MCLA Seeks New Mascot

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is seeking input and ideas from everyone in the College community – students, alumni, faculty, staff and fans throughout the Berkshires and beyond – as it looks for a mascot to represent the Trailblazers.

The new mascot will join the existing Trailblazer name and logo to represent MCLA, especially its athletics programs. The community is invited to submit their suggestions for who the Trailblazer mascot should be and what it should look like, until the end of the month.

According to Scott Nichols, MCLA’s director of athletics, “We have been talking about having a mascot that would complement the nickname ‘Trailblazers’ ever since we changed the nickname. The idea is to have something we can have some fun with at games and other events like the fall foliage parade and camps and clinics. Hopefully, we can get a mascot that we can dress up and create some excitement with.”

MCLA adopted the “Trailblazer” name in 2002, in reference to connections to the historic and recreational trails in the North Adams area, such as the African-American Heritage Trail, Appalachian Trail, Long Trail, Mohawk Trail, Molly Stark Trail, Taconic Trail and the Mount Greylock trail system.

“To have an actual ‘face’ represent this College is pretty exciting,” said Jackie Nash, one of six students on the committee heading up the search for the mascot. Also a member of the women’s soccer team and a student leader on campus, she said a lot of students have been talking about who the new mascot should be.

“There have been a couple of different ideas thrown around, and people are getting pretty creative,” Nash said.


One of the earliest mascots was “Stacey,” a doll that represented the College in 1940. Later in the ’40s, the College used the name of “Gremlins.” The College used the nickname the “Professors” from the 1950s to 1963.

In 1963, North Adams State College adopted the name "Mohawks," which remained in place until 2002, when it was determined to cease the use of the Mohawk name to bring MCLA in line with the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) emerging policy to limit the use of Native American mascots, nicknames and imagery.

The mascot committee will meet in April to go over the suggestions before the ideas are passed along to the President’s Athletic Advisory Council (PAAC), which will make the final decision. Fans will meet MCLA’s new mascot in October, at Midnight Madness, the traditional start of the College’s basketball season.

To suggest a mascot, send an email to mascot@mcla.edu by the end of March. For more information, go to www.mcla.edu/mascot.
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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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