Eva Maruco with her sons Francis Maruco of North Adams police and Philip Maruco who flew from Kansas City to celebrate her 106th birthday.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Surrounded by family on Thursday and with balloons adorning her wheelchair, Williamstown Commons resident Eva Maruco celebrated her 106th birthday.
"You're a popular lady today," her niece leaned in to tell her.
"I wonder why," Maruco answered.
There was little wonder why the North Adams native's life was worth celebrating as her family members shared reminiscences at the midday gathering.
Maruco, born Eva Decoteau, was the mother of three boys along with her husband, Peter, who died in 1994.
Her middle son, Philip, made the trip from Kansas City with his wife to celebrate the milestone birthday.
"She was always active in the community," Philip said of his mom. "She was a member of Le Cercle Francais and the Rosary Society and an officer in each.
"She made the best lemon scones. She was a great baker and a great, good cook. She made good spaghetti and meatballs for being a French person."
Philip Maruco said his mom grew up in North Adams' West End and married Peter relatively late in life, on Oct. 3, 1953.
In addition to raising her family, Eva Maruco worked at the former Excelsior Print and Wall-Streeter Shoe companies.
Her sons, Fran, Philip and Peter, have given her five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
After retirement, she continued to live in the family home until about three years ago, when she moved to Williamstown Commons.
"The last two or three years, we had a nurse visit in the morning and at night, but other than that, she was on her own," Philip said.
Thursday's party was the latest in a line of big birthday celebrations that included a party at Williamstown's ‘6 House for her 85th birthday more than two decades ago and a gathering at the Williams Inn for her 100th in 2018.
When asked recently about the secret to reaching 106, Eva Maruco had a simple response.
"Just keep going," she reiterated on Thursday afternoon.
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Williamstown Nov. 5 Ballot Includes CPA Tax Exemption
By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — In addition to the various federal and state offices and statewide ballot initiatives on this fall's election ballot, Williamstown voters will decide whether to approve an initiative that already passed overwhelmingly at this May's annual town meeting.
Question 6 on the Nov. 5 ballot would finalize an exemption to the Community Preservation Act property tax surcharge for homeowners who meet either low-income or, for seniors, moderate-income standards.
All homes in town currently are subject to the CPA surcharge, which helps fund projects related to historic preservation, open space and recreation or affordable housing.
Residents pay 2 percent of their property tax toward the CPA, with the first $100,000 of home valuation exempted. In other words, if one owns a home valued at the median for the town, $439,100 in FY 2025, its property tax bill for the current fiscal year is $6,060.
But its CPA tax is based on what the tax bill would be for a $339,100 home, so instead of paying $121.20 (2 percent of $6,060), the owner pays $93.59 (2 percent of $4,679.58) toward the CPA fund.
Under the exemption enabled by town meeting in May, that tax bill would drop to $0 for all homeowners who make less than 80 percent of the area median income or seniors who make less than 100 percent of the AMI.
The CPA exemption was one of a number of four targeted tax relief efforts that the Select Board brought to town meeting for its approval — all of which were passed by meeting members. The change to the CPA differed in two respects: it also requires a vote in the general election and, rather than shifting taxation away from income-eligible seniors, it actually reduces the amount of money the town will raise through taxation.
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