Letter: Great American Smokeout Is Nov. 16

To the Editor:

The Great American Smokeout is Thursday, Nov. 16, a great day to remind clients, friends, and family about quitting smoking or any tobacco use.

Developed by the American Cancer Society, the Great American Smokeout is a perfect opportunity to think about quitting and its many benefits — physically, mentally, and financially, and maybe even plan a quit attempt. Remember, quitting can take many tries and help is always available for any tobacco user who wants to quit, whether on November 16 or at any other time.

You can help smokers and other tobacco users by encouraging them to keep trying to quit and by offering them the following suggestions:

• Consider talking to a FREE quit coach. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). The Mass. Smokers Helpline is open 24 hours each day, seven days a week (except Thanksgiving and Christmas) and experienced coaches are ready to help. Now you can also enroll online through KeepTryingMA.org. Online supports include quit planning tools, peer support and motivational text messages.
• Consider medications to increase your chances of quitting. MassHealth and many other insurance companies cover quit smoking medicines with little or no copay.
• Try medicines like the nicotine patch, gum or lozenge to further your chances of being successful and quitting for good. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit KeepTryingMA.org and receive one month of FREE nicotine replacement help (with medical eligibility).
• People who use coaching and medicines together are three times as likely to quit for good as those who use neither so keep trying to quit.

Thanks for your support of smokers and other tobacco users on Nov. 16 and any time. Quitting can take repeated attempts, and, for many people, it's the hardest thing they've done. Yet with the help of the Mass Smokers Helpline and the support of others during the Great American Smokeout, every user can become tobacco free and begin a journey to better health.

To see a video about the MA Smokers Helpline, please visit KeepTryingMA.org to access online or phone support. Contact Joyce Brewer at the Berkshire Tobacco-Free Community Partnership at the Berkshire Area Health Education Center or at jbrewer@berkshireahec.org to learn more about the impact tobacco has on your community.

Joyce Brewer
Brewer is the contract manager at Berkshire AHEC for the Berkshire Tobacco-Free Community Partnership

Community Hero of the Month: Christine Hoyt

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:25PM / Saturday, May 04, 2024

Selectwoman Christine Hoyt, in green, came up with the idea of celebrating local business by having a ribbon cuttings with board members present. 

ADAMS, Mass. — Selectmen Chair and 1Berkshire Director of Member Services and Christine Hoyt has been nominated for the April Community Hero of the Month.

 

The Community Hero of the Month series, in partnership with Haddad Auto, recognizes individuals and organizations that have significantly impacted their community. Nominate a community hero here. 

 

Hoyt has been a valuable member of the Berkshire County community since moving to Adams in 2005 from central New York state. 

 

With no friends or family in the area, she became involved with her new community by working with numerous organizations and serving on multiple committees. 

 

She participated in the Berkshire Leadership Program through the then-Berkshire Chamber of Commerce. This started her on the path to working with nonprofit boards, so she started serving with Youth Center Inc. and then ran for election as a town meeting member. She has been on the Board of Selectmen since 2017 and is currently serving her second term as chair. 

 

"[Berkshire County is] a welcoming community. So, when I moved here, I didn't have any friends or family, and I still felt like I was able to connect with people. I was able to get involved in a number of different initiatives," Hoyt said.

 

"So, I've always felt like this community just opens their arms and welcomes everybody into it. I try to do my part to extend those arms and welcome people into the conversation and into various groups and committees."