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Expect plenty of meatballs in the pasta buffet.

'All Hot Mama Ride' to Benefit PopCares

By John DurkaniBerkshires Staff
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Snowmobiles are lined up at a previous year's event.
FLORIDA, Mass. — Maintaining trails and taking rides isn't all the Florida Mountaineers do.
 
They have been stepping up and raising money for cancer organizations for the past four years with the annual All Hot Mama Ride, scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Hilltop Colonial Inn in Plainfield.
 
Registration costs $10 and begins at 10 a.m. The ride starts at 11.
 
The ride is followed by a pasta buffet and a chinese raffle. Event merchandise will be available too.
 
Shylow St. Germain, one of the current event organizers, said the late Jill Keating and some of the other women in the group organized the race in 2010 to "raise money for an amazing cause."
 
Previously, the proceeds went toward the National Breast Cancer Society, Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society. This year PopCares Inc., a Northern Berkshire cancer fundraising group, will receive the money.
 
"We chose PopCares because they're local ...  it all stays in Northern Berkshire," St. Germain said.
 
In past years, the event raised more than $1,000.
 
Even if you don't snowmobile, you can still help the cause.
 
"We have a lot of people that come, make a donation, have lunch and do the raffle even if they don't snowmobile," St. Germain said.
 
Lunch, which is donated by the Hilltop Colonial Inn, will be served at 3 p.m. 
 
In addition, donations can be made to: All Hot Mama, c/o Monica Wissman, Tilda Hill Road, Florida, MA  01247 or to PopCares Inc. directly.
 
According to its website, Popcares Inc. was established in the memory of Bill "Pop" St. Pierre. During his battle with cancer, St. Pierre's family received support from friends and the community.
 
"It is the mission of PopCares Inc to ensure that every person fighting cancer and their caregivers in our local community has the opportunity to benefit from that same level of support," the site reads. 
 
The Florida Mountaineers hold rides regularly throughout the season. For more information about the club or rides, visit its Facebook or SeaMass pages.

 


Tags: cancer,   fundraiser,   

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Clarksburg Gets 3 Years of Free Cash Certified

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Town officials have heaved a sigh of relief with the state's certification of free cash for the first time in more than three years.
 
The town's parade of employees through its financial offices the past few years put it behind on closing out its fiscal years between 2021 and 2023. A new treasurer and two part-time accountants have been working the past year in closing the books and filing with the state.
 
The result is the town will have $571,000 in free cash on hand as it begins budget deliberations. However, town meeting last year voted that any free cash be used to replenish the stabilization account
 
Some $231,000 in stabilization was used last year to reduce the tax rate — draining the account. The town's had minimal reserves for the past nine months.
 
Chairman Robert Norcross said he didn't want residents to think the town was suddenly flush with cash. 
 
"We have to keep in mind that we have no money in the stabilization fund and we now have a free cash, so we have now got to replenish that account," he said. "So it's not like we have this money to spend ... most of it will go into the stabilization fund." 
 
The account's been hit several times over the past few fiscal years in place of free cash, which has normally been used for capital spending, to offset the budget and to refill stabilization. Free cash was last used in fiscal 2020.
 
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