Saturday Softball Fund-Raiser Helps Willette Family

Print Story | Email Story
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Seven softball teams are competing at the Noel Field complex all day Saturday to benefit the family of Carson Willette.
 
Carson, 3, is battling Burkett lymphoma. The inaugural Carson Willette Co-Ed Benefit Softball Tournament features a day of light-hearted competition, good food and prizes.
 
Saturday morning's highlight was a ceremonial first pitch thrown by Carson and his twin brother, Preston.
 
The tournament features a raffle with prizes donated by a variety of area businesses. The top prize of the day is a diamond cancer ribbon necklace donated by Atef Fine Jeweler of North Adams.
 
For more information about Team Carson or to donate to the family after Saturday's event, contact Jennifer Bullett at jenniferlynn2@hotmail.com.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

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.
 
View Full Story

More North Adams Stories