Longtime Radio Station Owner Thurston Dies

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Donald A. Thurston
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Longtime award-winning local radio broadcaster Donald A. Thurston died Tuesday. The 2008 inductee of the Massachusetts Broadcasting Hall of Fame had been in failing health for some time.

Born in 1930, Thurston established the Berkshire Broadcasting Network at age 36 after a number of years working in radio in northern Vermont. Two years later, he purchased WSBS in Great Barrington.

The full obituary is here.

Under his direction, WNAW and the former WMNB on Curran Highway would become the must-listen-to stations in North Berkshire, covering local sports, community events and news, and broadcasting the popular "Opinon Show" each morning and the "Trading Post" on Saturdays, along with music.

He retired in 2004 after selling the network to Vox Communications and more than a half-century in radio.


Thurston was active in the community, including as president of the Northern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the board of trustees of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. He also was president of the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association and a former commissioner of the Massachusetts Cable Television Commission. He was grand marshal of the 1964 Fall Foliage Parade.

He was chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters Joing Board from 1977 to 1979 and served for many years on its board of directors. He also was chairman of the board of Broadcast Music Inc., which collects and distributes music license fees.

Services for Mr. Thurston will be Sunday, Oct. 11, at 2  at First Congregational Church. There will be no calling hours.

Editor: I saw the link to Mr. Collins' tribute Tuesday night but it didn't occur to me it was for our Donald Thurston or I would have included it in the story. It's a terrific tribute with wonderful photos. Thanks for sharing with us.
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Companion Corner Grey Boy at No Paws Left Behind

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There's a cat No Paws Left Behind still waiting for his forever home.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home. He was previously highlighted but he now has new information.

Grey Boy is 10 years old and is a gray and white domestic shorthair and was previously highlighted on Companion Corner.

The shelter's Executive Director Noelle Howland introduced us to him and his long journey to be ready for adoption.

"He's been here a couple months. He was a transfer from a rescue in Bennington. They were out of space, so we had taken him in with a few other cats. So he's been here a couple months. He came in with what we believed was a respiratory infection," she said. "So it took us a little bit to get him ready, and then he also needed a dental. So he has nice, clean teeth. He had some teeth removed, and then he has to go back in and have one more dental. So he'll be all ready to go."

It was previously thought that he has feline herpes but he was recently diagnosed with a palette fracture because of how bad his dental disease was, which is what is causing his sneezing. He can now go home with cats, a cat-savvy dog and children.

"He has had two dentals since being with us. Due to the palate fracture he will be sneezy for the rest of his life, not contagious sneezing, but that doesn’t stop him from living a perfectly happy life. He should be on wet food with chunks due to this and since he has had many teeth removed," Howland said.

Grey Boy loves to play with toys and enjoy treats. He would also love to have a window to lounge or bird-watch in.

"He is not afraid of anything. He's very curious, so I'm sure he'd love if you have windows for him to look out of. He still plays, even though he's 10 it does not stop him. So any home would be a good fit for him."

Now that he is ready to be adopted, he is excited. When you walk into the room with him he will rub up against your leg introducing himself and asking to be pet.

"Usually, I would say, when you're walking, he'll bonk into you so he might catch you off guard a little bit. He constantly is rubbing against you," Howland said. "He really, I would say he's lazy when you want him to be, and he's active when you want him to be. He'll play with toys. He's usually lounging away. And then when he comes out he'll play. He loves it. So, very friendly, easy going cat."

He is now perfectly healthy with his dentals all done and veterinary care up to date and is ready to find his forever family.

"I would say the friendliest, easiest cat you could have. He's just, he's just gonna be a little sneezy sometimes, but that doesn't stop him from doing anything," she said.

Grey Boy's adoption fee is sponsored by Rooted in Balance Counseling LLC.

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