image description — Richard Alcombright, Al Nelson and Christine Hoyt were honored at the Northern Berkshire United Way's first annual Spirit of Caring Awards & Celebration.

Northern Berkshire United Way Celebrates Spirit of Caring and Celebration

03:16PM / Wednesday, May 23, 2018Print Story | Email Story

Mary-Kay Senecal and Cindy Brightly of Crane Stationery received the Outstanding Campaign Coordinators of the Year Award.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Northern Berkshire United Way held its first annual Spirit of Caring Awards & Celebration on Thursday, May 17, recognizing three individuals in the community for their length and breadth of service to Northern Berkshire United Way, its network, and the overall Northern Berkshire community: Alan Nelson, Richard Alcombright, and Christine Hoyt.

With more than150 guests in attendance to celebrate, James Birge, president of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, opened the program with a welcome before the awards ceremony. Jason Dohaney, board president, thanked all in attendance and the sponsors for attending the inaugural event, which will raise funds for the community.

Christa Collier, executive director of NBUW, opened the awards presentation. Hoyt was presented the Spirit of the Future Award. As a former member agency board member and community leader, "Christine was an instant choice for this award. She is not only an active and involved community member and selectperson but she understands the member agency perspective," Collier said.

Hoyt is assistant to the dean at Berkshire Community College and a former director of events and programs at the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce. She has been a member of the board of Youth Center Inc. and Pro Adams and is serving her first term on the Adams Board of Selectmen.

Alcombright, former mayor of the city of North Adams, was presented the Spirit of Community Award for his years of dedication as a former Northern Berkshire United Way and member agency board member.

"Dick truly cares, listens and understands the issues facing the member agencies and our community. He has been in the corner for each one of the community issues we face and we are all glad he will still represent the community in his new role at MountainOne," Collier said.

Alcombright has a long career in banking, to which he returned after four terms as mayor, and has been a member of numerous boards and commissions, including a regional task force on opioid abuse.

Nelson was presented with the first annual Al Nelson Spirit of Caring Award, named after him for his years of dedicated service as former NBUW executive leadership member from 1981-1996. Since his retirement, he has continued to stay actively involved with NBUW projects and member agency boards, as well as spearheading programs in the community such as the Friendship Center Food Pantry.

"Al is still pounding the pavement trying to help the most vulnerable people be served with dignity and respect," Collier said.

Following the awards presentation, a video produced by Keith Foreman titled "Securing the Safety Net in Northern Berkshire" was shown. This video focused on NBUW's obligation to the community to fund member agencies that provide emergency and crisis programs. In addition to providing funding to member agencies that provide health, education and financial stability programs, NBUW is committed to provide funding in the area of safety net services. In order to illustrate this work, NBUW set out to produce this video to showcase the crucial work and need for this work in the community to show the impact on agencies that support the most vulnerable in our community, from the lens of the member agency leadership.

Ellen Sutherland, NBUW board member and vice president of campaign, presented the Outstanding Campaign Coordinators of the Year Award to Mary-Kay Senecal and Cindy Brightly of Crane Stationery to round out the celebration. During their time as campaign coordinators, Senecal and Brightly have increased their campaign and made it fun in the process, educating their employees about what NBUW does in the community, Sutherland said.

"This is not just about what our honorees have done for our agency. This night is about celebrating what they and what we all do to improve our community. Our honorees do the work they do, without expectation of recognition, but we want to recognize that their contributions have contributed greatly to the well-being of our community," Collier said.

The event was held at MCLA's Church Street Center.

Tags: NBUW, recognition event,

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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
12:37PM / Wednesday, December 24, 2025

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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