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Aaron Souza
Scholar nomination Aaron Souza, a senior at Mount Greylock Regional High School, has been nominated as a 2004 Presidential Scholar. Souza is one of two Mount Greylock seniors nominated, but the second student has indicated a wish not to be identified. Souza, who is ranked first in his class and plans to attend Princeton University, is the son of Karen Kwitter and Steven Souza of 136 Lindley Terrace. About 2,600 candidates nationwide are identified based on their scores on the College Board SATs or the ACT assessment. From those, up to 141 are chosen as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students. Since its founding in 1964, the federal program has honored more than 5,000 Presidential Scholars who have demonstrated leadership, scholarship, artistic ability and contribution to school and community. Lesser succumbs A 75-year-old Williamstown woman died Jan. 29 in Florida, six days after the automobile accident that took the life of her husband. Barbara Lesser of North Hemlock Lane died at Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers, Fla., where she had been in the intensive care unit since the Jan. 23 collision that killed her husband, William Lesser II, 87, a retired manufacturer. The collision, with a sheriff’s deputy car in North Naples, Fla., is under investigation by both the Florida State Police and the sheriff’s Traffic Accident Review Board. The Naples (Fla.) Daily News reported at the time that the Lessers’ car had pulled out in front of a Collier County, Fla., sheriff deputy’s cruiser driven by Deputy Shannon Lee, 34. Airport extension? The Conservation Commission has postponed its decision on granting the North Adams Harriman & West Airport an extension on its order of conditions for tree cutting off Luce Road until members can visit the site. Members want to learn whether the tree cutting has complied with the existing order of conditions, according to Jeffrey Kennedy, town conservation agent and health inspector. Some Luce Road property owners complained about the procedure followed by the tree cutters at the commission’s meeting last month. “Several residents had a variety of concerns,” Kennedy said. “The ConCom is solely concerned with the notice of intent and order of conditions issued originally Jan. 15, 1998.” That order, originally set to expire on Jan. 15, 2001, had been extended until Jan. 15, 2004. The applicants, Kennedy said, are asking for a further extension to restore the site and plant seed to stabilize the exposed earth. Pancake breakfast American Legion Post 152 on Spring Street, will host a pancake breakfast buffet on Sunday, Feb. 8, from 8 to 11 a.m., which will include pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, home fries, juice, coffee and tea. Proceeds will benefit veterans and children and youth activities. The public is welcome. Donation: $5. Voter registration The Board of Registrars will hold a special voter registration session on Wednesday, Feb. 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., in the town clerk’s office. It will be the last day for residents to register to vote or change party affiliation for the March 2 presidential primary. Residents may also register to vote Monday through Friday during the regular office hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Anyone unsure of his or her voter registration status should call Town Clerk Mary Kennedy at 458-9341 before the Feb. 1 deadline. Residents are reminded that voting in Williamstown will be at the Williamstown Elementary School at 115 Church St. Nomination papers are now available for any resident seeking to run for town office. Also, the deadline for town committees and board to submit warrant articles for the May 18 annual town meeting is Friday, Feb. 13. The deadline for submission of warrant articles by the general public is Wednesday, April 21. Chamber dinner WILLIAMSTOWN — The Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly membership dinner meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at The Hunt Club, Route 7. Four Williams College environmental studies students will give a presentation of “A Redevelopment Plan for the Station Mill (Photech) Site.” The students are Peter Endres, Jonathan Langer, Saerom Park and Carlos Silva. They will be accompanied by Sarah Gardner, lecturer and assistant director of the Center for Environmental Studies. A Q&A session will follow. The social hour will begin at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:30 and the speakers about 7:30. The Chamber’s newest member, The Hunt Club, has created a signature menu for the evening. Choice of entrées includes steak au poivre, baked salmon mornay with Bayou-shrimp, chicken mango or The Hunt Club terrine, a vegetarian dish created with layers of roasted eggplant, sautéed zucchini, roasted red peppers, wild rice and a tofu sweet potato puree. Each entrée includes a house salad. Assorted tarts will be served for dessert. The meeting is open to the public. The cost for the dinner meeting is $25 for members and $30 for guests. Reservations: the Chamber, 458-9077 by noon, Monday, Feb. 9. Internet classes The David and Joyce Milne Public Library is offering a free series of Internet computer classes this month. The wireless Computer Center has been open for one year, and the instructor, Dave Martel, will concentrate on Internet-specific courses, as follows: Introduction to the Internet — Feb. 6, 10:30 to noon and 1 to 2:30 p.m.; Feb. 11, 6 to 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 13, 10:30 to noon and 1 to 2:30 p.m. Searching and Surfing the World Wide Web — Feb. 18, 6 to 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 20, 10:30 to noon and 1 to 2:30 p.m.; Feb. 25, 6 to 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 27, 10:30 to noon and 1 to 2:30 p.m. A basic working knowledge of computers is required and