Fund for Williamstown Awards $14,000 to Individuals and Community Groups

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Fund for Williamstown, a fund of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, has awarded $14,000 to individuals, community groups and nonprofit organizations that proposed innovative projects and services to improve the quality of life for Williamstown residents.

Since its inception in 2006, the fund has become an agent for creative thinking about how individuals and organizations can better their community.

Grants were awarded to the following community groups and nonprofit organizations:

Community Access to the Arts: $1,000 to create an after-school drumming program through which children from the Williamstown Youth Center can come together with handicapped adults to learn drumming techniques.

Community Images: $1,500 to screen a series of classic films for the community.

Destination Williamstown: $1,000 to create an informational website focused on the diverse cultural and outdoor resources of Williamstown and surrounding communities.

IS183 Art School of the Berkshires: $600 to support their arts programs and community outreach.

Nutshell Playhouse: $250 to perform “Nutshellapalooza” for family audiences at the Milne Library.

Williamstown Chamber of Commerce: $500 to purchase new snowflakes for the Williamstown Business District’s annual holiday display.

Williamstown Fire Committee Talks Station Project Cuts, Truck Replacement

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:17AM / Friday, April 26, 2024

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Prudential Committee on Wednesday signed off on more than $1 million in cost cutting measures for the planned Main Street fire station.

 

Some of the "value engineering" changes are cosmetic, while at least one pushes off a planned expense into the future.

 

The committee, which oversees the Fire District, also made plans to hold meetings over the next two Wednesdays to finalize its fiscal year 2025 budget request and other warrant articles for the May 28 annual district meeting. One of those warrant articles could include a request for a new mini rescue truck.

 

The value engineering changes to the building project originated with the district's Building Committee, which asked the Prudential Committee to review and sign off.

 

In all, the cuts approved on Wednesday are estimated to trim $1.135 million off the project's price tag.

 

The biggest ticket items included $250,000 to simplify the exterior masonry, $200,000 to eliminate a side yard shed, $150,000 to switch from a metal roof to asphalt shingles and $75,000 to "white box" certain areas on the second floor of the planned building.

 

The white boxing means the interior spaces will be built but not finished. So instead of dividing a large space into six bunk rooms and installing two restrooms on the second floor, that space will be left empty and unframed for now.