Elks Lodge Donates Gift Cards For North Berkshire Veterans

The Veterans Services Office in North Adams is assembling goodie bags to give to the region's veterans.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The service of military veterans never ends, from long-term health and wellness struggles to giving back to the community in roles like firefighting or law enforcement.

Nowhere is that more evident than with Tony Sacco, a Vietnam veteran who spends much of his time raising money to give back to other North Berkshire veterans through his role with the North Adams Elks Lodge.

Sacco on Monday morning presented a stack of Walmart and Ocean State Job Lot gift cards to the Veterans Services Office in City Hall. He was joined by Allyson Lavigne, the exalted ruler of the Elks Lodge, her son Paul, and fellow Elks Lodge member Steve Haskins.

The Walmart cards were purchased with money money raised at bingo and Texas hold 'em tournaments, Sacco said.

"We came up this year with $1,040," he said.

The Ocean State cards were the product of a promotion the national chain store had run, during which anyone donating $40 to purchase a coat for a veteran would receive a $40 Ocean State gift card back. The Elks were able to purchase 13 coats and receive 13 gift cards in return.

Cost, Access to NBCTC High Among Concerns North Berkshire Residents

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
06:15PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Adams Select Chair Christine Hoyt, NBCTC Executive Director David Fabiano and William Solomon, the attorney representing the four communities, talk after the session. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Public access channels should be supported and made more available to the public — and not be subject to a charge.

 

More than three dozen community members in-person and online attended the public hearing  Wednesday on public access and service from Spectrum/Charter Communications. The session at City Hall was held for residents in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg and North Adams to express their concerns to Spectrum ahead of another 10-year contract that starts in October.

 

Listening via Zoom but not speaking was Jennifer Young, director state government affairs at Charter.

 

One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly. 

 

"I don't know if everybody else feels the same way but they have a monopoly," said Clarksburg resident David Emery. "They control everything we do because there's nobody else to go to. You're stuck with with them."

 

Public access television, like the 30-year-old Northern Berkshire Community Television, is funded by cable television companies through franchise fees, member fees, grants and contributions.

 

Spectrum is the only cable provider in the region and while residents can shift to satellite providers or streaming, Northern Berkshire Community Television is not available on those alternatives and they may not be easy for some to navigate. For instance, the Spectrum app is available on smart televisions but it doesn't include PEG, the public, educational and governmental channels provided by NBCTC.