Hillcrest Commons Employee Wins CAPE Award

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Elzbieta Szymczakiewicz of Hillcrest Commons (HCC) wins C.A.P.E Award from Cintas Corporation. In photo from left to right: Delores Duncan, HCC Administrator, Elzbieta Szymczakiewicz, HCC Facilities Manager, Jim Crowley, CINTAS Corporation Healthcare Major Account Manager and Rosalee Lampro, HCC Assistant Administrator.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hillcrest Commons Facility Manager Elzbieta Szymczakiewicz and her team were recognized Friday by Cintas Corporation with the Cleaning to Advance the Patient Experience (CAPE) Award.  
 
"Elzbieta and her team are a vital part of our facility and our war against a virus that could be devastating to our population," Rosalee Lampro, Hillcrest Commons Assistant Administrator said. "Her commitment to excellence has played a huge part in helping to be on the winning side of that war so far and we are grateful that she is part of the Hillcrest Commons team." 
 
Szymczakiewicz was one of only eight recipients who were chosen from nearly 700 stories submitted about Environmental Services (EVS) technicians from facilities across the country. 
 
Each contest award winner was given $2,500 and another $2,500 donation to the non-profit organization or charity of their choice. Szymczakiewicz is donating the winnings back to Hillcrest Commons to invest in needed equipment. 
 
The award program was created to celebrate EVS technicians.
 
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Toy Library Installed at Onota Lake

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Feel free to use or leave a toy at Onota Lake's newest infrastructure meant to foster community and benefit kids.

Burbank Park now has a toy library thanks to Wahconah Regional High School senior Alexandra Bills. Located along the wall at the beach area, the green and blue structure features two shelves with sand toys that can be used to enhance children's visits.

The Parks Commission supported Bills' proposal in February as part of her National Honors Society individual service project and it was installed this month. Measuring about 4 feet wide and 5.8 feet tall, it was built by the student and her father with donated materials from a local lumber company.

Friends and family members provided toys to fill the library such as pails, shovels, Frisbees, and trucks.

"I wanted to create a toy library like the other examples in Berkshire County from the sled library to the book libraries," she told the commission in February.

"But I wanted to make it toys for Onota Lake because a lot of kids forget their toys or some kids can't afford toys."

Bills lives nearby and will check on the library weekly — if not daily — to ensure the operation is running smoothly.  A sign reading "Borrow-Play-Return" asks community members to clean up after themselves after using the toys.

It was built to accommodate children's heights and will be stored during the winter season.

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