Berkshire United Way Names Annual Donor Car Winner

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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United Way CEO Kristine Hazzard, winner Darlene Pshenishny, Gary Johnson, owner of The Johnson Dealership, and Greylock Federal Credit Union CEO Marilyn Sperling on Monday morning.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Two city businesses teamed up to give away a car (or cash) to a Berkshire United Way donor.

Darlene Pshenishny, employed at Berkshire Health Systems, opted to take $10,000 instead of a new car to put toward bills on the new house she and her husband recently built.

 Pshenishny was one of thousands across the county to donate to the United Way and was the lucky winner of the drawing. She was presented her winnings Monday morning.

The annual giveaway — now in its 13th year — is intended to help encourage donations for the service organization. Greylock Federal Credit Union and The Johnson Dealership teamed up to provide in the winnings.

The car has driven more than 1,300 miles across the county to events and workplaces since July.



"Anyone who fills out a pledge card has a chance," Berkshire United Way CEO Kristine Hazzard said.

This year, the organization has raised about $2 million of its $2.7 million goal with five months to go. An important part of its annual fundraising is through employee donations made directly from their paychecks through their employers.

United Way provides funding to nearly 50 agencies and programs throughout the county, from the Lee Youth Association to the Railroad Street Youth Project to Barrington Stage Company to the Berkshire Immigrant Center to United Cerebral Palsy of the Berkshires.

Hazzard joined Greylock President Marilyn Sperling and Johnson Dealership owner Gary Johnson to award Pshenishny her winnings.


Tags: Berkshire United Way,   fundraiser,   giveaway,   

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South County Construction Operations

LEE, Mass. — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing crews will be conducting daytime and overnight hour guardrail repair, drainage work, bridge repair, and tree trimming operations at various locations and times on I-90 eastbound and westbound during the week of Monday, April 22.
 
Lane closures will be in place during the construction operations and traffic will be able to travel through the work zones.  The schedule for the work and lane closures will be as follows: 
 
Otis/Blandford 
  • Guardrail repair operations will be conducted nightly on I-90 westbound between mile marker 21.0 and mile marker 26.0 from Monday, April 22, through Thursday, April 25, from 7:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. the next morning. The work is expected to conclude by 5:30 a.m. on Friday, April 26. 
  • Drainage work will be conducted on I-90 eastbound between mile marker 21.0 to 26.0 from Monday, April 22, through Thursday, April 25, from 7:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. the next morning. The work is expected to conclude by 5:30 a.m. on Friday, April 26. 
Blandford
  • Bridge repair work will be conducted nightly on I-90 eastbound and westbound at mile marker 26.4 from Monday, April 22 through Thursday, April 25, from 7:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. the next morning. The work is expected to conclude by 5:30 a.m. on Friday, April 26.
Lee
  • Bridge repair work will be conducted daily on I-90 eastbound at mile marker 8.0 from Tuesday, April 23 through Thursday, April 25, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 
Russell
  • Tree trimming work will be conducted on I-90 westbound between mile marker 33.0 to mile marker 36.0, from Monday, April 22 through Friday, April 26, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. 
 
Appropriate signage, law enforcement details, and messaging will be in place to guide drivers through the work area. 
 
Drivers traveling through the affected areas should expect delays, reduce speed, and use caution.   
 
All scheduled work is weather dependent and subject to change without notice. 
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