New Vice President Joins Raymond James

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Paula M. Walczyk, a vice president of investments, has joined the Pittsfield office of Raymond James, located at 7 North St. in downtown Pittsfield.  

The announcement was made by Paul A. Fortini, branch manager of the office.

Walczyk has been in the financial services industry for more than 15 years, most recently with Wells Fargo Advisors in Northampton. She is a Berkshire County native and currently resides in Dalton with her husband, Stanley.

A graduate of St. Anselm College, Walczyk also completed advanced studies at UMass Amherst and Western New England University. She is an active member of the local community, serving on numerous nonprofit boards.

She and her husband Stan are longtime supporters of the nursing program at Berkshire Community College. She is a member of the Dalton Rotary Club, serving twice as its President, the St. Agnes Church Finance Committee and a former member of the Dalton Community Recreation, Berkshire Regional Housing Authority and the Berkshire Landlord Association boards.

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Toy Library Installed at Onota Lake

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Feel free to use or leave a toy at Onota Lake's newest infrastructure meant to foster community and benefit kids.

Burbank Park now has a toy library thanks to Wahconah Regional High School senior Alexandra Bills. Located along the wall at the beach area, the green and blue structure features two shelves with sand toys that can be used to enhance children's visits.

The Parks Commission supported Bills' proposal in February as part of her National Honors Society individual service project and it was installed this month. Measuring about 4 feet wide and 5.8 feet tall, it was built by the student and her father with donated materials from a local lumber company.

Friends and family members provided toys to fill the library such as pails, shovels, Frisbees, and trucks.

"I wanted to create a toy library like the other examples in Berkshire County from the sled library to the book libraries," she told the commission in February.

"But I wanted to make it toys for Onota Lake because a lot of kids forget their toys or some kids can't afford toys."

Bills lives nearby and will check on the library weekly — if not daily — to ensure the operation is running smoothly.  A sign reading "Borrow-Play-Return" asks community members to clean up after themselves after using the toys.

It was built to accommodate children's heights and will be stored during the winter season.

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