Big Brothers Big Sisters Appoints New Board Members

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New Leaders Brings Diverse Experience of Helping Others 

Pittsfield, Mass. – Big Brother Big Sisters of Berkshire County is proud to announce three new members to the Board of Directors: Deanna Schuster, Mary Beth Larrow, and Nicholas Grizey.

Mike Monti, President of the Board of Directors said, “We are pleased to welcome three, outstanding local people to the board and look forward to working with them. They bring passion, experience and an enthusiasm to the team. In addition to their organizational and leadership skills, they also bring a genuine love and concern for the residents of Berkshire County - both children and adults alike.”

Deanna Schuster is office manager for Ascentek, Inc., a Pittsfield-based company specializing in IT support, network design, and network security services for local businesses.

She came to Pittsfield in 2006 after graduating in 2005 from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Schuster is a member of the Berkshire Leadership Program (BLP) and the Berkshire Business and Professional Women (BBPW) organization.

In addition, she is currently working with members of the community as part of the Youth Leadership Task Force Committee to develop a youth leadership program for high-school students in Berkshire County.

Schuster lives with her husband Josh and their chocolate lab, Hershey, in Pittsfield.

Mary Beth Larrow is the Executive Assistant to the President of the Berkshire Economic Development Corporation (BEDC). The BEDC facilitates, coordinates and leads countywide economic development efforts designed to attract and retain high quality employers and employees and strengthen the economy of the Berkshires.

A November 2008 graduate of the Berkshire Leadership Program, Larrow’s community involvement includes recently co-chairing the Berkshire Employment Outlook Committee and serving on the Berkshire Academies Mentor Program committee.  She sits on the Board of Directors for the Berkshire Academies.

Larrow has two sons. Brian is a graduate of the University of San Diego and teaches English in Xi’an, China. Daniel, a senior at Springfield College, will graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise Science and plans to complete his required internship at the University of Australia - Sydney. 
Nicholas Grizey serves as Assistant Vice President of Branch Operations at Legacy Banks. In this capacity, he directs the operating functions of a network of 17 branch offices in Massachusetts and New York as well as the Customer Service Call Center.

Grizey joined Legacy in 2004 as a branch administration analyst. He has since been promoted to branch operations manager and most recently branch operations officer.

Grizey holds a B.A. in finance and operations management with dual concentrations in investment and corporate finance from The University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He is also an M.B.A. candidate with UMass, Amherst.
      
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Berkshire County has been serving children in Berkshire County since 1969, starting out as Big Brothers of Pittsfield, then in 1987 as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. The Mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Berkshire County is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with measurable outcomes. Big Brothers Big Sisters is the only nationally affiliated agency in Berkshire County whose mission is solely devoted to mentoring.
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.

Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.

The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.

Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is  appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.

Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.

Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.

Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.

The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.

The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.

Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.

Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years. 

He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.

Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.

Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve  a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.

Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.

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