Sharon Leary is an iBerkshires.com columnist and a community health advocate for the REACH Community Health Foundation.
"What do you mean you’re a vegetarian?" says a lioness to her cub on the front of a Mother’s Day card I found at "Where’d You Get That!?" in Williamstown.
The inside caption read: "Happy Mother’s Day from your little non-conformist."
Well, I thought it was cute, however I didn’t purchase it. Price: $2.95. Have you seen the prices of greeting cards lately? I love my Mom, but I’m seriously thinking that I’m going to start making cards for her again! Moms always love what comes from the heart, right?
After I reminded myself that I have no artistic ability whatsoever, I reconsidered and purchased a card. A card and a hanging basket of flowers have been the standard Mother's Day gift for as long as I can remember.
So this year I thought I’d do something a little extra. This column is dedicated to my mom, Marie Leary.
My Mom And Bobby Vinton
I think a lot of us kind of forget that our mothers are also women who dreamed dreams, developed ambitions and set goals. They had lives before we were born.
I was kind of an un-expected bundle of joy. OK, I'm hoping that I was bundle of joy. I think I may have interrupted Mom's short-range goal of being a groupie for the Everly Brothers, Bobbie Vinton, George Harrison and Ricky Nelson. I hear she was quite the partyer back in the day.
Back then Mountain Park in Holyoke was a major big deal. They had all kinds of artists performing there. That is where I believe my mom developed her groupie tendencies. She likes to tell me that Bobby Vinton came up and sang a song to her. She was the envy of her friends that night.
My mom grew up in Chicopee in what they called "the projects." It wasn’t the greatest place to live, but her family made the best of it. She met her best friend Joanne while living there. They still talk to this day. And when they talk, she giggles and laughs like she is a teenager all over again.
I’ve noticed through the years that my mom has a compassion and patience for people with disabilities. She recently shared with me that her friend Joanne has Cerebral Palsy. Times have changed over the decades since my mom and her friend Joanne were kids. I can’t imagine growing up in the 50’s and 60’s with a disability; it had to have been difficult.
Marie, Barbara, And The '57 Chevy
When she reminisces about the days before I came along, Mom talks a lot about cars and racing. She and her friend at the time, now my crazy-fun Aunt Barbara, would drive around in a '57 Chevy with my Uncle Bernie. And they would go to the drag races around town and to the Riverside Track.
Sure sounds like a lot of fun, and it seems my Mom had a bit of a wild chick thing goin' on, but I rarely get any details, unless I’m around my Aunt Alice, Joanne or Aunt Barbara. Hmmmm, I wonder why?
So you know all those things you’ve done and you’ve said to yourself, "I hope my mom doesn’t find out about this?" Well, think about it. Your mom probably said the same thing about her mom.
Teacher At Heart
My mom never really talked in detail about what she would have done if I hadn't come along. When we got older she took some classes at Community College and her major was early childhood education. I think she would have been an excellent teacher, most likely in special education.
Instead she became a stay at home mom who managed to keep her hand in education. She was a "Lunch Mother" when my brothers’ and I were in elementary school. She volunteered at the school library. She worked for a time at a daycare center. And today, she works in the cafeteria of a high school in Springfield. So, yes, I think she was headed towards becoming a teacher. She seems to gravitate toward youth within educational surroundings.
There For Each Other
As I have matured - and I admit I'm still working on that - my relationship with my mom has evolved. Our relationship has become something like a therapist/patient. One day I’m the patient looking for advice, solace or reassurance, the next she is the patient and I am dispensing my wisdom and knowledge. I am glad that I am able to offer this emotional support. I'm thankful for her reservoir of guidance.
Our family has never been great with communication, but we are working on it. I now feel like I can tell my mom anything. And I hope that she feels the same about me.
Always Her Child And Proud Of It
I’m proud to have a mom who will come to a George Strait concert or for that matter any concert. And I’m proud that we have developed into more than just a child/parent relationship. But I also know that I will always be her child, and that she will always worry about me - no matter how much I reassure her.
That’s pretty damn cool, if you ask me.
Happy Mother’s Day Mom. I love you.
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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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