Letter: Bilal for Williamstown Select Board

Letter to the EditorPrint Story | Email Story

To the Editor:

I am writing to urge Williamstown voters to elect Bilal Ansari to the Williamstown Select Board on Tuesday, May 10. Dr. Ansari has dedicated himself to a life of service, to helping people resolve difficult situations. He listens intently and responds carefully with compassion. He appeals to our best nature. These are essential skills needed at this moment in our town.

Dr. Ansari does not believe that he alone has the solutions to all of the challenges facing our town. Instead, he wants to hear from those comfortable speaking up and also those who, until now, have not felt comfortable nor heard at all. He believes it will take a village to share concerns and work together to make Williamstown a better place for everyone to live and work and grow. But making that happen takes a special type of skilled leadership.

Bilal Ansari is the candidate blessed with that skilled leadership and a stake in our town's quality of life. He has deep roots in this town: his ancestors lived and worked here. He is committed to an approach based in kindness and inclusion. He is the candidate who can and will help us reach a new, inclusive and more equitable chapter in our town's history.

I ask for your vote on May 10 for Bilal Ansari for the Williamstown Select Board. Thank you.

 

Hugh L Guilderson, Ph.D.
Williamstown, Mass.

 

 

 


Tags: town elections,   


If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Creative Pause: Venerable WTF Taking Time to Innovate, Strategize

By John TownesSpecial to iBerkshires
The pace and pressures of change have intensified in all sectors of society. The creative economy is no exception.
 
Non-profit arts organizations have always had to adapt to changing times. Some of these issues are common and perennial, including the need to raise funds, attract audiences, and remain relevant and sustainable.
 
In addition, while the COVID-19 pandemic was several years ago, it has taken time
to recover from the universal shutdowns of 2020 and their aftermath.
 
These issues were highlighted in the Berkshires recently with the announcement that two prominent cultural institutions in Northern Berkshire County — the Williams Theatre Festival and the FreshGrass music festival at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art were cancelling their 2026 summer seasons.
 
Both organizations, which are separate, will use the time to regroup, with plans to return in 2027.
 
While the announcements raised concerns about the impacts on the cultural tourism economy this summer, the overall slate of cultural attractions and activities in the Berkshires appear to be on track. The cultural sector is not monolithic, and other individual organizations are either proceeding as normal or expanding their offerings.
 
The season cancellation at WTF was because of a combination of factors, said Raphael Picciarelli, WTF's managing director for strategy and transformation. He shares administrative oversight responsibilities with Kit Ingui, managing director of operations and advancement.
View Full Story

More Williamstown Stories