Elder Services Veteran Named Development Specialist

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Louisa Weeden
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Louisa Weeden has been named the planning and development specialist for Elder Services of Berkshire County.

Weeden will be the agency's primary development person and grant writer. In addition, she will be the planner for the Area Agency for Aging, a position established by the federal Older Americans Act, and be responsible to develop, coordinate, and monitor the area plan; implement and monitor the Title III subgrant process and facilitate Advisory Council activity. Other duties include participation on the Berkshire Senior editorial board
and supervision of the production of Elder Services' annual report.

Weeden attended St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., where she earned a bachelor of science degree, majoring in psychology and attended Adams State College in Alamosa, Colo., earning a master's degree in counseling psychology. She moved to Berkshire County in 1983 and held a variety of positions at the Kripalu Center, Foxhollow Leadership Center and the DeSisto School.

She joined Elder Services in 1997 as an executive secretary providing support to the executive director and the board of directors.


When asked why she chose to pursue a change in her career at this time, Weeden replied:

"After nearly 13 years as executive secretary, I welcome the opportunity to serve Berkshire seniors and the agency in a different way," said Weeden, explaining her career change. "The impending influx of baby boomers into the aging services network, coupled with the challenges of the current financial realities, create an even greater need for the planning and development support I will be able to provide in this new position. I'm excited about being part of the team that will help the agency respond creatively to the changing landscape of resources to support individuals as they grow older."

Elder Services is the federally designated Aging Services Access Point and Area Agency on Aging for all of Berkshire County.
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Multiple Departments Respond to Lanesborough Structure Fire

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Multiple fire departments responded to a structure fire off Narragansett Avenue on Wednesday afternoon. 

The Fire Department received a call from the owner of 6 Bangor St. reporting a smoke and flames at around 1:44 p.m.

Firefighters arriving on scene reported heavy smoke emanating from the the 1940s single-family ranch home in the thickly settle neighborhood.

The blaze was brought under control in less than an hour and there were no civilian or firefighter injuries. 

"The homeowner was outside doing some work, evidently, opened the door when she came back in the house, and there were flames and smoke, so she backed out and called us, and that's all we know right now," Deputy Fire Chief Glen Storie said around 2:35 p.m. 

The fire was out at that time, and first responders observed "quite a bit of damage" to the home. The cause is still under investigation. 

Lanesborough, Cheshire, and Pittsfield departments responded to the scene, and Hancock covered the station during the call. 

"The first crew in knocked the fire right down with the first engine," Storie said. 

Smoke could be seen coming from the back of the home. Part of Narragansett Avenue and Bangor Avenue were blocked off while firefighters battled the blaze. 

 

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