Board of directors members Louis Scalise, Thomas Rumbolt, John "Jack" Leu, President Robert Moulton Jr., Steven Brown, Michael LaVersa, Elizabeth Milanesi and Vice President Dorothy Ransford join Manager John Meaney Jr. at the unveiling of the new ambulance.
NORTH ADAMS - North Adams Ambulance Service Inc. unveiled the newest member of its fleet Monday night, giving seven members of the board of directors tours of the brand-new ambulance.
In operation since Oct. 4, the new ambulance - Unit 3 - replaces a van-style one that was too small for the service's needs.
"It gives us a lot more room, it's more comfortable for the patient and for [emergency medical services] workers and it's able to carry more equipment," said John Meaney Jr., paramedic and manager of NAAS.
Meaney said the ambulance service replaces its trucks every "three or four years, depending on wear and tear and mileage." The final mileage on the company's old Unit 3 was 120,000 miles.
"It was time for an upgrade," said Meaney.
The ambulance boasts a roomier exterior that allows emergency medical technicians to work on both sides of the patient.
"It helps us to provide better patient care because we can be operating more efficiently," Meaney said.
The cost for the unit was $80,000 (including a trade for the former ambulance) and was made possible through membership donations from Northern Berkshire residents.
"We're so thankful for everyone's support," said Meaney.
Last year’s membership drive raised approximately $43,000.
This month, the ambulance service launched its 2007 drive, which aims to raise funds for a move to electronic reporting, which will save it time, money and paper. A nonprofit organization, the ambulance service relies on the generosity of those in the community and the tax-deductible donations goes toward helping to pay for operating expenses, education courses and equipment.
The cost of a membership is $35 per household or $20 for individuals.
NAAS employs eight full-time employees and 32 part-timers. In 2006, they responded to approximately 3,600 emergency calls.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
Excellent Progress Mr. Meaney and Staff, your constant dedication to this community and your employees is something that should be modeled by many.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There is a spicy orange tabby looking for her new home.
iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.
Ellie is a 5-year-old domestic shorthair who has been at the shelter for about a month. Kennel assistant Claire Morin introduced us to her.
"The family's living situation was changing, and so they surrendered her on that day," she said.
Like a typical orange, Ellie can have a "spicy" side to her and may hiss or growl. But she is also in a shelter setting which can cause more stress.
"Ellie is a very sassy girl. She's been a little bit challenging to handle here because she hates all cats, so ideally she would want to be in a single-cat home," Morin said. "When we get her out, she enjoys being out, but she starts to smell the other cats that are here, and she becomes very antagonistic. The cats are antagonistic toward her as well, but overall she's a very sweet girl."
While Ellie is not a fan of other cats, and since she is in a room with other cats, it can be hard to show off how great she can be without the stress.
Ellie is big on food and likes her wet treats. She also likes being brushed with a toothbrush.
"Ellie loves wet food, which she is devouring right now because it's lunchtime. She loves catnip. She loves being brushed with this giant toothbrush-like brush, and she loves treats," she said.
She can be in a home with older children who can understand her boundaries.
"Ellie would do beautifully if she was the only cat in the house. It would take her a few minutes to warm up with whoever adopts her."
She would also do best as the only one getting attention on her terms and to be respectful of her boundaries. But once out of the shelter setting she may find herself more comfortable and more loving with one-on-one attention.
"We think she would do fantastic in a home where she was the only one getting the attention. She'd be much more comfortable on her own terms."
If you think Ellie could be your companion, be sure to fill out the form on the shelter's website and email or drop it off to No Paws Left Behind on Hodges Cross Road.
Berkshire Drum and Fife was built on the region's loud heritage, and instructor Michael Eagle wants to keep that tradition thundering into the 21st century. click for more
Northern Berkshire United Way kicked off its 91st campaign drive this week, wrapping up a yearlong celebration of its nine decades supporting local services. click for more
Hoosac Valley High School has postponed this weekend’s football games following a reported alleged hazing incident involving a large number of football players, the athletic director announced Friday afternoon. click for more
