Newsletter for the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce August 2002
www.greatbarrington.org
Keep Flags Flying
You may have noticed lots of red, white and blue lately on Route 7 in Great Barrington between Domaney's and Guido's. The American flags that have been planned for so long are finally flying! Watch for them along State Road in the weeks to come. Also watch for them along Stockbridge Road courtesy of the Stockbridge Road Association.
The Chamber hopes to extend these symbols of our country onto as many of our South County Main Streets as we can, but we NEED YOUR HELP!
Donations of any size are needed now to help defray the costs of these flags. Each flag carries a cost of over $51.00 including hardware. To date the Chamber has purchased 70, about a third of which are paid for, and all of which are being placed in Great Barrington.
In order to pay for the remaining flags, and to extend the colors to neighboring villages and towns we are accepting donations of any size.
Donations have already been received from the Great Barrington Police Association, Gt. Barrington Rotary Club, Knights of Columbus, Birdhouse Gallery, Tune Street, The Berkshire Eagle, H.S. Andrews Insurance, Mama's Earth, Gorham & Norton, Emporium Antiques, Hillside Restaurant, Evergreen and Brig. General Walter Winton.
Please help us pay for the flags and to purchase more.
In addition, we're very grateful to Berkshire South Regional Community Center for allowing us to have them delivered to their new center and for giving us the space to assemble them.
We're also extremely grateful to Ted Piontek of Piontek Electrical Contracting for the donation of his time and his bucket truck, and to Richard Stanley for his time in helping to install the flags.
We are pleased to welcome these new members. Be sure to keep them in mind.
Sarah Jackson, 1352 Hartsville Mill River Rd, New Marlborough, 01230, Sarah Jackson, 528-0239, Psychotherapist
Lakeside Terrace B&B, 24 Lakeside Terrace, Lake Garfield, Monterey, 01245, Catherine McLean, 528-3371, Lodging
Massage & Spa Treatments at Lakeside Terrace, 24 Lakeside Terrace, Lake Garfield, Monterey, 01245, Catherine McLean, 528-3371, Massage
Wind in the Pines, 949 South Main Street, Great Barrington, 01230, Robert Hatch, 528-3840, Lodging
Creative Building Solutions, 410 Park Street, Housatonic, 01236, Sally Marsh, 274-6084, Building contractors
Sheffield Plastics, a Bayer Company, 119 Salisbury Road, Sheffield, 01257, Linda Berard, 229-8711, Manufacturing
Berkshire School of Highland Dance, 426 Park Street, Housatonic, 01236; Maria Josenhans, Dance Instruction
Millkey Hardwoods Inc., Blue Hill Road, Monterey, 01245, Debra Mielke, 644-8926, Building materials
Community Notes
Linda Small wins Community Leadership Award
Linda Small, Executive Director of Children's Health Program was awarded the 2002 Community Leadership Award on June 18th in Boston for her work in promoting affordable healthcare in Berkshire County. The award "For the People, Against the Tide" was sponsored by state-wide organization Health Care for All, whose goal is to create a health care system that is responsive to the needs of all people.
Wendy Linscott, President of the CHP board, introduced Linda saying "Linda has worked tirelessly for over 27 years to improve the lives of the people in South Berkshire. She is a resource of incalculable value to all of us."
Congratulations Linda!
McCormick, Murtagh, Marcus & Smith names new Associate
Paula Almgren became an associate attorney in June 2002 with McCormick, Murtagh, Marcus & Smith, a law firm offering expertise in estate planning and administration, elder law, real estate, commercial law, corporate law, municipal law, zoning and land use law. They are located at the William Cullen Bryant House, 390 Main Street in Great Barrington.
Almgren concentrates in elder law, estate planning and administration and real estate law. Prior to joining McCormick, Murtagh, Marcus & Smith, she was an associate with Grinnell, Dubendorf & Smith of Williamstown.
She is a 1992 graduate of Williams College, and received her law degree from Albany Law School of Union University in Albany in 1995.
Business After Hours
You're invited to attend the next Business After Hours networking event on Thursday, August 8th from 5:30 to 7:30 PM.
Hudson's Restaurant, located at 50 Stockbridge Rd., Gt. Barring-ton, is our host this month. Owner Cindy Brown is pleased to open her doors and lawn to you to share all the wonderful things she and husband/chef Geoff Brown offer daily.
As always there will be complimentary refreshments for all, this time created by two Culinary Institute of America trained chefs.
Bring your business cards to share ... you never know who you might want to share them with!
Two special speakers will join us briefly. Amy Cotler of Berkshire Grown, of which Hudson's is a member, and Barbara Manring of Construct, Inc.
RSVP by Monday August 5th to sbcoc@bcn.net or 413-528-1510.
