Lower tax rate: The 2001 budget for Berkshire is $547,712, which includes the Fire District. The town tax rate stayed the same; overall the County went down. This year's rate is 298.124 per thousand compared to 308.183 last year. If nothing has changed, your taxes should go down a little.

Circuit Rider Program, a grant program which included four towns in Tioga County, has now come to life in Berkshire in the form of the Residents Action Group. This group, separate from the Town government, is made up of Berkshire residents who are willing to put some effort into specific projects that in one way or another might make all of us just a little bit prouder of our community.

The projects selected were: to improve the Town’s ballfield; to create a Berkshire logo and slogan; to enhance the view of Berkshire along Route 38; and to place "Welcome" signs at each end of the hamlet. The ballfield has a complete new infield; dugouts and fencing are planned for this season. We have many superb entries for the Town logo and slogan; we hope to make a final selection at the next meeting. You have certainly noticed the holiday decorations along Route 38 and that is just the beginning. Beautiful welcoming signs are now in place and await minor adjustments and landscaping.

At the January 24th meeting, the Executive Director for the Mildred Truman Faulkner Foundation, which donates more than $350,000 annually in Tioga County, will discuss how we can participate in these funds. We need your ideas and a little of your time to help make these things happen. Please join your fellow citizens at the public meeting in the Town Hall on Wednesday, January 24 at 7 p.m.

Berkshire Fire Dept now owns the "Jaws of Life" extrication device that aids in rescuing victims trapped in vehicles. The purchase was made possible by donations from the Berkshire Fire District, Company, Auxiliary, History Buffs, Senior Citizens, Ithaca Dirt Riders and private donations.

Berkshire Fire Auxiliary’s primary role is to support the firefighters during and after fires with food and beverage. They also assist in Heritage Days, host the children’s Christmas party, provide a banquet service and other fire company and community projects. The new president is Diana Burke. Monthly meetings are at 7:30 p.m. on the 1st Wed. at the Fire Hall. Any resident, 18 and over, is welcome to join.

Berkshire Emergency Squad has responded to Richford calls for over a year because of their loss of volunteers. We now have an agreement with Richford to reimburse us for services and have invited Richford volunteers to join our Squad. We are very fortunate to have sufficient numbers of highly qualified volunteer Emergency Medical Personnel.

Berkshire Free Library welcomes new librarian, Adele Daruch. New Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Berkshire Reading Club is comprised of women who like to read, hear reports on other books, and are willing to give one such report each year. Although these are serious readers, they share a lot of laughter. The Club, founded in 1904, meets in members' homes from fall through spring, on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month. The president is Chad Kerr. Membership is limited, but a couple of openings now exist.

Winners of the Holiday Exterior Decorating contest sponsored by NYSEG were John & Jackie Jewett from Jewett Hill Rd, and John & Carole Shipley from Route 38. Congratulations! Thanks to all who participated.

Highway crews report that quite a few people are pushing snow from their driveways onto the roadway. This creates a hazard for motorists and results in expensive callbacks for Town equipment and crews. Please be considerate of others.

Deadline for filing exemptions -- STAR, Seniors, etc. -- is March 1. Tax assessor will be at the Town Hall on Monday, February 12, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Contact 656-8757.

• Youth Fun Night every Friday 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Berkshire Methodist Church. Call Pastor Dan for info: 657-2510.
• Pancake Breakfast (Auxiliary) Sunday, Jan 21, 8 a.m.- noon at the Fire House.
• Chicken BBQ Benefit for the Ken Bean family. Sunday, February 11, noon until ? at the Fire House.
• Pancake Breakfast (Fire Co.) Sun., Feb 18, 8a.m. - noon at the Fire House.
• Pancake Breakfast (Auxiliary) Sun, Mar 18, 8a.m. - noon at the Fire House.

Special note: At a few meetings, some of you expressed interest in planting trees in the Town and on your own property. Here's a great opportunity to support a good cause and get some trees: 10 free flowering trees or 10 free Colorado Blue Spruces will be given to each person who joins the National Arbor Day Foundation by January 31. The trees will be shipped at the right time for planting between Feb 1 and May 31 with instructions. The trees are guaranteed to grow or the foundation will replace them free of charge.