure there are lots of questions out there. I've already heard many that include: How does the federal legislation differ from the MA effort? Are new efforts in reducing costs taking a public health approach to prevention? Are we going to be capable of moving from a sick care system to one that places a stronger emphasis on well care? Will this new insurance be portable and capable of moving to other states? How is mental health care addressed in the legislation? Will mandates for having insurance survive the process? What are current thoughts about containing costs for health care? How will this affect one of our region's largest employers, Northern Berkshire Health? OK.. that's a start from amongst the issues that I have heard.If you submit your questions prior to the October 9th forum, I'll do my best to get them on index cards for inclusion into the discussion. What would you like to see addressed at the forum? Let's start by using our forum to get the discussions going..let's participate in the Friday, October 9th Coalition forum, and then continue on the Coalition Community Forum Albashevkin on "What issues are important for you?" http://nbccoalition.org/forums/topic/what-issues-are-important-for-you#post-49 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:39:33 +0000 Albashevkin 49@http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ It's that time of year again.. back to school, summer's end, the beginning of color in our trees.. and maybe a drier season. Along with the coming of changes for September, folks in the Northern Berkshire region have an opportunity to attend the September monthly forum for the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (September 11 from 10 to noon at the Baptist Church in NA) and help us set the agenda for our year's work. In order to get us thinking about our current issues, let's hear from you about what needs to be addressed? What are you hearing and seeing in the community that can help shape our conversations and work this coming year? Post your ideas here for others to see and I will do my best to keep this conversation flowing amongst all of us. KimM on "community health "zine"" http://nbccoalition.org/forums/topic/community-health-zine#post-28 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:40:41 +0000 KimM 28@http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ Wouldn't it be great if we could follow the format of the e-zine that Rod Bunt puts out each week and have a weekly update of public health/community health events and opportunities? Albashevkin on "Pandemic Thoughts" http://nbccoalition.org/forums/topic/pandemic-thoughts#post-48 Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:36:10 +0000 Albashevkin 48@http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ Well.. there's lots of conversation about the swine flu and its slow spreading throughout the world. I'm not sure it's time to panic.. but it certainly is time to be cautious and mindful. Again and again.. they say we should continue to wash our hands. I intend to do a better job of that. But this forum is intended to serve as a device for the community to talk together about what is of concern.. and for others by following the forum to begin to get a better read on what's happening around here. Got thoughts about the swine flu? Got questions that aren't getting answered? Try here. We may not have the answers.. but no question will get answered unless it's getting asked.. We'll check into the forum regularly to be sure that your posting are not alone.. sitting out there without anyone reading them. Mark Rondeau on ""50 Visionaries" magazine article" http://nbccoalition.org/forums/topic/50-visionaries-magazine-article#post-46 Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:10:47 +0000 Mark Rondeau 46@http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ This summer at Wild Oats market I picked up a magazine on a whim called the Utne Reader, sort of a Readers Digest of progressive writing. What attracted me was the cover article: "50 Visionaries Who Are Changing Your World." It featured short articles and color photos of activists and social entrepreneurs of all types, including environmental educators, peace and justice activists, activists for gay rights, for people with disabilities, artist activists and many more. All were taking chances and "thinking out of the box," to use that very worn cliche. I thought what a great teaching tool for youth, to help open their minds to the possibilites if they follow their dreams and look for new or improved ways to make a difference, for themselves and others. Sort of like the idea of saints and holy people in many faith traditions: Not, here is somebody great you can't be like, but rather here is an ordinary person who dared to reach out, pay the price and make a difference. The article: "50 Visionaries Who are Changing Your World" can be viewed online, with links to related resources, at <a href="http://www.utne.com/2008-11-13/50-Visionaries-Who-Are-Changing-Your-World.