Letter: Show North Adams Children They Are Valued on Oct. 8

Letter to the Editor01:40PM / Tuesday, October 01, 2024Print Story | Email Story

To the Editor:

A lot has been said for and against building a new Greylock School in the city of North Adams. The rhetoric is getting heated over the cost, over the impact on property taxes, over the need for a new school building faced with a declining student population. These are all good points for discussion and the cost to the city and further to the taxpayer should not be ignored.

As former mayor, city councilor, School Committee member and School Building Committee member, I have certainly had my share of whether or not things are needed and affordable. Managing a city and a school district are full of choices based not only on need but on funding. Today as a city and a school district, a very important choice needs to be made.

The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) has put the city through a long and thorough process to see if in fact we need this school. Having been through that process with the building of Colegrove Park Elementary, I can assure you that the MSBA does not simply give based on want, but totally on need. Their process assures that the community is in need of a school building and that funding will only come if all criteria are met …. including student-projected populations.

I believe we sometimes think that because we aren't as prosperous as other cities, we are not deserving of the best. Well we are, and our kid's are. Do our kids deserve a building built to meet the standards of today's educational and safety requirements? Do they deserve a physical environment that leads to increased social and emotional growth and health? Do they deserve the same physical learning environment of other kids in the state? Do our teachers deserve to instruct in an environment that is built to keep kids happy and focused on learning? I would answer "yes" to all.

I have said many times that our kids are our most precious asset and our responsibility to them as a city is that we provide them the best education possible. We have an opportunity to secure the infrastructure of elementary education in the city for many years to come. And most importantly, we have an obligation to tell the children of North Adams that they are valued.

Please vote "Yes" with me on Oct. 8.

Richard Alcombright
North Adams, Mass.

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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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