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Betty Preguber celebrates her 100th birthday Saturday with her daughter, Patricia Allen, left, and her son and daughter-in-law, Joseph and Patricia Prenguber.

North Adams Woman Celebrates 100 Years

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Betty Prenguber receives a certificate from the House from state Rep. John Barrett III.
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Elizabeth "Betty" Prenguber celebrated her 100th birthday with friends and family Saturday.
 
The world was much different in 1918 the year she was born: Woodrow Wilson was president; World War I had ended, and the Boston Red Sox won their last World Series until 2004.
 
"As long as she is smiling I know she is OK … just a super lady very supportive of her family and a very supportive mother," her son, Joseph Prenguber, said. "… She always put her family first."
 
Her birthday was Aug. 15 but the family held a special party at Joseph's house in Clarksburg on Saturday and state Rep. John Barrett III presented her with a certificate from the state House of Representatives. 
 
The daughter of Nicholas and Catherine DelNegro, Joseph said his mom was the last surviving sibling of their 13 children. She and her late husband, Joseph P. Prenguber, were married May 3, 1941, in St. Anthony's Church. Her husband died in 2002.
 
Betty's daughter, Patricia Allen, said age never stopped her mother from seeing the world and helping others. At age 80, she toured Italy and, at 90, was still driving and volunteering at the hospital and nursing home.
 
Joseph said his mom was never one to act her age.
 
"She was 91 years old and she was volunteering at that time at the nursing home," he said. "I was visiting her one day and asked her what she did that day and she said she wheeled old people around in their wheelchairs. I said, 'mom you are the old people' she was older than the people she was wheeling around."
 
Betty didn’t have any specific advice for reaching 100 but did say it helps to laugh a lot.
 
"I don’t know," she said. "My sense of humor maybe."

Tags: birthday,   centennial,   

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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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