HooRWA Celebrates 30 Years

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Hoosic River Watershed Association, a 501(c)3 no-profit organization founded in 1986 and based in Williamstown, held its 30th annual meeting on Jan. 11.

Re-elected to the Board of Directors were Wendy Hopkins of Pownal, Vt., and Karin Landry and Elayne Murphy of Williamstown. The program for the annual meeting included presentations by several members of the board on projects and collaborations now under way. These included the Thompson Mill site cleanup in Valley Falls, N.Y, the Spruces Recreational Area cleanup in Williamstown and the Mohawk Trail Woodland Partnership in northern Berkshire.

Many local projects taking place from Cheshire to Williamstown and impacting the river were reviewed in addition to collaborations and river bank cleanup projects with regional partners.

Officers elected at the regular monthly board meeting were Andy Kawczak of North Adams as president, Thom Gentle of North Bennington, Vt., as vice president, Harold Brotzman of Williamstown as treasurer, and John Case of Williamstown as secretary.  The Board of Directors recognized and thanked outgoing President Tom Hyde for his leadership of the board and work on the Hoosic River Ride.

HooRWA is dedicated to the restoration, conservation and enjoyment of the Hoosic River and its watershed, through education, research and advocacy.

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.