Now pinch-hitting for Ralph Renzi

12:00AM / Wednesday, September 11, 2002Print Story | Email Story

Just before I left Williamstown two weeks ago for the sunny climes of NYC I ran into Ralph and Helen Renzi at a party. Ralph said to me "I have a favor to ask of you, Michael" and before I even bothered to listen (note to self: listen, first and answer, second) I replied "Whatever it is Ralph, the answer is YES!" When Ralph told me that the favor meant guest-writing his weekly column I literally begged for time to reverse itself so that I could draw that resounding "YES" back into my throat where it belonged. But all my wishing was for naught. You know, it all looks so easy, Ralph. Every Wednesday, a new column filled with local news, gossip, and opinions. As if it flows right off the typewriter and into print. But to sit down and actually write one, as I am doing now, has caused me to suffer a tremendous case of horripilation. AddAWAW â€” Horripilation: [haw rippi laysh'n] noun: the standing on end of somebody's hair because of fear or cold. ... For the past twelve years I have spent the three summer months in Williamstown and the remaining nine in NYC. Pretty much the best of all words, if you ask me. But one does become used to certain regional pleasures and the shift from one to the other always brings a mixture of loss and renewal as you leave behind old pleasures and rediscover the new. For instance, I am already missing the Red Sox on the radio, Polar Orange Dry, Stateline Potato Chips, Jack's Double Cheeseburger, the Hairpin Turn (has there ever been a more exciting turn in the continental U.S.?) and the Philly Cheesesteak omelet at the Blue Benn. On the other hand, my return to NYC has led me to experience again the distinct pleasures of jaywalking, Cuban/Indian/Vietnamese/Greek/Portuguese food delivery, mass transit, air conditioning and the panorama of nut-jobs who wander the streets here. In both places the merits are many, the negatives few. Right now though, I wish NYC smelled just a little bit more like Williamstown. ... I may be showing my age here, but lately my idea of a "wild" night is to have a cup of coffee and an Excedrin PM and let 'em fight it out. I got more than a little bit of Belushi in me. ... In the great Williamstown Pizza Wars (Colonial vs. Hot Tomatoes) I am firmly, steadily, unequivocally in the Colonial camp and I don't care who knows it. My wife, on the other hand, starts talking about Hot Tomatoes before we even reach the Taconic on our way up there. We argue incessantly about the relative merits of each. And we wonder why our kids think we are a couple of boring old farts. ... Again, this may be age (and maybe the slightest whiff of misogyny) but I don't like tattoos on women. Get them if you've got to, but please just put them where I won't ever see them. In fact, the last good tattoo I saw was on my Uncle Flipper (yep, that was his name) who had "sweet" and "sour" printed over his nipples. Always drew admiring glances from the ladies on the Boardwalk at Hampton Beach. Well, maybe "admiring" is too strong a word. ... A local scribe, who shall remain nameless, would lead you to believe that the "pitch count" is the death of baseball, as we know it. Let me go on record as saying that I am firmly in favor of the pitch count. I think it has brought the same level of excitement to the game as the home run and the stolen base. In fact, I think our fair friend over at The Transcript might just be a little anti-American for even thinking there was anything wrong with counting things. Next thing you know, he'll be saying that soccer is an exciting game. ... While we are on the subject of baseball, what do you think the Vegas odds are that a Red Sox player will utter the phrase "We got to win one game at a time" sometime in the next week? I wouldn't put it higher than 2-1. You can file this one under "I" for "Idiot": For years now I have been getting my car washed in North Adams. Right above the entry to the carwash is a sign that says "No pick-ups". Every time I've gone there for at least five years I have wondered what kind of person would pick-up another (and why) right before they got their car washed. I struggled to make sense of the idea. I thought maybe there was some bizarre carwash, hitchhiking cult out there. It wasn't until my last trip there that I realized they were talking about trucks. I really wish I had made that one up, but (sadly) it's the truth. And now for a completely shameless plug: The non-profit Williamstown Theatre Festival will be holding its annual fall benefit on Sunday, Oct. 27 at the Essex House Hotel in NYC. This year's event is a tribute to noted playwright A.R. "Pete" Gurney, who began his career as a student at Williams College and who has been represented many times on WTF's stages. Benefit co-chairs are Jay and Fredda Harris and Ted and Betsy Taylor. The Honorary Chair and hostess for the evening is the fabled actress Mary Tyler Moore. Many Festival favorites are expected to perform short scenes from some of Pete's plays. For tickets and info contact Bart Reidy at the WTF office: 458-3200. We look forward to seeing you there.

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McCann Recognizes Superintendent Award Recipient

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:32PM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Landon LeClair and Superintendent James Brosnan with Landon's parents Eric and Susan LeClair, who is a teacher at McCann.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Superintendent's Award has been presented to Landon LeClair, a senior in McCann Technical School's advanced manufacturing course.

The presentation was made last Thursday by Superintendent Jame Brosnan after Principal Justin Kratz read from teachers' letters extolling LeClair's school work, leadership and dedication.

"He's become somewhat legendary at the Fall State Leadership Conference for trying to be a leader at his dinner table, getting an entire plate of cookies for him and all his friends," read Kratz to chuckles from the School Committee. "Landon was always a dedicated student and a quiet leader who cared about mastering the content."

LeClair was also recognized for his participation on the school's golf team and for mentoring younger teammates.

"Landon jumped in tutoring the student so thoroughly that the freshman was able to demonstrate proficiency on an assessment despite the missed class time for golf matches," read Kratz.

The principal noted that the school also received feedback from LeClair's co-op employer, who rated him with all fours.

"This week, we sent Landon to our other machine shop to help load and run parts in the CNC mill," his employer wrote to the school. LeClair was so competent the supervisor advised the central shop might not get him back.

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