Market 32 Raises Funds to Benefit Muscular Dystrophy Association

03:51PM / Saturday, April 13, 2024Print Story | Email Story

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Price Chopper and Market 32 customers and teammates raised $182,990 to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) during its annual March fundraiser where customers were encouraged to round up their change at the register.

Combined with a $10,000 corporate match, the total gift of $192,990.36 -- nearly $78,000 more than last year's campaign -- directly benefits MDA's mission to empower the people they serve to live longer, more independent lives.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is committed to saving and improving the lives of kids and adults living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related life-threatening neuromuscular diseases that take away physical strength and mobility. MDA specializes in providing funding for research, improving access to advanced care and resource centers, offering educational programs for the community, clinicians and specialists, and advocating for policies and programs that support families with neuromuscular diseases.

Over the past 40 years, Price Chopper/Market 32 has raised nearly $31 million for MDA through various events and campaigns.

"Our company, customers, and teammates are committed to our communities," said Pam Cerrone, Price Chopper/Market 32's director of community relations. "We're thrilled with these results and proud to be able to support MDA's research efforts and provision of care and assistance to children and adults who are impacted by muscular dystrophy and other related diseases."

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Pittsfield Schools Schedule Morningside, Budget Hearings This Week

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:23AM / Monday, April 06, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee will hold another public hearing for the potential closure of Morningside Community School.

On Thursday, April 9, at 6 p.m., community members will have the chance to give feedback in the Reid Middle School library. Last month, the Pittsfield Public Schools announced the possible closure of Morningside, which serves elementary grades, for the 2026-2027 school year and redistribution of its students to other city schools.

In the last couple of weeks, the district has solicited input from employees and community members through meetings at the school.

Morningside Community School was built in the mid-1970s with an open classroom concept. Morningside serves about 374 students and has a 7 percent accountability score, outperformed by 93 percent of the state.

For fiscal year 2027, the district has allocated about $5.2 million for the school. The committee has also requested a version of the proposed $87.2 million district budget with Morningside closed.

Pittsfield has another open concept school, Conte Community School, that is planned to consolidate with Crosby Elementary School, and possibly Stearns Elementary School, in a new building on the Crosby site by 2030. The status of the project's owner's project manager will be discussed on Tuesday, April 7, at 5 p.m. at Taconic High School during the School Building Needs Commission meeting.

That leaves the school officials wondering if Morningside students could have better educational outcomes if resources followed them to other nearby schools. Interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips has stressed that a decision has not yet been made.

Considerations for the school’s closure include: The feasibility of the facility to provide a conducive teaching and learning environment with an open campus design, the funding allocation needed to ensure Morningside students can have equitable learning opportunities, and declining enrollment across Pittsfield elementary schools.