Williamstown digest

Print Story | Email Story
Gun safety The Williamstown Police Department is offering free cable-style gun locks to all residents, through a partnership with Project Childsafe of the National Shooting Sports Foundation and as part of the “A Safer Williamstown” program. Acting Police Chief Kyle Johnson said in a news release that the department is trying to raise awareness about the requirement to secure unattended firearms, while promoting responsible gun ownership. “Our community is home to a number of men and women who participate in firearms-related sports,” Johnson said. “While the department is not endorsing gun control or gun ownership, we realize that there are legally possessed firearms in our community and seek to raise awareness about the laws mandating all unattended firearms be secured as a way to promote enhanced firearms safety.” During the licensing process, distribution of an informational pamphlet and a firearms locking device are issued. To receive the free gun locks, simply stop by the police station in the municipal building, 31 North St., and request the number of locks needed. Information: Officer David Lemieux, 458-5733. Information on Project Childsafe, www.projectchildsafe.org. Prescription Advantage Margie Ware, regional director for SHINE (Serving Health Informtion Needs of Elders) and Gail Rothwell, SHINE counselor for the Council on Aging and a social worker with Berkshire Housing, will present information on the Prescription Advantage program Friday, Aug. 27, at 9 a.m. at the Harper Center. The Massachusetts program, a prescription-drug program for seniors 65 and older — and younger low-income individuals with disabilities — will offer an open enrollment period from Sept. 1 through Sept. 30. The program is designed to offer comprehensive prescription-drug coverage, when combined with out-of-pocket expenses. The September enrollment period will be the only opportunity for those who will pass their 66th birthday once it ends, according to the Council on Aging. Ware and Rothwell will take questions. The Council will provide donuts, muffins, coffee and other assorted breakfast items at 8:30. Information: 458-8250. Toastmasters meeting The recently formed Williamstown-based Toastmasters club will meet on Thursday, Sept. 2, from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. in the Rogers Room, fourth floor of Hopkins Hall at Williams College. Visitors interested in improving their speaking and leadership abilities are welcome. “Voices of the Mountains,” the Green Mountains/Northern Berkshire Toastmasters chapter forming here, recently elected officers for the fiscal year (July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005). They are: president, Steve Love; vice president of public relations, Ron Gallagher; vice president of membership, Dave Gorson; secretary/treasurer, Laura Nesbit. Club mentors are Will Ryan and Marilyn Jess. The stated goals of the elected officials are to promote the new chapter, expanding the number of participants in the Southern Vermont/Northern Berkshire area; to infuse each meeting with positive energy by bringing enthusiastic new ideas to the chapter; and to develop new leaders. Berkshire County has two established Toastmasters chapters in Pittsfield and Great Barrington. “Voices of the Mountains,” once chartered, will be in District 53, which consists of six divisions in Connecticut, Western Massachusetts and Eastern New York and has more than 2,000 toastmasters organized into 117 clubs. Toastmasters International is an 80-year-old organization with more than 200,000 members in over 10,000 clubs in 80 countries. Hopkins Hall is the administration building across Route 2 from Spring Street on the Williams College campus. 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: Thursday, Aug. 26, Zoning Board of Appeals, 7 p.m., Harper Center. 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, Aug. 26, 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, Aug. 27, 10:30 a.m., exercise; 11:30 a.m., lunch; 1 p.m., bingo. Sunday, Aug. 29, 11:30 a.m., lunch. Monday, Aug. 30., 10:30 a.m., exercise; 11:30 a.m., lunch; 1 p.m., line dancing. Tuesday, Aug. 31, 9 a.m., oil painting; 9:45 and 10:45 a.m., van to Stop & Shop; 1 p.m., Harper Center bingo. Wednesday, Sept. 1, 9 a.m., van to Price Chopper; 10:30 a.m., exercise; 11:30 a.m., lunch; 1 p.m., bridge. Deaths A memorial service in gratitude for thelLife of John F. Reichert, who died Aug. 4 at the Prospect Nursing Home in North Bennington,Vt., was held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Williams College Thompson Memorial Chapel, with the Rev. Richard E. Spalding, chaplain to the college, officiating. The organist was Edwin Lawrence, musicianship skills lab instructor at Williams College. The soloist was Karen Swann, professor of English. The ushers were Peter and Ellen Berek and Robert and Ilona Bell. Lectors were Daniel O‚Connor, professor of philosophy emeritus and Stephen Fix, professor of English. Words of Reflections were delivered by George Goethals, professor of psychology; Lawrence Graver, visiting professor of English; Lawrence Raad, poet and professor of rhetoric; Nancy Reichert Pelmas, daughter; Daniel Reichert, son; and Emily Reichert Segal, daughter. The Prayer of Thanksgiving was offered by Francis Oakley, professor of history & ideas emeritus and president emeritus. The pianist was George Todd, professor of music emeritus, Middlebury College. Burial took place in the family plot in the Williams College Cemetery. The Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna funeral home, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams, was in charge of arrangements.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield CPA Committee Funds Half of FY24 Requests

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A few projects are not getting funded by the Community Preservation Committee because of a tight budget.

The projects not making the cut were in the historic preservation and open space and recreation categories and though they were seen as interesting and valuable projects, the urgency was not prevalent enough for this cycle.

"It's a tough year," Chair Danielle Steinmann said.

The panel made its recommendations on Monday after several meetings of presentations from applications. They will advance to the City Council for final approval.  

Two cemetery projects were scored low by the committee and not funded: A $9,500 request from the city for fencing at the West Part Cemetery as outlined in a preservation plan created in 2021 and a $39,500 request from the St. Joseph Cemetery Commission for tombstone restorations.

"I feel personally that they could be pushed back a year," Elizabeth Herland said. "And I think they're both good projects but they don't have the urgency."

It was also decided that George B. Crane Memorial Center's $73,465 application for the creation of a recreational space would not be funded. Herland said the main reason she scored the project low was because it didn't appear to benefit the larger community as much as other projects do.

There was conversation about not funding The Christian Center's $34,100 request for heating system repairs but the committee ended up voting to give it $21,341 when monies were left over.

The total funding request was more than $1.6 million for FY24 and with a budget of $808,547, only about half could be funded. The panel allocated all of the available monies, breaking down into $107,206 for open space and recreation, $276,341 for historic preservation, and $425,000 for community housing.

View Full Story

More Stories