sign up is necessary: 458-5369. Faculty lectures Peter Murphy, associate professor of English, will discuss “Everything about Poetry (And Everything Else)” today (Thursday, Feb. 5) at 4:15 in Wege Auditorium in the Thompson Chemistry Laboratory at Williams College. It will be the first of seven lectures in the annual Faculty Lecture Series. Subsequent lectures will be presented every Thursday until March 18. Murphy’s primary fields of interest include 18th- and 19th- century British literature, renaissance lyric, literary history and the history of poetry. On Feb. 12, Denise Buell, associate professor of religion, will discuss “Race, Ethnicity, and the ‘People of God’: Some Surprises about Early Christian Universalism," also in Wege Auditorium. Buell’s research focuses on early Christian history. She is the author of "Making Christians: Clement of Alexandria and the Rhetoric of Legitimacy." Other lectures will be announced in future editions of The Advocate. JavaJive The next JavaJive teen coffeehouse will be Friday, Feb. 6, from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church. The night will be dedicated to Mathias Jessup Bartels, 16, a local high school student who died on Jan. 31. Scheduled performers include singer-songwriters, a classical guitarist, poets, rock bands and comedians. An open-mike session will follow, time permitting. Admission at the door is $1 for performers, $3 for students, $5 for adults, and $10 for families (including at least one adult and at least one child). A portion of the proceeds go to support theater arts at Mount Greylock Regional High School. The last JavaJive drew an audience of 150 for entertainment by more than 30 performers from five different schools. Teenagers interested in performing may contact Mollie Berman at javajivech@yahoo.com or 458-2868. Other questions may be directed to Deb Burns, 458-0925. Dog licenses Dog licenses for 2004 are available in the town clerk’s office. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The fees are $5 for neutered and spayed dogs and $12 for all others. Dog owners must provide proof of current rabies vaccination in order to obtain dog licenses. Proof must be in the form of slip from a veterinarian, rabies tag or last year’s license. Residents may renew dog licenses by mail if they send in a current rabies certificate, a check for the correct amount and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Anyone who does not renew a dog license before June 15 will be subject to a $10 late charge. Information: 458-9341. Tax help The AARP Tax-Aide program will offer free help completing individual income tax returns, by appointment, Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through April 13 at the Harper Center, 118 Church St. The nationwide program is available to middle- and low-income taxpayers, especially those age 60 and older. Hour-long appointments may be scheduled by calling 458-8250. Images party Images Cinema is seeking movie fans to host benefits focusing on February movie award shows. This year, instead of getting dressed up and going to Images, volunteer hosts are asked to invite friends to their own homes and turn the evening into fund-raisers for the theater. On the night of the Independent Spirit Awards (Saturday, Feb. 28, at 10 p.m. on Bravo) or the Academy Awards (Sunday, Feb. 29, at 8 p.m. on ABC), the volunteer hosts will be asked to invite friends over for dinner, cocktails, a winter picnic, potluck or a pizza party and ask them to make a donation. Images will provide “host” packages that include party ideas, awards show ballots to “pick the winners,” movie trivia, sweets and raffle tickets to win donated items. Hosts who raise the most money will receive special prizes. Anyone wanting to host a benefit party is asked to call Artistic Director Sandra Thomas, 458-1039. Public meetings A schedule of public meetings in or about Williamstown, as provided by Town Clerk Mary C. Kennedy, 458-9341, from official postings. Meetings are held at the municipal building, 31 North St., unless otherwise indicated: Friday, Feb. 6,, local emergency planning committee, 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 9, Recreation Committee, 12:30 p.m.; Selectmen, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, Elementary School Committee 7 p.m.; Planning Board, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, Mount Greylock School Council 4 p.m., school library; Conservation Commission, 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, Cal Ripken sign-ups, 5 to 7 p.m., meeting 7 p.m. Harper Center Elder Services Nutrition Program serves hot meals. Call 458-8250 or 458-5156; 48-hour notice is appreciated. Voluntary donations for van transportation are 50 cents one-way from Williamstown and $1 one-way from North Adams. Service is available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Thursday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m., tai chi; 11 a.m., van to Wal-Mart; 11:30 a.m., lunch; 1 p.m., crafts; 3:30 p.m,. knitting group. Friday, Feb. 6, 10:30 a.m., exercise; 11:30 a.m, lunch; 1 p.m., bingo; Sunday, Feb. 8, 11:30 p.m., lunch. Monday, Feb. 9, 10:30 a.m., exercise; 11:30 a.m., lunch; 1 p.m., line dancing. Tuesday, Feb. 10, 9 a.m., oil painting; income tax assistance by appointment; 9:45 and 10:45 a.m., van to Stop & Shop; 1 p.m., Friendship Club. Wednesday, Feb. 11, 9 a.m., van to Price Chopper; 10:30 a.m., exercise; 11:30 a.m., lunch; 1 p.m., bridge. Deaths Mathias Jessup Bartels, 16, died unexpectedly at his family’s home at 42 Thomas St. in the early morning hours of Jan. 31. He was born June 5, 1987, in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, son of Elizabeth Heekin and Thomas H. Bartels. “Despite all of his achievements as an exemplary scholar, athlete, and citizen, Mathias knew what is truly important –– being a loving son, brother and friend,” his family said in a prepared statement. “He