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Debbie Storie, owner of Baker's Golf Center, poses with a plaque presented to her by the Select Board.
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Baker's Golf Center is marking its 80th year.

80 Years of Baker's Golf Commemorated by Lanesborough Officials

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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Debbie Storie is congratulated by the Select Board on Monday. 

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Baker's Golf Center has been recognized for its long history of providing recreational fun to the town and beyond.

The Select Board presented owner Debbie Storie with a plaque on Monday to commemorate the golf center's 80-year anniversary.

"You do so much for our community," Chairman Michael Murphy said.

"Baker's Golf, staff, you yourself personally. So much for our community. This is just a small token of our appreciation in the hopes that you will continue to do this for another 80 years."

Baker's Golf offers 18 holes of miniature golf with whimsical obstacles and a driving range. It is the county's only facility with both range and mini golf.

Storie has spent the greater part of her life at the golf center, working there since 1983. She has owned it now for three years and kicked off its 2022 season with new amenities, including a dinosaur that now guards the fourth hole.

The golf center's founder Ernie Volin originally had a driving range on Putnam Road. The Baker property on South Main Street was formerly a farm and when its barn burned down in 1941, Volin asked to rent the land for his business and opened in 1943. The rest is history.



Volin ran the golf center until 1968 when it was taken over by the Bakers.

Storie felt that it was very thoughtful and generous for the Select Board to commemorate her business's legacy.

"It was a legacy long before me and I am just going to continue it for as long as I can," she said.

With such a long history, Baker's Golf is undoubtedly part of many residents' childhood memories.  Storie said she appreciates the community's support, as she wouldn't be able to continue without it.

She wishes that former owner Malcolm Baker could have seen the plaque, explaining that it is his legacy that she will try to continue. Baker passed away in 2020.

"He left something good to continue in the community," Storie said.


Tags: minigolf,   recognition event,   

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With 30 Berkshire Business Partners, BCArc's Recycling Center Grows

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Colonial Theater, Pittsfield Police and Fire Stations, Proprietor's Lodge, Berkshire Bank, Greylock Credit Union and dozens of more businesses rely on Berkshire County Arc's Recycling Center – The Green Redeem – to pick up their bottles and cans weekly.
 
The Green Redeem provides recycle bins for area businesses, and empties the bins as often as the business requests.
 
"The goal here is to provide employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities," said Maryann Hyatt, BCArc's President & CEO.  "The individuals earn a salary, paid at market rate, they learn job skills, they engage with the community, and they gain a sense of pride. They also love getting a paycheck every week, like almost everyone does. The more cans and bottles we can collect, the more people we can hire. We hope to keep growing at a rapid pace."
 
Along with area businesses, the Center is partnering with the City of Dalton to host a recycling container – donated by Casella Waste Systems -- at its transfer station. The Green Redeem hopes to duplicate this model with other area towns.
 
Once picked up, the redeemable bottles and cans are brought to the Green Redeem Operating Center at 20 Taconic Park Drive, where they are cleaned, sorted and picked up by area distributors.
 
If interested in participating, and supporting the program, contact the general manager JG Ivy at jivy@bcarc.org, or 413- 443-9071.
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