A crowd gathers at an open house at the Plant Connector in downtown North Adams. Press photo by Kate Abbott

Jobs

Here are the Hill Country Observer’s articles about jobs, listed from newest to oldest. Questions about local economies surface in The Hill Country Observer as we follow movements in co-ops, small businesses, nonprofits and sustainable ways to make a living in our rural communities and support kinds of work that fulfill workers and local needs.

  • Issue:

    At this cafe, repairs are on the menu

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    Pittsfield group counters throwaway society by fixing household items By JOHN TOWNESContributing writer PITTSFIELD, Mass.   A volunteer helps to repair a broken picture frame at the Pittsfield Repair Cafe. Every month from March through October, the group gathers to fix household items that might otherwise wind up in landfills or remain stashed unused in read more

    At this cafe, repairs are on the menu
  • Issue:

    Tax break for renewable energy draws skepticism

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    Washington County debates opting out of incentive program By EVAN LAWRENCEContributing writer   A 16,000-panel solar installation along county Route 21 in Whitehall is one of three such projects planned in the town by Borrego Solar. But county supervisors are considering doing away with a property tax exemption the developer says it was counting on read more

    Tax break for renewable energy draws skepticism
  • Issue:

    Busy downtown is destination — for panhandlers

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    Saratoga Springs weighs new limits on sidewalk solicitation, vagrancy By THOMAS DIMOPOULOS Contributing writer SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.   A panhandler, leaning against the signboard at right, seeks donations from pedestrians on Broadway in Saratoga Springs. The city is debating new limits on what officials say is “agressive panhandling.”Thomas Dimopoulos photo As the growth of Saratoga read more

    Busy downtown is destination — for panhandlers
  • Issue:

    Keeping a farm at city’s edge

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    By EVAN LAWRENCEContributing writer SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.   William Pitney shows off the farm his family has owned since 1862 at the western edge of Saratoga Springs. Pitney is working with a new nonprofit group to turn the property into a community hub for producing local food and learning about agriculture. Joan K. Lentini photo read more

    Keeping a farm at city’s edge
  • Issue:

    Vermont’s new anti-sprawl law faces test in Rutland

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    State’s new anti-sprawl law faces early test in Rutland By C.B. HALLContributing writer RUTLAND, Vt.   The struggling Diamond Run Mall in Rutland, Vt., is visible atop a hill in the distance, across Route 7 from a meadow where developers want to build a new BJ’s Wholesale Club store. Opponents, including the mall’s owners, say read more

    Vermont’s new anti-sprawl law faces test in Rutland
  • Issue:

    Bus to the train?

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    By C.B. HALLContributing writer MANCHESTER, Vt. Bennington County could soon be linked to the national passenger rail system, closing a public-transportation gap that has persisted for nearly half a century. But the new link would come in the form of a bus, rather than the train service some citizens and local government officials have been read more

    Bus to the train?
  • Issue:

    Caffe Lena — Updating a folk-music landmark

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    Deal with developer sets stage for changes at historic Caffe Lena By THOMAS DIMOPOULOSContributing writer SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.   The narrow, steep staircase from Phila Street has been the main entrance to Caffe Lena since it opened in 1960. A planned renovation would allow visitors to reach the coffeehouse by elevator.Thomas Dimopoulos photo A historic read more

    Caffe Lena — Updating a folk-music landmark
  • Issue:

    Amid virtual shopping, real stores find a way

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    Region’s downtowns tap into growth of buy-local movement By KATE ABBOTTContributing writer   In the shadow of ever-expanding online and big-box commerce, locally owned businesses are still finding ways to draw customers downtown this year as the holidays draw near. The attractions vary widely: scrabble lights or Haiku poetry games, fresh arugula in midwinter, the read more

    Amid virtual shopping, real stores find a way
  • Issue:

    In court case, it’s sunlight vs. parking

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    Protecting solar-energy installation becomes issue for garage By THOMAS DIMOPOULOSContributing writer SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.   Solar collectors atop the Mouzon House restaurant would be overshadowed by a proposed five-story parking garage in downtown Saratoga Springs; the restaurant’s owners have sued to block the project. Thomas Dimopoulos photo A dispute over access to sunlight has become read more

    In court case, it’s sunlight vs. parking
  • Issue:

    Will money change votes?

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    In Saratoga, a new political group raises cash — and draws criticism By THOMAS DIMOPOULOSContributing writer SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.   Control of the city government in Saratoga Springs is at stake in the Nov. 3 election, with contested races for four of five City Council seats. Thomas Dimopoulos photo A fund-raiser in late June at read more

    Will money change votes?