Next month is at Wainwright Inn on Thursday, September 12th. Reserve the date!
Nominations Being Accepted for Most Improved Business Exterior
Last year the Wainwright Inn closely edged out Iredale Mineral Cosmetics for the award for the business with the most improved exterior.
Iredale has once again been nominated for this year. They have some enthusiastic supporters!
Now is the time to take a look around and see who's doing what to their places. Send your nominations (or nominate yourself) to Sharon at sbcoc@bcn.net or call 528-4284. The winner will be announced at the annual dinner/dance on Saturday, November 2nd at Seven Hills Inn.
Be sure to mark these important dates in your calendar today!
Tuesday, August 6th, Half way point of summer
Thursday, August 8th, Business After Hours at Hudson's Restaurant, 5:30 - 7:30. RSVP sbcoc@bcn.net or 528-1510.
Thursday, August 8th, Board of Directors meeting - Berkshire Bank - 11:45 AM.
Thursday, August 8th, Sneak some zucchini onto your neighbor's porch night
August 9 - 13, Perseid Meteor Showers
August 9, 10 & 11, Craft Fair at Monument Mountain High School
August 9, 10 & 11, Berkshire Mountain Music Festival (Berkfest) at Ski Butternut
Thursday, August 15, National Relaxation Day
August 24 & 25, Berkshire Jazz Festival at Ski Butternut
Thursday, August 22, Full Moon
Lodging Members:
Don't forget!
1) Put surveys in your rooms
2) Get the completed ones to Joy
3) Keep Joy informed of your available rooms - 528-4006
Homelessness ... Here?
Homelessness, often thought of as an urban issue, has been a community concern in the rural southern Berkshires since the late 1980s. As many as 500 households will find themselves at serious risk in this coming year because of the housing shortage and state budgetary cuts to many public assistance programs.
Contrary to what we may think, most heads of these households are hard working at one, two and sometimes even three jobs in our local businesses. But when housing costs are high and housing is at such a shortage, an unforeseen financial expense or a landlord wanting to take the apartment back for his/her own use can send a family spiraling downward in a cycle of homeless-ness that is difficult to break.
Homelessness notwithstanding, a chronic housing shortage affects our community in other ways. The lack of affordable housing is stifling Berkshire economic growth. Zero vacancy rates and high cost housing are driving out the workforce that employers need to operate and expand businesses.
Construct, Inc. provides comprehensive housing services, transitional shelter and permanent affordable housing to persons of low to moderate income in our region. In 2001 we served more than 450 different families and individuals at risk with their housing. We also provide adult education and life skills, budget counseling, and make small loans to homeowners who can't afford to make home improvements. Last year, 12 of our adult learners obtained their GED and 4 went on to college, transitioning from homelessness to the Pratt Institute or UMass!
We depend upon the generosity of the local community for program support. Each year our Walk For the Homeless raises up to $35,000. This money is used to directly assist households in crisis. Local businesses can help in a variety of ways:
A contribution to underwrite our advertising campaign
A donation of food, service or other supplies needed for the Walk.
Sponsoring an employee's Walk
Matching their employees'
Sponsor-contributions
Our Annual Fall Walk For the Homeless will take place on September 29 from Monument Mountain Regional High School to the First Congregational Church in Stockbridge. For more information, please call Construct, Inc. at 413-528-1985. Please join us.
Cara Davis
Berkshire Chamber accepting nominations for
2002 Esther Quinn Award
Call 413-499-4000 for nomination forms. Completed applications will be accepted at the Southern Berkshire Chamber at 40 Railroad Street, #1A, no later than 4 PM on Monday, October 1, 2002.
Who is a candidate? Any member of the Berkshire Community who has been involved in several volunteer efforts. A "people" person who shows enthusiasm, empathy and effort in making the Berkshires a better place to live & work.
AAA, 4-Diamond Rating!
The Old Inn on the Green in New Marlborough was awarded AAA's Four Diamond Award rating for 2002. This is the second consecutive year they have been given this award. They're in very good company here in the Berkshires, with the Orchards and Yasmin Restaurant in Williamstown and Blantyre and Wheatleigh in Lenox.
Congratulations!!!
Make a point to patronize the businesses that advertise in the paper version of this newsletter. They are:
All Caring Animal Center
Berkshire Opera
Bill's Pharmacy
Kwik Print
Prospect Marketing
Southern Berkshire
Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 810
Great Barrington, MA 01230-0810
413-528-4284, fax 413-528-2200
Sharon Palma, Executive Director
sbcoc@bcn.net
Diana Harwood, Admin. Assistant
www.greatbarrington.org
Visitor's Center: 362 Main Street
413-528-1510, fax 413-528-6062
Lodging hotline 528-4006
Joy Lyon, Manager
vcenter@bcn.net
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
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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.
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.
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.
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