Letter: Why I Support Paul Mark

To the Editor:

I've known Paul Mark all his political life, and we couldn't ask for a better person to be our next state senator in Boston. Paul is an experienced and practical progressive who will hit the ground running in the state Senate.

In 2010, Paul was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives to serve the 2nd Berkshire district. And ever since, he has fought for working families, calling for Medicare-for-all, higher-education funding reform, student debt relief, funding for vocational programs, and major transformative solutions to the climate crisis, among other issues.

Yes, Paul knows what it means to work. He came from humble circumstances to earn associate, bachelor, master and doctoral degrees, and finally a law degree. He was able to do it because union benefits made it possible, and he wants others to have the same opportunities. That's why he fights for good-paying jobs in our communities and access to affordable transportation and high-speed broadband internet for all our communities.

Western Mass. needs experienced representation in Boston. I've already mailed my ballot for Paul Mark. I hope you'll soon do the same.

Lee Harrison
Williamstown, Mass. 

Crust Serving Up Pizza Pies in Two Locations

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
02:03PM / Saturday, June 28, 2025

Crust owner Jim Cervone and manager Lexi Politis make pizza's at the Williamstown location. 

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Crust has been serving up classic and specialty pizzas since its opening in 2020 in Pittsfield, and for over a year now in Williamstown.

 

Owner Jim Cervone said his inspiration was his love for cooking and pizza.

 

"I love pizza, and I'm Italian, and I grew up with cooking. I remember my grandmother cooking. Some of the recipes we have here are from my grandmother, specifically the meatballs," he said. "So I've always grown up with food. I'm a good, amateur chef. Always liked cooking. Whenever I travel, I always look for pizza, because that's one of my things. ...

 

"I wasn't really crazy about the offerings, not just around here, just in general. And so the inspiration was, how can I make a really good pizza at an affordable price?" 

 

Cervone said his most popular pizzas are chicken bacon ranch and buffalo chicken, flavors requested by customers and not something he was planning to add to the menu at first since chicken pizza isn't usually found in an Italian restaurant.

 

"I personally think the Grandma's Pizza, which has got a sliced mozzarella cheese underneath, and the organic red sauce on top with meatballs, is one of my favorites," he said. "They're homemade meatballs. It's my grandmother's recipe — that's a popular one."

 

Also on the menu are red and white mushroom pizzas, a "green" version with housemade pesto, peppers and mushrooms, and the option to build your own pie with a wide variety of crusts, sauces, cheeses, toppings and finishes.