Williamstown Digest

12:00AM / Wednesday, October 22, 2003Print Story | Email Story

WILLIAMSTOWN â€” Bill Bradley, three-term U.S. senator and former Democratic candidate for president of the United States, will conduct a question-and-answer session on current events Friday, Oct. 24, at 4 p.m., at Payne Hall. The session is free and open to the public. Bradley was a New Jersey senator from 1979 to 1997 and ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2000. He has written five books on American politics, culture and economics. Prior to serving in the Senate, he was a 1964 Olympic gold medalist and played professional basketball for the New York Knicks from 1967 to 1977, during which time the team won two NBA championships. He is currently a managing director of Allen & Company LLC and is chief outside advisor to the consulting firm McKinsey & Companyâ€™s nonprofit practice. Information: 597-4277. School fund climbs The Williamstown Elementary School's annual fund, launched to help cushion the impact of the school's budget shortfall, has to date received donations totaling $25,000, with funds helping to finance classroom supplies, arts enrichment and field trips. The budget had cut spending for educational supplies in half and eliminated library programming, arts enrichment, field trips and playground equipment. The fund was founded last spring by members of the School Committee, Superintendent Rose Ellis and a group of parents. They sent letters outlining a priority list of educational needs to members of the school community. The bleak economic picture of state and government support to education underscored the urgency of this campaign. Schools around the country have been faced with shrinking educational dollars and are becoming more proactive in philanthropic fund-raising efforts. The Aug. 3 issue of The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported that 3,500 to 5,000 schools of the roughly 16,000 in the country now have charities that raise money. The $25,000 was distributed as follows: educational classroom supplies, $6,000 to cover the 50 percent cut to the budget; Enrichment in Arts, $2,000 to restore the Shakespeare residency program; field trips $5,000, reinstating all grade-level field trips. Two additional areas of needed funding included in the priority list were library books and playground equipment. The library budget for books was cut 100 percent, and swings and a playhouse for the new playground were eliminiated due to lack of funding in the school construction project. Arnold Goldberg, a long-time community member and former president of the PTO and member of the MGRHS School Committee contributed $11,000 over the past two years to purchase library books in memory of his wife, Dianne. His gift this year of $5,000 was included in the Annual Fund. The Williamstown Elementary PTO donated $5,600 to the school to buy 10 swings for the new playground. These were installed three days before school opened. Superintendent Ellis said, "The Annual Fund has been instrumental in lessening the economic pain to our school. The staff and I are very grateful for the support we are receiving, and we hope that we can continue to grow the Annual Fund as an alternative revenue source for our school in the upcoming years.â€ School fund-raiser The Williamstown Elementary Schoolâ€™s sixth grade class will sponsor its annual Cape Cod CafÃ© on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the school cafeteria. The public is welcome to visit and enjoy the lunch of clam chowder, pizza, hot dogs and baked goods. All proceeds will benefit the sixth gradeâ€™s class trip to Cape Cod in the spring. Information: Liz Grees, 458-5707, ext. 152. â€˜Words are Wonderfulâ€™ "Words Are Wonderful," a celebration of words, language and literacy at the Williamstown Elementary School, has invited parents and children to "Literary Bonanza and Pumpkin Madness" Saturday, Oct. 25, from 10 to 1 p.m. at the cafeteria and gym. The event will coincide with the last day of the Book Fair and the Cape Cod Cafe. Parents and children are invited to carve a pumpkin and enjoy a candy-corn guessing game. Bookmaking, word-bead bracelets, memory scrap-booking (bring five or six favorite photos), calligraphy, sign-language stories and "creative creature creating" will be among the activities. Lunch will include pizza, hot dogs and clam chowder. League adds members The Williamstown League of Women Voters recently held a welcome celebration for 20 new members, men and women, at the Williams Inn, where the guest speaker was Lynn Cohen, vice president of the state League of Women Voters. The Williamstown branch, the only branch of the league remaining in Berkshire County, reported that many new members joined to work on the 2004 presidential election. The league is a nonpartisan educational organization that encourages active participation of all citizens in elections and in political life. Information for membership and participation: Box 