Adams Bank VP Retires After 37 Years

Allyn Basel

ADAMS, Mass. — Allyn Basel, senior vice president of Adams Community Bank, retired after 37 years with the institution.  
Basel began her banking career in 1974 at what was then Adams Co-Operative Bank after graduating from the former North Adams State College with a bachelor of science degree.

She started as a teller for the bank's Park Street branch in Adams and was promoted to customer service representative shortly afterward. From there, she moved into a variety of roles and was one of the bank's senior officers responsible for retail operations, information technology, compliance and bank security administration.

In 1996, she was promoted to vice president of the institution — a position she held until being promoted to senior vice president in 2011, the same year Adams Co-Operative and South Adams Savings merged into Adams Community Bank.

"Allyn has been the epitome of a dedicated employee," said Joseph F. Truskowski Jr., president of Adams Community Bank. "Her priority has always been our bank and our customers — no matter what needed to be done, it was always accomplished impeccably with the highest attention to detail."

Basel has been actively involved with the Northern Berkshire United Way as well as volunteering for many other Northern Berkshire community organizations. Upon her retirement, she intends to spend more time with her family.

Cheshire Town Meeting Oks Budgets, Debates Potential Prop 2 1/2 Override

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
10:12PM / Monday, June 08, 2026

Moderator Carol Francesconi, left, and Anne Marie Furey were presented flowers in memory of the Rev. William Furey, their brother and husband, respectively. The town report was dedicated to him. 

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Town meeting on Monday approved all 35 articles on the annual meeting warrant, including a total spending for fiscal 2027 of more than $8.5 million. 

 

Some 77 of the town's more than 2,500 registered voters filled the Cheshire Community House meeting room, debating on a number of articles during the meeting that lasted nearly three hours

 

The town dedicated its annual report to the Rev. William David Furey, longtime pastor of First Baptist Church and more recently Berkshire Union Chapel in Lanesborough. Furey died last year at age 77.

 

His wife, Anne Marie Furey, and his sister, Town Moderator Carol Francesconi, were presented with a bouquet of flowers in tribute to him. 

 

He was an exemplary member of the community who left a lasting impression in each and every life that he touched, said Town Clerk Whitney Flynn. 

 

Voters approved several warrant articles that make up an operating budget of $3,840,314 for fiscal 2027. Of this amount, $1,642,481 is allocated for the general government budget, which was approved after clarification of a few questions.

 

One item was the administrative assistant's salary. Prior to the annual meeting, the town eliminated the executive assistant salary of $54,309 in favor of a part-time administrative assistant salary of $27,155, to reduce costs considering the financial constraint the town is in.