College Notes: December 2012

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West Stockbridge Man 'Coated' at Cornell Veterinary School

ITHACA, N.Y. — Eric Bliss participated in the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine's White Coat Ceremony on Dec. 1, receiving one of the most recognized symbols of the veterinary profession. Bliss is a member of the veterinary college's class of 2014 and is the son of Albert and Aileen Bliss of West Stockbridge, Mass.

"The white coat ceremony marks the transition of students from learning the language and scientific basis of medicine, to learning the art and science of the delivery of medicine," said Dr. Michael I. Kotlikoff, Austin O. Hooey Dean of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell. "Both elements are an essential part of medical education and an appropriate dose of each makes a good doctor."

During the ceremony, veterinarians and faculty who have provided mentorship to the students participated in the ceremony by "coating" the recipients. Bliss was coated by Dr. Monica Kennedy. Similarly, family and friends who have provided support and encouragement were asked to rise and be acknowledged at the time of coating.

 

Drury High Teacher Named 'Unsung Hero' by Former Student

COLCHESTER, Vt. — Drury High School teacher Molly Meczywor was selected as an "Unsung Hero" in the Saint Michael's College Teacher Recognition Program.

Meczywor, an English teacher, was nominated by Nolan Woods, who is a graduate of Drury High School in North Adams, Mass., and a current first-year student at Saint Michael's.

"I want to recognize her because she put up with 30 seniors who did not want to be there all year," he said. "I did not realize it at the time, but what I learned in that class really prepared me for college writing courses."

Jerry Flanagan, college vice president for admission and enrollment management, said the recognition program honors "teachers who provide their students with the academic skills and moral support necessary to be successful in post-secondary pursuits."

 

Enrollment, Acceptance & Studies

Amada Crespin of Pittsfield, a junior at Gettysburg College, spent the fall 2012 semester studying in England.
 

Dean's List & Honors
 

Shelby M. Sebring, the daughter of Barry and Tamala Sebring of Lanesborough, has been named to Randolph-Macon Academy's president's list for the first quarter of the 2012-13 school year for achieving a GPA of 4.0 or higher. Sebring is a sophomore at the college perp boarding school.

Olivia Wilber of Great Barrington was named to the dean's list at Dean College in Franklin for the fall 2012 semester. Wilber is also active on campus as a member of the Photography Club.

Mason Cranmer, Kaitlyn Faucher and Megan Kolis, all of Adams, Kevin McLaughlin of Pittsfield and Dante Vittone of Lanesborough have been named to the dean's list for the fall 2012 semester at the University of New Haven (Conn.)


Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology has named the following students to the dean's list for the fall 2012 quarter:

Amanda Errichetto of Pittsfield; senior in the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.

Michael Keegan of Pittsfield; junior in the B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences.

Daniel Mansen of Lanesborough; junior in the College of Liberal Arts.


Timothy Reynolds of Ashley Falls; sophomore in the B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences.
 

Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y., has named the following local students to the dean's and president's lists for the fall 2012 semester. The students and their fields of study are:

Dean's list (grade-point average between 3.0 and 3.5)

Garrett Norton of Housatonic; automotive technical service.

Jeremy Welsh of North Adams; heating/air conditioning/refrigeration technical services.

Kaitlyn Walton of Pittsfield; dental hygiene.

Travis Wilton of West Stockbridge; automotive technical service.

Zachary Wilton of West Stockbridge; automotive technical service.

President's list  (GPA 3.5 to 4.0)

Sara Sworzen of Adams; dental hygiene.

Kenneth Benson of Great Barrington; computer information dystems, Web design and programming

Dylan Seward of Great Barrington; construction.

Cameron Guillou of Pittsfield; automotive management.

Conner Haughey of Pittsfield; automotive technical service.

Daniel Kochapski of Pittsfield; mortuary science academic program.

 

iBerkshires lists honors and news for local college students or for those attending private schools outside the area by month under "College Notes." Have your school send information to info@iberkshires.com.


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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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