BRK decal man hopes the idea will stick

By Glenn DrohanPrint Story | Email Story
Frank Frecentese and his new bumper stickers in North Adams. (Photo By Glenn Drohan)
EGREMONT — Vermont has its VT bumper sticker; Cape Cod has its CC — and its MV as well, for Martha’s Vineyard. Maine has ME, and New Hampshire has NH. Heck, even North Adams has NA. So why doesn’t the Berkshires, “America’s Premiere Cultural Resort,” have a bumper sticker all its own? A Berkshires devotee who grew up with his family in Egremont wondered just that, and he has taken matters into his own hands. Francis “Frank” Frecentese, who now lives in New York City, had more than 1,000 BRK stickers printed up by a Vermont firm, and started promoting them throughout the county during a trip home last week. “I never understood why there was none for the Berkshires,” Frecentese said during a stop in North Adams. “It seems to me the Berkshires have as much to offer as all these other areas.” He’s received little argument on that count ’round these parts. More than a dozen businesses in South, Central and North County have already bought a supply of the stickers from him, and he expects more will do so soon. Of course, a certain radio station in Pittsfield certainly won’t kick if BRK stickers pop up all over the place, even if they are missing the W. But Frecentese said he’s not worried about any confusion. He said most people have recognized right away that BRK stands for the Berkshires — although, he acknowledged, “One guy in North Adams thought it stood for Brooklyn.” He said one customer in the Arcadian Shop in Lenox saw the stickers when he was trying to promote them and said, “Hey, that’s a great idea. Can I buy one off you right now?” Frecentese said he’s selling the stickers at just a little over cost. Most stores are selling them in the $2 to $2.50 range. “This is not about making a profit; it’s more an idea of community pride,” Frecentese said. “I think the more people know what it is and the more it is seen, the more it will catch on.” As of this week, the stickers were available at Saddleback Trading Post in North Adams, Housatonic River Outfitters, Dan’s Co-op Market and Bev’s in Great Barrington; the Arcadian Shop and Homer’s Variety in Lenox, among other stores. They of course also found a home in the South Egremont Country Store. Frecentese said he’s working on bigger fish — including the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and the Berkshire Visitors Bureau. Anyone business or agency that would like the stickers may contact him at BRK Decal, P.O. Box 613, North Egremont MA 01252 or e-mail BRKdecal@yahoo.com.
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Lanesborough Fifth-Graders Win Snowplow Name Contest

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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