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.utne.com/2008-11-13/50-Visionaries-Who-Are-Changing-Your-World.aspx</a> Albashevkin on "Changes for Northern Berkshire Neighbors" http://nbccoalition.org/forums/topic/changes-for-northern-berkshire-neighbors#post-44 Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:31:58 +0000 Albashevkin 44@http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ Many thanks to Kathy Keeser for all she did in her work leading Northern Berkshire Neighbors these past twelve years. A lot has happened. Lots of people have been involved. And the community is better off for all of this. But times change. It's time now to hire a new leader for Northern Berkshire Neighbors.. It's time to look at what should be done in leading Northern Berkshire Neighbors in our changing world. I keep thinking of the remarkable election we just experienced and the organization that President Obama built throughout the country to get him elected. Putting aside for a moment our own political preferences, Obama’s organization is important because it worked remarkably well. Young, inexperienced, voters who all shared a similar passion for getting our world on the right track staffed polling stations. The polling staff was trusted to do the right thing, all under the Obama model for community organizing. That's a model for Northern Berkshire Neighbors as well. As you may know, we are beginning tonight (3/18) our training for community outreach workers. These workers will help get information to our neighborhoods about available resources. In addition, we have worked with others that are leaders in their neighborhoods and that may or may not be signed up to be our community outreach workers. What we have are relationships with current and potential neighborhood leaders.. Some invested through the Community Outreach Team.. Others invested just because they care. Like Obama's organization, we have a similar organization in our community through the Coalition and Northern Berkshire Neighbors and my hope is that our new staff person and Natalie and Tim will help to provide support, encouragement, ideas, and resources to our neighborhood leaders. We'll make the linkages when we can, and will provide the structure (neighborhood summits / neighborhood newsletters) for people to check in with each other and proceed with their work. Once a year, the Neighborhood Expo can be a celebration of events past and an opportunity to set an agenda for the coming year. Sound realistic? Sound like a job you may like or someone you know might like? Let us know. This will be a full time job with benefits at the Coalition office. Within a few days, a job description and instructions for applying will be posted on our website, <a href="http://www.nbccoalition.org" rel="nofollow">http://www.nbccoalition.org</a> EvergreenEmily on "Turning to One Another" http://nbccoalition.org/forums/topic/turning-to-one-another#post-41 Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:07:58 +0000 EvergreenEmily 41@http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ Hi everyone, Al, thank you for the update on the unemployment figures. During these hard times I am inspired by the writings of Margaret J. Wheatley. I would like to share some thoughts from her book "Turning to One Another, Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future." "Large and successful change efforts start with conversations among friends, not with those in power...Change doesn't happen from a leader announcing the plan. Change begins from deep inside a system, when a few people notice something they will no longer tolerate, or respond to a dream of what's possible. We just have to find a few others who care about the same thing. Together we will figure out what our first step is, then the next, then the next. Gradually, we become large and powerful. We don't have to start with power, only with passion." Have a great day! Emily DeMoor tmarguli on "Outreach for community members needing to build English Skills" http://nbccoalition.org/forums/topic/outreach-for-community-members-needing-to-build-english-skills#post-42 Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:48:51 +0000 tmarguli 42@http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ To all, I am not sure this is the right forum for this outreach plee..but the Northern Berkshire Adult Basic Education program at MCLA is looking for new avenues to outreach to community members who may benefit from our Free "English for Speakers of Other Languages" classes at MCLA in North Adams. Our evening classes are for all levels of learners who want to improve English language skills. Classes are Monday and Wednesday evenings at 5:30 at Freel Library on the MCLA campus. If you have any suggestions for networking or know of someone who may benefit from our classes please let me know or call 662-5310. Thanks! Albashevkin on "Updated unemployment figures" http://nbccoalition.org/forums/topic/updated-unemployment-figures#post-40 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:49:18 +0000 Albashevkin 40@http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ Forwarded from Michelle Sylvester at WIC.. thought this might be of interest to all. Here are the updated unemployment percentage figures for Nov, 2008. Town Nov 08 Oct 08 Nov 07 North Adams 7.2 5.8 4.8 Adams 7.1 6.4 4.8 Wmstn 4.6 3.7 3.5 Pittsfield 5.5 4.9 3.7 Gr Barrington 4.8 3.6 3.3 State of MA 5.5 5.0 3.8 Albashevkin on "current economic mysteries and solutions" http://nbccoalition.org/forums/topic/current-economic-mysteries-and-solutions#post-38 Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:33:42 +0000 Albashevkin 38@http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ Wow.. what a forum we had last Friday, December 12 at the Baptist Church in North Adams. thanks to Steve Crowe of MountainOne Financial Partners, Steve Sheppard of the economics department at Williams College, and State Senator Ben Downing for participating and giving us their insights in the mysteries of our economy. I walked away knowing that my hopes of learning something about our economic situation and of seeing folks of all backgrounds talk together about the economy were satisfied. I know we talk a lot about the economy, but geeez.. look at the state budget.. look at the jobs that have been lost (as an aside, Michelle Sylvester forwarded some unemployment figures.. did you know that for October 2008 Adams has a 6.3% unemployment rate; North Adams has a 5.9% rate; Pittsfield has a 4.8% rate and Great Barrington has a 3.6% rate?).. look at the retirement savings that are now 40% less than they were about a year ago.. You can't talk about