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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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Pittsfield ConCom OKs Stairs at Pontoosuc Lake

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Shoreline access stairs are coming to the south side of Pontoosuc Lake. 

Last week, the Conservation Commission approved an amendment to the Order of Conditions for work at Pontoosuc Lake Park.  There will be two stair sets on the south shoreline, and additional bank stabilization. 

In 2025, the park's south side saw new stairs from the parking lot, a boardwalk, and other improvements.  Later phases of the project will enhance the north side of the park for swimming, and remedy a concrete barrier wall that is partially underwater. 

"Generally, what we're looking to do at Pontoosuc Lake Park is install some stair sets in two locations to help folks access from up above the bank, over the bank, and into the water," Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath explained during the July 23 meeting. 

"We're sensitive to some of the issues that are currently existing on the bank, and we're also sensitive to some of the needs for lake recreation out there."

Stairs for water access will be placed on the shoreline at the beginning of the boardwalk, where it is highly eroded, and the second staircase will be at the extreme western end of the project area, which has around 100 feet of highly eroded bank. 

Additional brush layering will also stabilize the bank. 

An area near the boat ramp where live stakes were vandalized will see them replanted after the ConCom found some of the bank erosion was worse than believed on a site visit last year. 

The city originally proposed not replanting the area where live stakes were removed. 

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