image description — A truckload of nonperishable food and personal care items is delivered to the Al Nelson Food Pantry on Monday morning. Assistant Superintendent Timothy Callahan, left, helps with the boxes.

North Adams Delivers Donations from Annual Food Drive

By Brian RhodesiBerkshires Staff
02:06PM / Monday, December 19, 2022Print Story | Email Story

Collection boxes are put out in municipal buildings and facilities each year to gather goods for the annual holiday food drive. Assistant to the Superintendent Bobbi Tassone, Assistant Superintendent Timothy Callahan and school facilities manager Robert Flaherty helped with the delivery.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city delivered several boxes filled with food, personal care and other essential items to Eagle Street on Monday, all of which were donated as part of this year's annual food drive.

This year's drive worked to re-stock the shelves of the Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative's Al Nelson Friendship Center Food Pantry, located at 43 Eagle St. City workers, as well as Timothy Callahan, assistant superintendent of North Adams Public Schools, came to deliver the items.

Rich Davis, the food coordinator for the pantry, thanked the city and the community for helping to keep the pantry filled.

"It's just nice to see the community out there helping to support those who are not as fortunate," he said. "... we certainly appreciate the support of the community. Not just at this time, but all year round."

The Food Pantry is encouraging donations such as: tuna; peanut butter; brown rice; whole wheat pasta; pasta sauce; low sodium canned vegetables (e.g. potatoes, green beans, carrots); low sodium soups; whole grain cereals (low sugar) and/or oatmeal; canned fruits (no sugar added); and beans (e.g. kidney beans and garbanzo beans). In addition, personal care items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, and shampoo were also included.

"Some of the items that we will get in today is stuff that we may carry on a regular basis, but a lot of items are not," 'Davis said. "So that gives us a little variety for us to offer to our friends, too."

The annual food drive is one way items come to the food bank, in addition to contributions from the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, individuals, local supermarkets and businesses. Drop-off boxes were available throughout the city for residents to donate and collections were taken up in city departments, which Davis said helps the pantry get donations it may not have otherwise received.

This year's donations weighed in at 525 pounds, Davis said later.

"This here gives a greater number of individuals, who may not have time to do it, just on their own, but they can bring it to their work and have the city bring it into us," he said.

Tags: food drive, food pantry,

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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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