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Annual Game Dinner Tradition Raises Funds for Youth

	Some 300 attended the dinner at the Eagles Hall. At left, brothers Ryan and Brendon Goss, left, and Dan Buell pick items in the Chinese auction.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Seats were at a premium on Saturday night for the annual Game Dinner hosted by the Adams Outdoorsmen for Youth.

"It's still going," said President Wayne Tinney of the organization founded 37 years ago by James Carpenter. "We started small with a small game supper to benefit the youth of the community."  

That small game supper has evolved into a smorgabord of game cuisine - donated and cooked by volunteers - that some 300 people attended this year

"It's the largest game dinner in the area," said Michael Cutler, the nonprofit organization's vice president.

The dinner is a major fundraiser for the organization, which aims to teach youth about sporting and the outdoors.

"Our goal is to support children in keeping close to nature," said Cutler. "We teach children archery and fishing."

In the years since Adams Outdoorsmen for Youth's humble beginning, membership has increased significantly, and currently there are 135 "family members." Membership in the organization, Tinney explained, covers all members of a family.
 
Members range in age from babies to 85-year-olds, and adults come from various walks of life.

"We have bankers, construction workers, carpenters, retirees," said Tinney. "Members that started as kids are now bringing their own kids to events."
 
At the annual dinner held at Eagles Hall in North Adams on Saturday the 300 members and guests may have had found it difficult to decide which dish would most please their taste buds: salmon with newberg sauce, deep-fried cod, game chili, grilled or marinated venison, pheasant casserole and black bear pot pie, to name a few.
 
The "kitchen crew," headed by Cutler, put in long hours for three days preparing for the event.

"I've been in culinary arts all my life," said Cutler, who was employed by Williams College for 32 years and now is a substitute teacher in culinary arts at McCann  Technical School in North Adams. "I recruited several students in culinary arts to help out, and they made desserts."  

Williamstown Board Opts to Negotiate with College on Water St. Lot

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:04AM / Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Newly elected board member Nate Budington, far left, participates in his first in-person meeting along with, from left, Matt Neely, Stephanie Boyd, Peter Beck, Shana Dixon and Town Manager Robert Menicocci.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday decided to enter into negotiations with Williams College on the sale of the vacant town-owned lot at 59 Water St.

 

But the board members made it clear that the college's proposal to acquire the lot is a starting point, not a final deal that the elected officials would accept.

 

"For the sake of continued conversation, I'm in favor of [awarding Williams the site], but if this process wasn't continued with the opportunity for further negotiation, I wouldn't vote to continue this," Peter Beck said. "I think that next step is necessary for us to get to a yes on this."

 

"I think there's wide agreement on that," Matthew Neely said just before the 5-0 vote to enter talks with the college.

 

Williams was the sole respondent to a town-issued request for proposals to develop the former town garage site, currently a dirt lot.

 

The college's stated intent is to build a new Facilities office and create up to 170 parking spaces at 59 Water Street. That use will allow the college to redevelop the current Facilities building site and parking lot as part of a reconception of the school's indoor athletic and recreation facilities.

 

Under the terms of the RFP, the college's proposal was subjected to review by an ad hoc advisory committee to the town manager, who brought the question to the Select Board. That board will have the final say on any purchase and sales agreement.