VH1 Radio Host to Welcome MCLA Class of 2012

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Maria Chambers
NORTH ADAMS — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts will welcome back alum and MTV Networks radio director Maria Chambers as this year's convocation keynote speaker.

She will speak to the class of 2012 at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at the Church Street Center. The event is open to the public.

Chambers, who graduated from what was then known as North Adams State College in 1991, began as an afternoon disc jockey before becoming one of the first women to host a morning radio show. She's hosted morning shows on WEQX in Albany, N.Y., and later for WLIR on Long Island, N.Y., broadcasting to New York City, New Jersey and Connecticut.

She'd planned to return home to the Boston area but in 1999 was offered the premiere hosting spot of VH1@Work, VH1's online radio station. Since then, she's risen through the ranks of MTV Networks, taking on the role of program director to launch VH1's Satellite Radio station, which was carried on XM radio for four years.

Chambers was the on-air host for VH1 and Westwood One's live broadcast of "The Concert for New York City," carried in every major market nationwide, in more than 13 countries, online and on Armed Forces Radio. She is in
charge of developing radio programming for several MTVN brands, and hosts VH1’s nationally syndicated "Best Week Ever" radio program.

On television, she narrated VH1's "Don't Quote Me" for two full seasons, and made appearances on several VH1 shows, including "100 Awesomely Bad Diirty Songs," "VH1's Top 20 Countdown" and its top 40 year-end
countdown shows.

Chambers has ventured outside radio with a recurring role as a reporter on the ABC soap opera "All My Children" and is the character voice of DJ Toni for the "Grand Theft Auto" video game series, including the latest "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories."


Chambers is the first in a series of speakers scheduled at the college this year. She will be followed as part of "First Days" events by writer and musician James McBride on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m. in the Church Street Center. McBride, writer-in-residence at New York University, will discuss his memoir, "The Color of Water." The saxophonist and composer also will perform with this band.

The Vadnais Lecture on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m. in Murdock Hall Conference Room 218 will be given by Scott Weidensaul, author of more than two dozen books on natural history, including Pulitzer Prize finalist "Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory Birds."

The Hardman Lecture Series, held in the Church Street Center, includes columnist and commentator David Brooks on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. and former vice presidential and presidential candidate John Edwards on Thursday, Nov. 22, also at 7.

The academic convocation on Sept. 2 is open to the public. First-year students, staff, faculty and administrators will take part in a convocation processional and recessional through the campus' symbolic gates on Church Street. MCLA's gates only are opened twice each year — to welcome new students during convocation and at commencement as graduates conclude their academic careers.

For more information, contact the office of academic affairs, 413-662-5242.


 
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

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