current conditions without looking at the economy as a major contributing factor of what's happening right now. I liked what someone at the forum said about ensuring that our basic infrastructure continues. we need education, we need roads.. you get the picture.. there are basic needs that must continue.. otherwize what kind of a society are we? Who said the measurement of a society is how they treat those most in need.. So.. the thoughts that I have to stimulate others thoughts.. We're now seeing gas prices decline significantly and once again.. people are forgetting how to conserve gas.. in these days, why not tax luxury vehicles and SUV's or high octane gas that will help through a government tax people to conserve / drive less / or ride with others. We need to see these desperate times as opportunities for change.. and in that light why not live simpler (it's a mantra I'm getting lately).. maybe there's a lesson in all of these challenges we see and maybe we as a nation can begin to operate as a community. OK..in the interest of using this to inspire others.. I'm asking others to comment or offer their own thoughts of what they would have liked to say at our forum of if you were not there.. what opportunities do you see from our current conditions. Albashevkin on "Upcoming Coalition Forum" http://nbccoalition.org/forums/topic/upcoming-coalition-forum#post-36 Fri, 05 Dec 2008 20:08:49 +0000 Albashevkin 36@http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ You are invited to the next community forum of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, Friday, December 12th from 10 AM to noon at the Baptist Church in North Adams. The topic of this meeting is the current and future state of our economy. We will have State Senator Benjamin Downing, Steve Crowe, President of MountainOne Financial Partners, and Steve Sheppard, an economist from Williams College present to help guide a community discussion with their opening remarks about where our region is headed. These are difficult times, and it's times like these that are important for the community to come together. Our December 12th forum is one opportunity to do just that. There are lots of questions that may come from the forum and I would like to see this online forum as a place where we can begin to get the conversation going. A measure of success of this forum will be the open and respectful conversation we can host about the economy with people from all walks of life. So.. post away with your questions that you'd like the forum about the current and future state of our economy to address. It'll help us to make this forum worthwhile for all. Thanks for your help! Albashevkin on "Summary of Postings" http://nbccoalition.org/forums/topic/summary-of-postings#post-35 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:43:24 +0000 Albashevkin 35@http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ We've got some wonderful ideas about how to better inform the community about available services.I'm going to try to summarize what I believe are do-able projects to enhance our community outreach efforts: 1. Create a weekly public health e-zine that will go out electronically to service providers. This will offer weekly information about available community resources. I'm hoping we can do this at the Coalition office, but it may not get off the ground until after the new year. 2. Use the web-based software that BCAC uses for fuel assistance in helping clients of the social service network see what programs they may be eligible for. It would mean many organizations using the same software. A demo of this software will be held at the Coalition office in December. Contact us for details. 3. Creating a neighborhood based attempt to inform every household within specified neighborhoods of available resources. Creating a common flyer to distribute to these households. 4. Creating seasonal informational flyers with the most essential information available on those flyers. In the winter (now) this might include food assistance (pantries,meals), housing and day care and fuel assistance. carolynfab on "Outreach Methods" http://nbccoalition.org/forums/topic/outreach-methods#post-33 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:34:02 +0000 carolynfab 33@http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ In consideration of the overarching question of November's meeting, "How do we reach the people who most need our services?", here is one idea for consideration. 1)Identify in broad outline those areas of the city which house relatively low-income populations. 2)Design a very simple flyer stating NBCC's address/phone, and inviting people to explore it as a hub of information for area social services. 3)Get people (perhaps students as well as the rest of us) to volunteer to paper the houses in these areas with the flyers, each person getting a manageable number of streets to work on within a time frame. Groups of people working under a coordinator (who would oversee the addresses covered, the number distributed, etc.) could distribute quite a few flyers, wouldn't you imagine? Do you all think this idea is too - expensive? mundane? unappealing to volunteers? unmanageable for whatever reason? ineffective? Has it ever been tried? Carolyn Fabricant (this is my first-ever post, so I don't know how to put my name on this, alas) msylvester on "Outreach F/U" http://nbccoalition.org/forums/topic/outreach-fu#post-30 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:31:27 +0000 msylvester 30@http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ As Community Coordinator for WIC, 85% - 90% of my job is outreach. Our offices do refer to other agencies that we think would benefit our clients without a check off sheet. As much as I like the idea of having a check-off sheet, WIC nutritionists are only allowed a certain amount