No Lanesborough Residents Showing Interest in Mount Greylock School Committee Seats

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.—With just more than two weeks left to turn in nomination papers, a three-way race is shaping up for two seats on the Mount Greylock Regional School Committee.
 
Two other seats have yet to draw any candidates' interest.
 
On Tuesday, the district office told iBerkshires.com that three Williamstown residents have taken out nomination papers to appear on the November ballot for the seven-person committee.
 
Incumbent Steven Miller is the first candidate to return papers with the required number of signatures.
 
Another incumbent, Carolyn Greene, and a newcomer, Laurel Bifano, also have taken out papers.
 
Two of four seats designated for Williamstown residents and two of three seats designated for Lanesborough residents will be on the ballot in November.
 
As of Tuesday, no resident of Lanesborough had taken out nomination papers, Superintendent Joe Bergeron reported.
 
Currently, the committee has two members whose terms are expiring this year: Curtis Elfenbein and Christina Conry.
 
Potential candidates for a four-year seat on the School Committee need to return papers with at least 45 verifiable signatures of residents of either Lanesborough or Williamstown or both.
 
The deadline to submit those signed papers is July 21.
 
Since residents of both towns vote for all seven members of the committee, the district runs its election on federal election days every two years -- the days when voters in both the district's member towns go to the polls.
 
If all three of the candidates who have shown interest in the Williamstown seats complete the process, the top two vote-getters on Nov. 3 will win seats on the committee.
 
Nomination papers are currently available at the district office, next to the middle-high school on Cold Spring Road (Route 7) in Williamstown or at Williamstown's town hall.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Honors Disability Pride Month

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Catherine Carchedi, chair of the Commission on Disabilities, speaks to how the Americans with Disabilities Act has allowed people with disabilities to function and enjoy everyday things like going to the movies. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city marked Disability Pride Month with a flag raising on Thursday, recognizing the right of every person to be seen, valued, and included exactly as they are.

Catherine Carchedi, chair of the Commission on Disabilities, pointed out that it has been 36 years since the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 

"The ADA is really a civil rights movement, and I want to remind people that," she said. 

"… It's a civil rights law, and it needs to be protected, especially during these times." 

The historic legislation made it illegal to discriminate based on disability in employment, education, transportation, and public spaces. Disability Pride Month was first celebrated in 2015. 

Carchedi used the movie theater as an example of how, decades ago, she wouldn't have been able to enjoy a night out with friends who use a wheelchair or require assistive devices. 

She said they can now catch a ride to the movies with the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority because all buses now need to be accessible, and find a good place to sit in the theater with seating that meets their needs. 

Carchedi's friend with a guide dog can also go to the movies and use a visual descriptive device, and another friend who is hard of hearing can watch the movie with closed captioning or with an assistive listening device. 

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