Temple Anshe Amunim Announces 2018 Members of the Year

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Jane and Larry Pellish, co-chairpersons of the Social Action Committee, have been named as the 2018 Members of the Year at Temple Anshe Amunim.

Now retired from their respective fields in education and medicine, the Pellishes have dedicated themselves to social action, social awareness and social justice for the temple and in the greater community.

With their leadership, the Social Action Committee coordinates a team of volunteers that prepares and serves meals at the First Baptist Church; represents the Temple on the Thanksgiving Angels Steering Committee (which last year provided food for 1,450 Berkshire County families); sponsored a kiwi removal day at Burbank Park under the auspices of the Berkshire Environmental Action Team; and represents the temple with Berkshire Interfaith Organizing. They also run annual collection drives for several organizations to garner: winter clothing, cash toward fuel assistance, and work-attire for the Berkshire Pathways program. The Committee has also presented forums on topics dealing with Fracking and Death With Dignity.  

The Pellishes also give fully to the larger community. Janie works at the Reigning Love Church food pantry, the St. Stephen's Church meal site, and serves on the steering committee of the Food Pantry Collaborative which deals with food insecurity in Berkshire County.  Larry serves as a long-standing board member of the Counseling Center in the Berkshires. Both Janie and Larry have been tutors of English as a Second Language with Literacy Volunteers of Berkshire County.

Debora Cole-Duffy, immediate past temple president, said, "Both Janie and Larry embody the valued Jewish tenet of Tikkun Olam – that is, truly, they perform acts of kindness to help repair the world."

Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:23PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.

Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.

"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.

"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."

The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.

Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."

"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."

The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a  $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.