392, Williamstown MA 01267 or lwvwmst@aol.com. Trick or Treat hours Trick or Treat hours will be Friday, Oct. 31, (Halloween night), from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tot playhouse The Little Red Schoolhouse, on Route 7 by the intersection of Route 43, next to The Store at 5 Corners, will offer a â€œTot Playgroupâ€ at the school each Monday through Nov. 10 from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m. Children ages 18 months to 2 years and 9 months are welcome. Hands-on activities and free play are planned, along with a snack. The cost is $5 per class. Information or to register: 458-8668 Strayhorn meets Svengali The public has been invited to hear the Williams Jazz Ensemble on Friday, Oct. 24, 8 p.m., at Chapin Hall in a free concert. In addition to combo selections, Andy Jaffe will lead the jazz ensemble in Billy Strayhorn's â€œThe Hues and Tonk,â€ Charlie Parker's â€œYardbird Suite,â€ Benny Golson's â€œWhisper Not,â€ a Duke Ellington arrangement of Tchaikovskyâ€™s â€œArabian Danceâ€ and a work arranged by Gil Evans, â€œArab Dance.â€ The jazz ensemble features a big band sound with over 21 players. Information: 597-2736. History program A Williamstown House of Local History videotape, â€œFrom Wilderness to Williamstown,â€ produced to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the town's founding, will be shown for the first time Sunday, Oct. 26, at 3 p.m. at The Williams Inn. The presentation draws on documents, photographs and illustrations from the House of Local History and Williams College archives to outline the history of Williamstown from its founding as West Hoosac, recounting the development of local businesses and farms, churches and mills, transportation and landmarks, individuals and organizations. Curator Nancy Burstein researched and wrote the script for the 40-minute video, which features slides by John LeClaire. Meg Dodds added additional photographs. Her husband, Richard, helped produce, edit and narrate the tape. Media services specialist Bruce Wheat of Williams College was technical advisor for the project. The Williams Inn abuts the site of Fort Hoosac, which was built to protect the settlement that became Williamstown. After-school art programs The Williams College Museum of Art will host free after-school programs for children ages 4 to 9, on Oct. 28 and Nov. 4, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Families are invited to come to the museum for any of the hour-long explorations of â€œAlphabet Art.â€ Advance registration is not required, but participating children must be accompanied by an adult. â€œAlphabet Artâ€ will provide children with the opportunity to explore the museum, write alphabet poetry and create all kinds of letter-filled art. Children will take turns spinning the museumâ€™s â€œWheel of Fortunate Lettersâ€ to determine their lucky letter of the day, and will then set off to search the museum to complete a fun and phonetic challenge. Each session will also offer children the chance to use their letters and words to compose poems that include letters of artistsâ€™ names. A different hands-on â€œAlphabet Artâ€ activity will also be offered at each Tuesday session, with projects ranging from letter designs and patterns to â€œAni-mal-a-betâ€ creations. Information about family programs and tours: the museumâ€™s education department, 597-2038.\ The after-school series is made possible by the EugÃ©nie Prendergast Trust. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5. Admission is free, and the museum is wheelchair-accessible.. Public Meetings A schedule of public meetings in or about Williamstown, as provided by Town Clerk Mary C. Kennedy, 458-9341, from official postings. Meetings are held at the municipal building, 31 North St., unless otherwise indicated: Wednesday, Oct. 22, ConCom, 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23 , local emergency planning committee, 9 a.m.; Prudential Committee, 5 p.m., fire station. Monday, Oct. 27, Selectmen, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, Historical Commission, 7:30 p.m. Paquette wins comedy prize Jon Paquette, formerly of Williamstown was named winner in the comedy category at the 10th annual Austin Film Festival earlier this month in Austin, Tex. Paquette won a $5,000 cash prize and trophy for his screenplay, "The SubCandidate." He is the son of Victor Paquette of Williamstown and Capetown, South Africa. Paquette's script will be read by some of the most prestigious producers, directors and filmmakers in the industry, according to a news release from the festival. He holds a bachelorâ€™s degree from Marquette University and a master of fine arts degree from the University of Southern California Film School. He is a producer at Electronic Arts in Los Angeles. He lives in Valencia, Calif. Harper Center The Elder Services Nutrition Program serves hot meals. Call 458-8250 or 458-5156; 48-hour notice is appreciated. Voluntary donations for van transportation