Four Guardian Employees Honored with Volunteer Recognition Award

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America honored four Pittsfield Office employees with the Volunteer Recognition Award during a Nov. 13 ceremony at which grants were presented to the four area nonprofit organizations for which the employees volunteer their time and energy.

The annual award presentation – consisting of a $1,000 check to the nonprofit organizations – showcases the community contributions of individual Guardian employees.

"We take great pride in our service to the community," said Gordon Dinsmore, head of Product for Individual Markets and President of Guardian's Berkshire Life subsidiary. "We give financial support when we can, and we encourage our employees to participate in volunteer activities. This award honors both the employees and the nonprofit organizations to which they’re devoted."

Pittsfield's 2017 volunteers award winners are: John Eurbin, Desktop Systems Coordinator, on behalf of Berkshire Mountain Search & Rescue; Bernie Klem, Senior Internal Communication Specialist, on behalf of the Dalton Community Recreation Association; Katie LaPlante, Claims Consultant, on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County; and Jennifer Richard, Claims Consultant, on behalf of Rainbow Rescues, Inc.


Eurbin has been a BMSR volunteer for more than two years. This year, John has been called out on multiple occasions for emergency response and has attended ongoing training sessions, including FEMA wide-area search training and swift water rescue training. He presented his award to Neil Raymond, a BMSR board member.

Klem has volunteered with the CRA for more than 20 years, serving as a youth coach, fundraiser and master of ceremonies for the Halloween Parade and Gib Kittredge Award ceremony and auction. He currently serves as president of the CRA Board of Governors. He presented his award to Alison Peters, the CRA's executive director.

LaPlante has been a volunteer with BBBS for a year and a half, serving as "big sister" to an 8-year-old girl. They spend eight to 10 hours together every month, and she provides a positive influence and a trustworthy adult to talk to about important life questions and concerns. She presented her award to Jesse Vanek, director of Development for BBBS.

Richard has volunteered more than four years at Rainbow Rescues Inc., a foster-based, volunteer-run, animal rescue organization whose mission is to ensure that pets get placed in happy and loving new homes. She presented her award to Shawn O’Brien, co-founder and Operations Manager of Rainbow Rescues, Inc.

 

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Central Berkshire School Officials OK $35M Budget

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School Committee approved a $35 million budget for fiscal 2025 during its meeting on Thursday.
 
Much of the proposed spending plan is similar to what was predicted in the initial and tentative budget presentations, however, the district did work with the Finance subcommittee to further offset the assessments to the towns, Superintendent Leslie Blake-Davis said. 
 
"What you're going see in this budget is a lower average assessment to the towns than what you saw in the other in the tentative budget that was approved," she said. 
 
The fiscal 2025 budget is $35,428,892, a 5.56 percent or $1,867,649, over this year's $33,561,243.
 
"This is using our operating funds, revolving revenue or grant revenue. So what made up the budget for the tentative budget is pretty much the same," Director of Finance and Operations Gregory Boino said.
 
"We're just moving around funds … so, we're using more of the FY25 rural aid funds instead of operating funds next year."
 
Increases the district has in the FY25 operating budget are from active employee health insurance, retiree health insurance, special education out-of-district tuition, temporary bond principal and interest payment, pupil transportation, Berkshire County Retirement contributions, and the federal payroll tax. 
 
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