of time with each client and they are required by the state to go over certain topics and ask specific questions during this time. I do not know if this is true with other agencies, but to add one more thing for them to do, ??? I have a one page double sided paper in our waiting area and at the receptionist's desk with information our office feels is important to share with our clients. THe clients are free to take one and if they can't find what they are looking for, they usually ask us. Perhaps if there was 1 "go to" person in each agency that had this information, you could direct your clients to that person. That is how we've been doing it, and it seem to be working. If I don't know the answer, I will call an agency to see if they perform that service or if they know who does. Just thoughts Tim Briggs on "Outreach follow up" http://nbccoalition.org/forums/topic/outreach-follow-up#post-25 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:53:05 +0000 Tim Briggs 25@http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ There was alot of good things said about outreach at the last meeting that would help get information out to the community. However, I back up what I mentioned about developing a universal fact sheet for each agency to hand out telling the individual if they are eligable for this service then you ARE eligable for this service. Add the name, address and phone number of the agency. Then each family can get all the help they want if they choose. Albashevkin on "What is Outreach?" http://nbccoalition.org/forums/topic/what-is-outreach#post-24 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:50:36 +0000 Albashevkin 24@http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ Wow... seventy one people can have seventy different approaches to how we coordinate the information that goes out to local residents about available services. I know that one consistent source of information about area services is the Coalition office. You got questions, call us at 663-7588 and you can get the answers. It may take a phone call for us to get the answer but we'll get it to you when we have the right answer. But that begs the bigger question.. Amongst all the area agencies, we have resources to help households in Northern Berkshire with needs in the areas of health care, food, fuel, parenting, youth development.. if you follow my drift...there are answers here and you can look at our resource guide (see Coalition website) for some of the answers. My bigger question is how do we train each other to help our families look at the bigger picture? They may be enrolling in local daycare but not aware that they are eligible for fuel assistance and food stamps. How do we get away from the huge salad of flyers and brochures informing the public of our resources.. but when there is so much information available and in front of the viewer's eyes.. very little of it sinks in.. at least that's how it works for me. I'm hoping to have a follow up meeting to our last Friday (Nov 14th) meeting..but want to flush some ideas out first. This is a good place to do just that. OK world.. what are your ideas about doing outreach better here in our little neck of the Berkshires? Mark Rondeau on "Economic Solidarity March/Food Fuel" http://nbccoalition.org/forums/topic/economic-solidarity-marchfood-fuel#post-19 Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:15:46 +0000 Mark Rondeau 19@http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ Friends: At the September Coalition meeting, I suggested the idea of an interfaith economic solidarity walk. Basically, this walk would have three main purposes: 1). To raise money for local faith-based charitable endeavors, such as the weekend meals programs and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. 2). A more social-justice-related purpose would be to make available information to walkers and passersby about poverty and economic concerns. 3). A third purpose would be to bring people from different economic classes together in a common purpose, with a shared recognition of problems. Hence the term "solidarity." Being a member of a formal faith community would NOT be a requirement to participate in this effort. Several people have expressed interest and support, but due to a number of reasons I have not had the time to promote this idea as agressively as I would like. (Which is one reason why I think this online forum is great). Though this idea has not caught fire, I think recent events in the U.S. and the world highlight that it could be a worthy effort here. The huge crowd that assembled around the issue of fuel and food st the October Coalition meeting highlights how important these economic issues are. In fact, I think that if any such event be launched, it should be called an Economic Solidarity MARCH. It should be something more forceful and in-your-face than a walk, which after all conjures up images of sweet cooperation and good feelings all-around. Nothing wrong with that, of course...But even if Obama wins — which I dearly hope he will — the skewed economic priorites of the last 30 years will not change overnight. People need to be educated and voices need to be heard. And though we live in blissfully liberal Massachusetts, what do we get from new our Democratic governor for a jobs program? Casinos! And then some out-of-state rightwingers think it would be great to get rid of our income tax! A march for economic justice that made some headlines and raised some funds (perhaps for fuel and food!) might be a good example for other places. I realize something a bit bold might be scary to organization people who don't want to ruffle any donor feathers, but the whole idea would be organized with the approach and philosophy of Martin Luther King Jr. foremost. And it might make more waves and more headway than just another