Mass, Vt. Voters Select Presidential Candidates Tuesday

Staff ReportsiBerkshires
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Voters in Massachusetts and Vermont will be heading to the polls on Tuesday to cast ballots in the presidential primaries. 
 
Super Tuesday includes voting in 15 states that will apportion about a third of all delegates to the primary winners. New York State and Connecticut vote on April 2.
 
Massachusetts is a partially open primary in that voters who are enrolled in a party can only vote in that primary but unenrolled voters can choose a Democratic, Libertarian or Republican ballot. Vermont is an open primary state and voters can choose which primary to vote in regardless of party enrollment. 
 
Early voting in Massachusetts opened on Feb. 21 and Secretary of State William Galvin said more than 700,000 voters had requested mail-in ballots within the first week of early voting. As of Monday, more than 50,000 people had voted in person.
 
The Democratic primary has incumbent Joseph J. Biden Jr., Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips and author and speaker Marianne Williamson on the ballot. Biden has 206 delegates and his opponents none. 
 
The Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire District will also vote for State Committee Man and Woman. These are party representatives from each of the state's 40 senatorial districts who vote at the state convention. 
 
Sherwood Guernsey II of Williamstown is running for re-election as committee man unopposed and Marietta Rose Rapetti Cawse and Megan Elise Arvin, both of Pittsfield, are vying for committee woman.
 
The Republican ballot has seven presidential candidates though all but two have dropped out: Donald Trump and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley. Trump currently has 244 delegates to her 43. 
 
Still on the ballot but out of the running are Chris Christie, Ryan Binkley, Vivek Ramaswamy (three delegates), Asa Hutchinson and Ron DeSantis (nine delegates).
 
Running unopposed for State Committee Man and Woman are Nicholas A. Boldyga and Jessica L. Boldyga, both of Southwick.
 
The Libertarian ballot has Jacob George Hornberger of Virginia, Michael D. Rectenwald of Pittsburgh, Chase Russell Oliver of Georgia, Michael ter Maat of Virginia and Lars Damian Mapstead of California. There are no candidates for party committee representatives. 
 
All three ballots also offer "no preference" for presidential candidates and voting for town and city party representatives.
 
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; find your local polling station here

Tags: election 2024,   primary,   

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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.

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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