Williams College Celebrates Staff Members on Appreciation Day

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Williams College hosted its annual Appreciation Day, which honors staff members who have reached milestones in their service to the college.

The celebration included a luncheon for employees completing their 5th, 10th, 15th, or 20th year of service, and a dinner for employees celebrating their 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, and 45th year of service, as well as those who are newly retired.

This year's retirees are Carol Allard, Nancy Bellows, Linda Burke, Jean Caprari, Diana Elvin, Margy Gwozdz, Wayne Haskins, Samuel Hurlbut, Patricia Hurlbut, Stephen Jones, Christine Maher, Alberta McCarthy, Jane Nicholls, Rebecca Ohm, Hideyo Okamura, Robert Scherr, James Wetteland and Elaine Yanow.

Carol Witek is celebrating her 45th year, and Frederick Jolin and Robert Vachereau 40 years.

Celebrating 35 years of service are David Dabrowski, Edward Derby, Karen Kowitz , Nancy Piatczyc, and Gail Rondeau Hebert.

Celebrating their 30th year of service are Glenn Boyer, Lisa Champagne, Bruce Decoteau, Heidi Duncan, Diane England, Kevin Forkey, Kim Hodgkins, Susan Hogan, Kenneth Jensen, David Johnson, Karen Jolin, Cindy Kimball, Lisa Olson, Sean Phan, Scott Remillard, Michael Reopell, Sarah Tovani, Michelle Waryjasz, and Diana Wilson.

Williamstown Fire Committee Talks Station Project Cuts, Truck Replacement

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:17AM / Friday, April 26, 2024

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Prudential Committee on Wednesday signed off on more than $1 million in cost cutting measures for the planned Main Street fire station.

 

Some of the "value engineering" changes are cosmetic, while at least one pushes off a planned expense into the future.

 

The committee, which oversees the Fire District, also made plans to hold meetings over the next two Wednesdays to finalize its fiscal year 2025 budget request and other warrant articles for the May 28 annual district meeting. One of those warrant articles could include a request for a new mini rescue truck.

 

The value engineering changes to the building project originated with the district's Building Committee, which asked the Prudential Committee to review and sign off.

 

In all, the cuts approved on Wednesday are estimated to trim $1.135 million off the project's price tag.

 

The biggest ticket items included $250,000 to simplify the exterior masonry, $200,000 to eliminate a side yard shed, $150,000 to switch from a metal roof to asphalt shingles and $75,000 to "white box" certain areas on the second floor of the planned building.

 

The white boxing means the interior spaces will be built but not finished. So instead of dividing a large space into six bunk rooms and installing two restrooms on the second floor, that space will be left empty and unframed for now.