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Election
Trying to remember who won what and why? All the information is right here. |
Daily Digest
This is Jake
He's been lost in Pittsfield for weeks but frequently sited. He was last seen heading toward the fire station on Peck's Road. He's tired, dirty and needs seizure medication. He's chipped. If you see him, call Julie at 413-537-5616, the vet 24/7 at 413-499-2820 or animal control at 413-448-9700. |
ObituariesSales FliersWhat's Playing
The popular anime character "Astro Boy" searches for acceptance on the big screen.
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BazaarsNov. 7:
VNA & Hospice, Community Room, North Adams
North Adams Elks
10-4; Nov. 8, 9-2
Crafters, Chinese auction, bake sale
For vendor information, Melanie at 413-743-5562.
Nov. 14
Berkshire Community Church, Richmond
10-4; Crafters, bake sale. Contact Evelyn Goggia at 413-445-5747
Lanesborough Elementary School annual Fall Craft Fair from 10 to 4. Free admission, huge variety of arts and crafts, raffles, food and more. Proceeds go to sixth-grade trip to Cape Cod.
Vendors can contact Deb at 413-738-5349 or debhutton@aol.com or Lori at 413-499-0065 or lorittod@yahoo.com to secure a spot.
Dec. 12-13
North Adams Country Club, crafts 9-4; food from That's a Wrap from 11-2. Contact Sheryl Morehouse at 413-822-3329.
Planning a bazaar this season? Submit information to info@iberkshires.com to have it listed here. |
Sports | Thursday, Nov. 06
Boys' Soccer: State Vocational Championship Game
McCann Tech 3, Keefe Tech 2
Girls' Soccer: State Vocational Championship Game
Blackstone Valley 8, McCann Tech 0 |
Related Stories |
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iBerkshires Profile: Jennifer PerilliBy Noah Hoffenberg
iBerkshires Correspondent
08:00PM / Friday, July 10, 2009
Friendly Fred's owner lives up to store name
WINDSOR, Mass. – Jennifer Perilli would never call herself a hero. From sun up to sun down, seven days a week, she works at her general store, Friendly Fred's, which sits near the highest elevation on Route 9 in this town of about 900 residents.
Perilli helps out her neighbors: with food, fuel and a friendly word, just as the name of her business intones. Friendly Fred's is largely patronized by local customers looking for groceries, coffee, sandwiches and Perilli's near-legendary pizza, which is made on Friday nights during the warmer weather.
There's only one other full-time employee and a few part-time helpers to run the store with Perilli, which means she's always busy. You could imagine her amazement when she learned that she was named one of the commonwealth's Unsung Heroines of 2009.
“It was quite surprising. I felt awkward, actually,” said Perilli, 56. Perilli was nominated for the honor by fellow Windsorite and town Treasurer Diane Sturtevant, who's known the small town shopkeeper since she bought the store in the early 1990s.
“To me, she epitomizes what community is supposed to be, which I think is really rare, even in small towns,” said Sturtevant. “She knows everyone in town. I don't believe I've ever seen her cross. I do not believe I have ever heard her utter an unkind word about another human being.”
Sturtevant said Perilli pays attention to things one would never imagine. "I've gone into the store before and picked up half a gallon of milk, and put it on the counter, [only to] have her look at me and say, 'Your husband bought milk an hour ago.'"
As an example of how much a part of the Windsor community Perilli is, Sturtevant noted how a Windsor family has brought every one of their newborn babies to Friendly Fred's on the way home from the hospital, just to show Perilli.
"I think she's like everybody's family member," said Sturtevant, "and I think she needs to be recognized for that."
Along with 100 others from across the state, Perilli went to an awards ceremony on May 13 at the State House in Boston. She was joined there by a sizable contingent of Berkshire County heroines: Margo Van Peterson, of Florida, Sandra Corinne Newman, of Great Barrington, Heather M. McNeice and Carolyn Valli, both of Pittsfield, and Inez Flinn of Sheffield. They were selected from among 400 nominees. The event honored these women who quietly, make their communities better places in which to live.
"It was very special," said Perilli of going to Boston.
The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, which sponsors the annual awards, is an independent state agency that was created by the Legislature in 1998 to advance Bay State women to full equality in all areas of life and to promote their rights and opportunities.
For Perilli, being an active and positive member of her community just comes naturally.
"It's just doing what you have to do. It's what everybody should be doing," said Perilli. “It is really nice to be recognized, but [being a community-builder is] just something you don't think about.”
Contact Noah Hoffenberg at hoff1013@gmail.com. |
This is a great story and I am so glad for Jennifer to have such a special community to serve. I had been in retail for the last 20 years in Berkshire County and I must say there were more bad days than good. Mostly because of the public ruining any good that was in the job.
There are lots of ignorant and abnoxious people out there that just don't get it. My hat off to you Jennifer! | | from: | on: 07-11-2009 |
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