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Pies, cakes and cookies line a table at the American Legion in preparation for Tuesday's annual pie auction.
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There was a wide variety of sweets this year to bid on.
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Attendees got to sample the backed goods before placing their bids.
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Principal Heidi Dugal, center, said the event is part of the school's Project 351 service learning.
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Oh Be Thankful Dessert Auction Helps Those In Need

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Gabriel Abbott Memorial School's 13th annual Oh Be Thankful auction expanded this holiday season to allow any desserts rather than just its famed pies.

Bakers were put to the test on Tuesday night as their confections were rated by select judges and the community at large at the American Legion.

"It used to be just a pie contest for 12 years but now it is a dessert contest," Principal Heidi Dugal said of the Florida school's tradition. "We thought we would try something a little different."

Dugal said each contestant bakes two desserts: one for the judges to try and one to be auctioned off. She said attendees also get to try a small sample. After the judges rate the desserts, the auction begins. This year the bidding ranged from $5 to more than $50.

The price of entry is a nonperishable food item because, at its core, the contest is a student-run fundraiser.

"Last year, we were able to get 860 pounds of food donated and we also raised $500 for the Friendship Center and Berkshire Humane animal shelter," Dugal said. "We also made a donation of $200 to the North Adams American Legion Christmas Dinner."

She said all donations this year will go to the Friendship Center, Berkshire Humane Society and the Community Elf Program.


The event is part of Project 351, a statewide service learning program that unites eighth-grade service "ambassadors" from every city and town in the commonwealth for an inspirational year of community service.

Students that participate in the program meet throughout the year and plan different projects.

"We try to loop Grades 8 and 7 in to give them a taste and we start in September and start organizing and putting everything together," Dugal said. "They expand on the ideas and they go a little further each year."

She said the project humbles students and opens their eyes to hardship throughout the country and in their own community.

"It really opens up their eyes when they visit the food pantries," she said. "If they can get a taste, that's so good because they will do something better. It's that whole idea of paying it forward."

She said beyond local community service efforts, state ambassadors are chosen for the project each year. Sarah Fortini of Florida and Zoe Oakes of Monroe will travel to Boston and participate in the Project 351 launch.

"They go to Boston and see a much larger picture," Dugal said. "They participate in service efforts there and then they come back and start their year of service here."


Tags: auction,   community service,   donations,   Gabriel Abbott School,   

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Clarksburg Sees Race for Select Board Seat

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The town will see a three-way race for a seat on the Select Board in May. 
 
Colton Andrews, Seth Alexander and Bryana Malloy returned papers by Wednesday's deadline to run for the three-year term vacated by Jeffrey Levanos. 
 
Andrews ran unsuccessfully for School Committee and is former chairman of the North Adams Housing Authority, on which he was a union representative. He is also president of the Pioneer Valley Building Trades Council.
 
Malloy and Alexander are both newcomers to campaigning. Malloy is manager of industrial relations for the Berkshire Workforce Board and Alexander is a resident of Gates Avenue. 
 
Alexander also returned papers for several other offices, including School Committee, moderator, library trustee and the five-year seat on the Planning Board. He took out papers for War Memorial trustee and tree warden but did not return them and withdrew a run for Board of Health. 
 
He will face off in the three-year School Committee seat against incumbent Cynthia Brule, who is running for her third term, and fellow newcomer Bonnie Cunningham for library trustee. 
 
Incumbent Ronald Boucher took out papers for a one-year term as moderator but did not return them. He was appointed by affirmation in 2021 when no won ran and accepted the post again last year as a write-in.
 
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