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Veterans Agent Stephen Roy, assistant Tina Samson and Capt. Katherine Corno prepare to unload a van stuffed with winter coats.
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The bags are piled in the Law Library at City Hall for distribution next week.

Salvation Army Donates Hundreds of Winter Coats to North Berkshire Vets

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
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A chance conversation between Tina Samson, left, and Capt. Katherine Corno led to some 200 or more coats being delivered to City Hall on Tuesday.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Veterans Services Office on Tuesday took delivery of nearly 30 bags fillled with warm coats for local veterans.

The donation came courtesy of the Salvation Army and was prompted by a chance meeting between office assistant Tina Samson and Capt. Katherine Corno of the local Salvation Army post.

"We just walked into each other, it was out of the blue," said Samson, who was on Main Street in mid-November drumming up donations for gift certificates and socks for veterans.  "I had a box in my hand and she walked out of the bank and we just started talking."

"She was talking about socks and talking about coats and I said let me see what can be done," said Corno, who contacted her superiors in Canton to tell them the veterans office wanted to do a coat drive. "They said, 'sure, let's see what we can do.'"

They did a lot. A few days later came the phone call: "Come get your coats."

Corno drove to Athol and returned with a van stuffed full of coats that are now piled in the Law Library at City Hall.

Veterans Agent Stephen Roy joked there is at least 1,000 pounds of winter clothing.

"The tires were almost flat from the weight," he said. "Talk about a gift that really makes a difference, this is a durable thing that someone can keep with them for years."


The collection that was transported across the state was an example of what happens when a need is communicated in this community.

"You have to toot your horn," said Corno, so people know there's a need. Despite the poverty in the area, said Samson, "This community is really giving."

Samson has bags of other goods donated by local vendors, pointing particularly to Walmart for providing aid and to Olympia Sports for donating sample sweat shirts and sneakers, as well as donated gift certificates from local stores and restaurants to give out to veterans this year. The sock drive, however, didn't go as well as the coat drive.

"The sock drive is not as good as last year but we did get a big tote full," she said. "I ask the guys what do you need, and they always say winter socks ... these guys can't afford the socks."

Veterans coming to pick up their checks on Dec. 15 will get those gifts and be able to pick out a coat for themselves and for their spouse or children, if needed. The veterans office serves about 140 to 180 veterans in the communities of Adams, Clarksburg, Florida, North Adams, Savoy and Williamstown.

Corno said any coats left over should go to whoever or whatever agency can use them.

"We service the same towns, the same locations, the same demographics," she said. "It's winter, everyone needs a coat."

"We just try to spread the wealth to the community because I like to give back," said Samson. "What goes round comes round, karma's a big thing ... and I always want good karma."


Tags: donations,   holiday story,   Salvation Army,   veterans,   

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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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