are 50 cents one-way from Williamstown and $1 one-way from North Adams. Service is available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Wednesday, Oct. 22, 1 p.m., bridge. Thursday, Oct. 23, 10 a.m., Tai Chi; 11 a.m., van to Wal-Mart; 11:30 a.m., lunch; 1 p.m., crafts; 3:30 p.m.; knitting group. Friday, Oct. 24, 10:30 a.m., exercise;â€™ 11:30 a.m., lunch; 1 p.m., Bingo. Sunday, Oct. 26, 11:30 p.m., lunch. Monday, Oct. 27, 10:30 a.m., exercise; 11:30 a.m., lunch; 1 p.m., line dancing. Tuesday, Oct. 28, 9 a.m., oil painting; 9:45 and 10:45 a.m., van to Stop & Shop. Deaths William Macmillan, 90, of 85 Eagle St., North Adams, who worked as a chef for Williams College for 25 years, died Oct. 17 at North Adams Regional Hospital after a short illness. Born in Pittsfield on Dec. 29, 1912, he was the son of Gordon and Alison (Peden) Macmillan. The family moved to Williamstown, where Mr. Macmillan graduated in 1933 from the former Williamstown High School. He drove a taxi for Town Taxi in Williamstown and Walter Gigliotti in North Adams until 1935, when he began working at the former Renton's Bakery in North Adams. He entered the U.S. Army Air Corps on May 22, 1942, serving as cook and baker until his honorable discharge March 3, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his wounds in action at the Battle of Salerno, Sicily. After the war, he again worked at Renton's and later at Neville's Donut Shop. He then worked for 25 years as a Williams College chef until his retirement in 1978. He was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church, North Adams; the Disabled American Veterans; Dr. George L. Curran Post 996 Veterans of Foreign Wars, North Adams; and Frank R. Stiles Post 125 American Legion, North Adams. He leaves his wife of 59 years, the former Eleanor Sweet; a daughter, Kathryn Saltamartini of North Adams; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. The funeral was Monday at St. John's Episcopal Church, North Adams, with the Rev. Edward King, rector, officiating. Burial was in Southview Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Drury High School Sports Department through the Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna funeral home, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams MA 01247. JOAN ROZELL, 79 of Proprietorâ€™s Field, 118 Church St. Williamstown, died Sunday Oct. 19, at the Williamstown Commons. She was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on Oct. 12, 1924, a daughter of Francis Walsh and Gertrude (Dowd) Walsh. She attended schools in Toronto and Montreal. During World War II, she was employed as a civilian with the Canadian Air Force, serving as a PBX phone operator in Bermuda. While there, she met and later married her husband, Lt. Commander Jay Rozell, U.S. Navy. She enjoyed traveling with her husband while he was in the navy. Following his retirement, they settled in Oregon. Following his death on March 29, 1999, she returned to Williamstown the following year to be with her family. Mrs. Rozell was the president of the Proprietorâ€™s Field Tenants Association and enjoyed volunteer work. She leaves a son, David Rozell of Portland, Ore.; a daughter, Kim Rozell of Williamstown, and a grandson. The funeral was private. Memorial donations may be made to the Milne Public Library or to the Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic in care of the Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna funeral home, West Chapels, 521 West Main St. North Adams, MA 01247.

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Lanesborough Fifth-Graders Win Snowplow Name Contest

02:13PM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — One of the snowplows for Highway District 1 has a new name: "The Blizzard Boss."

The name comes from teacher Gina Wagner's fifth-grade class at Lanesborough Elementary School.

The state Department of Transportation announced the winners of the fourth annual "Name A Snowplow" contest on Monday.

The department received entries from public elementary and middle school classrooms across the commonwealth to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows that will be in service during the 2025/2026 winter season.

The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during winter operations.

"Thank you to all of the students who participated. Your creativity allows us to highlight to all, the importance of the work performed by our workforce," said interim MassDOT Secretary Phil Eng.

"Our workforce takes pride as they clear snow and ice, keeping our roads safe during adverse weather events for all that need to travel. ?To our contest winners and participants, know that you have added some fun to the serious take of operating plows. ?I'm proud of the skill and dedication from our crews and thank the public of the shared responsibility to slow down, give plows space and put safety first every time there is a winter weather event."

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