Coalition Delivers Spring Neighborlies at Award Ceremony

By John DurkaniBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story
Mayor Richard Alcombright speaks to a crowded Congregation Beth Israel during the Spring Neighborlies award ceremony on Wednesday evening. For more photos, click here to view the slideshow.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Northern Berkshire Community Coalition director Al Bashevkin told a packed Congregation Beth Israel that when big disasters happen, people try to help, whether by visiting the lands and lending a hand or donating money.

But on Wednesday, he wanted to recognize something different — being a good neighbor.

"It's about building community," Bashevkin said at the coalition's Spring Neighborlies award night. "And it's about responding to the little things that go on in all of our lives."
 
Mayor Richard Alcombright presented the awards, which were announced by the coalition's Wendy Krom and Steve Green, a member of the coalition's board of directors.
 
"And as we go through these awards today, you're going to recognize that that virtually all of these awards are by people who are giving their most special gift, and that's the gift of time," Alcombright said. "So I personally want to thank each and every one of you."
 
Krom explained that the award, given out in the spring and the fall, recognizes community members who support neighbors, create a healthier environment, improve the quality of life for their neighbors and those who help out with agencies and organizations.
 
"One of the things about this event is that you have the opportunity to thank those people who [we're] grateful for," Krom said.
 
The awards were given out in four categories: Business/Agency Support, Groups Pulling Together, Neighborly Acts and Youth Taking the Lead.
 

Ronald Sheldon poses with Alcombright after receiving his Spring Neighborly award.

The following people and groups received a Spring Neighborly award.
 
Business/Agency Support: Alex Lenski, Frank Busener, Cara Sheedy, Mark Rondeau, Craig Cahoon, Felicia Pharr, Kerry Koehler, Penny Caren, Gloria Senecal, Paul McClellan, Andre Thomas, Edward Pratt, Karen La Bombard, Gracie Vincent, Chris Bonnivier and Alexis Bartos.
 
Groups Pulling Together: Alex Daugherty, Carolyn Leab, Jeanne Feder, Darlene Ellis, Rachelle Smith, Steve Green and Sue Walker, Crista Therrien, Catrina Therrien, Linnea Nelson, Danielle Maynard, John Ritcher, Prinny Moylan, Craig and Cristin Lawson, Tom Alexander, Valerie Schwarz, Lisa LaBonte, volunteers at Berkshire Dream Center, Pat Stefanski, Ivelisse Rodriguez, Helen Puccio, Elaine Mattern, Carol Estes, Joe DeOrdio, Rich Davis, Dan Connerton, Fran Berasi, Aldona Adams, and Ronald Sheldon.
 
Neighborly Acts: Jennifer Krouse, the Shustack family, Kate Merrigan, Kathy Keeser, Frank Engels, Tim Randall, Rob and Laura Lee O'Neil, Tristan Wilson, Kim McMann, Robin Avery, Shaun LaValley, Ed LaCosse, Andrea Estrada, Brian Isaac, Clarissa Granados, Cindy McCormick, Chanel Zhan, Erin Curley, Gillian Miller-Lewis, Hana Tomozawa, Iliana Hagenah, Ed Noel, Joshua Clairmont, Judy Sheehan, Kyla Graves, Kaitlin Macholz, Linnea Nelson, Megan Hartney, Michael Ziemlak, Nicholas Hernigle, Jane Campbell, Rachel Essner, Robin Lippman, Rachelle Smith, Sara Hassan, Rachel Ji, Eric Wilson, Susan Beauchamp, Ronald Sheldon, Patty Erdeski, Kathy Pindick, Jenna Bunn, Sandra Horsfall, William Schrade, Greg Charon Sr., Molly Meczywor, Barb Bessette, Beverly Favreau, Dennis and Diane Lawson, Bernie and Fran Bassi, Marjorie Foley, Linda Greenbush, Tom Leonesio, Mary Rosasco, Ed Morandi, Robert Therrien, Joseph Greenbush, Lauren Bolio, Linda Greenbush, Scott Koczela, Enid Shields, Shirley Wolfe, Lorraine Maloney, Jim Wolfe, Rich Wolfe, Paul Marino, Jon Lev, Linda Reardon, the parents of Brendan Piaggi, the parents of Brian Beaudreau, Ellen Sutherland, the parents of Evan Canales, Jeff Levanos, Danielle Maynard, Joe Greenbush, Marsha Mikuscewski, Jeff Markland, and Rachel Lipton.
 
Youth Taking the Lead: Kira Armstrong, Mike Schmidt, Adam Tobin, Bradley Thurston, Stacia Sweet, Steffi Neff, Brina Brazee, Hannah Senay, Brianna Shade, Kianna Gardner, Kevin Gardner, Brian Beaudreau, Brendan Piaggi and Evan Canales.

Tags: awards,   NBCC,   neighborlies,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Williamstown Planning Board Narrowing in on Subdivision Bylaw Changes

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Planning Board late last month discussed specific features of what it plans to pass as a new subdivision control bylaw this year.
 
The board long has discussed the complex set of regulations as being out of date and cumbersome to both potential developers and the board itself, which has needed to hear requests for waivers of outdated rules for the handful of residential subdivisions that have been proposed in town in recent years.
 
This spring, the town engaged consultants from Northampton's Dodson and Flinker Landscape Architecture and Planning to go through the existing bylaw, compare it to more contemporary regulations in other communities and help craft a revised bylaw.
 
Unlike the zoning bylaw, where amendments require approval of town meeting, the subdivision control bylaw is a creation of the Planning Board, which can make changes on its own after a public hearing process it hopes to complete this year.
 
At a special Planning Board meeting on May 26, Dillon Sussman of Dodson and Flinker and his colleagues walked the board through a dozen different decision points that the board must resolve — either by leaving the bylaw as is or making a change — and offered suggestions based on best practices.
 
All of the issues are technical and ranged from the fundamental, like how the bylaw will define types of subdivisions, to the highly specific, like what turning radii will be required in new streets that are constructed to serve planned developments.
 
One example of a topic that came up in the recent approval of a four-home subdivision off Summer Street is stormwater management.
 
View Full Story

More Williamstown Stories