Bonnie Lea Instructor Becomes Certified Trainer

11:08AM / Friday, March 15, 2019Print Story | Email Story

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Lisa DeMayo of Bonnie Lea Farm has become a United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) certified trainer.

This title is obtained through equine professional recommendations, Safe Sport Training, continuing education and examination.

This USHJA certification formalizes DeMayo's years of experience in instruction, riding and training. She obtained her Massachusetts’ Riding Instructor License at 16 years old. With more than 50 foals born at Bonnie Lea Farm, she has a vast experience with training young horses and also retrains older horses. Over the years, she has ridden in clinics and lessons with George Morris, Frank Madden, Rodney Jenkins, Greg Best, Julie Winkel, Leann Kelly, Tom Curtain and Dan Kelly.

A graduate of Boston College's School Of Education, DeMayo believes strongly in continuing education. She is a Massachusetts certified animal control officer and a graduate of the Streetwise MBA program through Interise, Boston University.

Her riding students range in age from 6 years old to over 80 and she is also the coach of the Williams Equestrian Team. Her students have different goals with some competing and some riding for pleasure. The common traits among her riders include a passion for horses, proper equitation and safety, and horsemanship. She reminds her riders that "every ride is a training ride and we must remember to care for the horses before ourselves. The trust and respect created between horse and rider is the backbone to developing as an equestrian, no matter the discipline."

DeMayo offers lessons, leasing training, boarding, clinics, shows and summer programs at Bonnie Lea Farm. For more information, visit the website.

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AG Clears Williamstown Select Board in Open Meeting Complaint

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
04:56PM / Wednesday, November 04, 2026

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Attorney General's Office on Wednesday cleared the Select Board in an Open Meeting Law complaint filed by iBerkshires.com while simultaneously confirming the supposition at the heart of the complaint.

The AGO found that the board did technically violate the OML when it moved to executive session on May 11, a misstep the board previously acknowledged in its response to the complaint.

The meeting in question was held behind closed doors to discuss the town's response to a proposal from Williams College to acquire the former town garage site at 59 Water St.

At the time of the May 11 meeting, the board had held no public discussion, let alone a vote, on whether to enter into negotiations with Williams, the lone respondent to a request for proposals issued by the town for the 1.27-acre parcel.

The board cited an exception to the Open Meeting Law that states executive sessions are appropriate if, "holding the discussion in open session may have a detrimental effect on the Board's negotiating position."

iBerkshires.com maintained in its complaint that the executive session was premature given the fact that the board on May 11 had no one to negotiate with as it had not agreed — publicly — to negotiate with the college.

The news organization cited the fact that the town's RFP clearly indicated a multi-step process in which the board first would decide whether to engage with any of the respondents (assuming multiple bids were made) and then enter into negotiation with one of the respondents.

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