committee... Enough said! Mark Rondeau (Anyone interested should get in touch with me. I'm easy to find). vschwarz on "Hunger and Homelessness" http://nbccoalition.org/forums/topic/hunger-and-homelessness#post-14 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:19:49 +0000 vschwarz 14@http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ The Berkshire Food Project has seen spike in the number of people joining us at our free noon time meal just during the month of Sept. My concern now that it is getting colder is for the homeless population (mostly single people with addictions) who have been living under the bridge on river st. and down by the rail road tracks. Where are they going to go this winter? It's not something we can put off discussing until the next meeting. We need to figure this out now. Or we will have folks freezing to death this winter. My other concern is the fact that there are not any food pantries in Wmst or Adams. If anyone would like to work with me on getting pantries up and running please call me at the BFP 664-7378 FYI The Food Bank of Western MA is hosting a forum today from 5-6 for Hunger Action month learn how to take action against Hunger in Western MA. Albashevkin on "Food and Fuel in the Berkshires" http://nbccoalition.org/forums/topic/food-and-fuel-in-the-berkshires#post-18 Sun, 12 Oct 2008 13:31:13 +0000 Albashevkin 18@http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ An engaging Coalition October Forum with 98 participants offered a review of resources available to Northern Berkshire households to assist with food and fuel for this coming winter. Shortly, a listing of these resources will be available for review on our website. We began to talk about the gaps in services, but more needs to be said and perhaps this forum can help tease out these gaps and a means to address them.. But the pressing question I left the meeting with is how do we get this information out to the community. How do we ensure that the coming winter will a healthy one for all.. Threads from this discussion can help feed the topic of our November 14th forum, outreach. Thanks for your participation. dan on "self help/per critiek(spl?)" http://nbccoalition.org/forums/topic/self-helpper-critiekspl#post-16 Sat, 27 Sep 2008 02:12:20 +0000 dan 16@http://nbccoalition.org/forums/ Hello everyone, my name is Daniel Field and this will be the only time I apear on this forum. Many of you know me as a local person and shop keeper/artist, I have been renting a store front on Eagle street for many years(in Eagle street time). I'm here to ask for feedback on how I'm doing and what I could do to improve my situation as a shopkeeper here in North Adams. I'm asking for honest criticisum and sugestions as to how I might do better.Please don't use this forum for this but just stop by and chat I'm open to what you have to say, I understand it can be hard to be brutally hunest but I hope you can feel free to give me some productive feedback. For those of you who don't know me let me tell you of my situation.I came to North Adams by choice seven years ago. I was atracted by Mass Moca, not for the art so much but for the eccanomic resugence it would inspire. I live in Boston from the seventys to the ninetys and saw ecconomic recover in action and I know the drill. I came here to try to be in on it early. Iknow I can make a living in the building trades in a situation like this. It also doesn't hurt that Mass Moca is here, it makes North Adams a brand for promoting my art. The rest of my life is not that pretty, I've been a life long recipient of disability paments for cronic depresion. The money that has been spent in my name for my codition has been enormose, and all I have to show for it is that I'm here ,still alive and actually willing to try to make something of myself ( I get a vauge sense that this is not exspected or aproved of in this comunity, if your getting a check you sopose to sit back greatfull but don't exspect to be considered a full human being). Well I'm sorry but I have something to give back, and if you knew how much of you tax dollars have been spent on me some of you would be demanding a little something back too! Sorry for the rant there but I think you can see how I feel. As far as my store front goes I've been renting it for almost seven years, as an alien outsider from out of town I was not recieved well and I knew up front that it wouldn't make any money but that I could hang on indefinetly with the rent package I had. This has given me a notariety in the art world and a few sale and many invitation to other art shows, some of whitch I acept. At this point I a'm a modest institution amungst the local and turist art world, the time spent on Eagle stret has not been wasted. Know I'm wondering what to do, I want to keep the storefront studio but the constant finacial streuggle seems not to be worth it as my art inventory dwindle away (and the comunity ignorsme and the rest of Eagle Street). I'm tired of just talking to friut cake and nut jobs, what will it take for sane people to come down to Eagle street again? I know many of you realy like my work but me being considered wierd, and being on Eagle street selling art, well thats just to much for people to take. so let me invite you down to my store Widgitz for a visit, please for give the visual confution and don't asume any sales presure, it's only art, it's there to look at you don't need to own it, but a little visit might raise your spirits and you may be able to advise me as to how I could do a better job. Again I'm not comming back to this forum, don't waste the forums time talking about me. I need your feedback at the store where you can point and say what the heck is that thing doing here ect.. thank you for your time come by for a visit Dan Field owner/operator Widgitz 16 Eagle street North Adams thanks again