brought the greatest joy to all those who knew him. Kind, wise, honest, strong, funny and brave, Mathias is an inspiration to the world.” As a student at Williamstown Elementary School, he received the Helen Renzi Citizenship Award. At Mount Greylock, he was at the top of his class, a National Merit Scholar Finalist for 2005 program and member of the honor roll each semester from 1999 up until his death. His coaches and teammates considered him one of the most dedicated and disciplined athletes at the school. Mathias received an Individual First Place at the 2003 Stowe Derby for cross-country skiing. He was a member of the 2004 Massachusetts Nordic State Ski Team and 2004 varsity soccer captain. He participated in many student organizations and volunteer causes, including those at St. Patrick’s Church. Besides his parents, he leaves two brothers, Philip of Williamstown, and David of Princeton, N.J., both of whom graduated from Mount Greylock; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. James R. Heekin of Williamstown, and many aunts, uncles and cousins. Burial was Wednesday, Feb. 4, in the South Williamstown Cemetery. A memorial service was held Wednesday in Chapin Hall, Williams College followed by a time of informal remembrance and fellowship hosted by the family at the Williams Inn. Memorial contributions may be sent in Mathias’ name to the GAP Fund, P.O. Box 615, Williamstown, MA 01267, or to St. Patrick’s Church, Williamstown (for weekend meals on wheels). Mary K. (Tavelli) Luca died on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at her home in Yonkers, N.Y., after a prolonged illness. She was born in Williamstown and lived here until she moved to New York, where she attended college, taught and married. After raising her family, she spent 18 years as the administrator of the medical office at Barnard College in New York City. She also served as a volunteer at the Veterans Hospital in the Bronx. After her retirement, she continued to work part-time, traveled and became a master bridge player. She leaves two sons, Robert and Paul Luca; two daughters, Barbara Dodd and Joan Leibowitz, and four grandchildren. A funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Eugene’s Roman Catholic Church in Yonkers on Jan. 31. Burial was Feb. 2 at Eastlawn Cemetery after a service at Sherman Burbank Memorial Chapel, with the Rev. Daniel O’Hare officiating. Local funeral arrangements were under the direction of the George M. Hopkins Funeral Home, 61-67 Spring St., Williamstown. Louis Elwin Wheeler, 41, of 16 Estes St., North Adams, died on Saturday Jan. 31, in the town of Florida. He was born in North Adams on May 7, 1962, a son of Mary Elizabeth (Truesdell) Wheeler and the late John Edwin Wheeler. The family lived in the Drury Section of the Florida and he attended the Gabriel Abbott Memorial School and then Drury High School in North Adams, where he was a bass drummer with the Drury Band. Mr. Wheeler began his working career in construction with the former B & W Construction Co. in Florida, which was owned by his late father, and he joined the Laborer International Union of North America Local 473 of Pittsfield. During the 1980s, he was employed with Horse Watch Inc., a guard service for horses stabled at some of the nation’s largest equestrian competitions, including New York City’s prestigious National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden and Lake Placid, as well as horse shows in Florida and Arizona. While performing his work, he made several suggestions for the safety of the owners’ horses based on his own experiences when he worked and rode horses at a local farm. He later spent some time on a commercial fishing boat in Alaska and still later worked as a “pyro-technician” for fireworks displays in Missouri. He returned to the Berkshires about three years ago after working with the Seal Coating Corp. of Hingham, and was last employed with Champlain Masonry of Pittsfield. He was a member of Florida Baptist Church. Besides his mother, of North Adams, he leaves three sons, Andrew Wheeler of Monticello, N.Y., and Chase Wheeler and Marshall-Louis Wheeler of Fayetteville, N.C.; four sisters, Melissa Ann Hightower of Allentown, Pa., Julia Dean of Milford, Pa., Teresa Culpepper of Florida and Patricia Phillips of North Adams; four brothers, Michael Wheeler of Williamstown; and Peter A. Wheeler, William H. Wheeler and John F. Wheeler of North Adams; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and grandnephews. A brother, Timothy John Wheeler, is deceased. The funeral was yesterday at Florida Baptist Church, with the Rev. Irving Mullette, pastor, officiating. Burial will take place at the convenience of the family in Church Cemetery, town of Florida. Memorial donations are suggested through the Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Funeral Home, West Chapels, 521 West Main St. North Adams MA 01247.
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.

Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.

The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.

Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is  appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.

Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.

Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.

Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.

The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.

The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.

Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.

Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years. 

He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.

Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.

Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve  a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.

Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.

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