Ronan Tynan To Perform At The Mahaiwe

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. - Ronan Tynan will perform at 8 pm on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington. While introduced to audiences world-wide as a member of the Irish Tenors, Ronan quickly became known for his unique voice and irresistible appeal. He is currently in the recording stages of two upcoming CD releases, one an all-Irish CD, and a second collection of songs performed at his concerts. Tickets may be purchased through the Mahaiwe Box Office at 413-528-0100 or online at www.mahaiwe.org.

Tickets are $65 Golden Circle/ $50 / $42 Members / $35 Limited Balcony.

Ronan Tynan heads to The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center following two important performances at very different venues: having been asked by the new Archbishop of New York to sing at his installation mass on April 15, he will sing “Ave Maria” and “Panis Angelicus” at St. Patrick's Cathedral. On April 16th, he will sing during the 7th inning stretch at the opening game in the new New York Yankee Stadium. The April 18th performance marks his first time appearing at The Mahaiwe.

Though he enjoyed singing as a boy, Ronan Tynan did not seriously consider formal voice study until he was 33. His quick success is a typical development in a life of extraordinary achievement. He became the first disabled person ever admitted to the National College of Physical Education, and later became a full-fledged medical doctor, with a degree from Trinity College.


Ronan won both the John McCormack Cup for Tenor Voice and the BBC talent show Go For It less than one year after beginning the study of voice. The following year, he won the International Operatic Singing Competition in Maumarde, France. He made his operatic debut as Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madame Butterfly.

In the wake of 9/11, Ronan performed at benefits and memorial services for New York’s Police and Firefighters and at numerous events since. In 2007, he released a DVD of his motivational speech: “Hitting the High Notes, Living Life to the Fullest”.

For more information or for  tickets to Ronan Tynan in concert at The Mahaiwe please visit: www.mahaiwe.org or phone the Box Office at 413-528-0100.
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.

Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.

The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.

Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is  appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.

Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.

Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.

Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.

The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.

The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.

Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.

Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years. 

He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.

Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.

Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve  a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.

Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.

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