Cemetery Clean-Up
The Cemetery Department asks residents to remove all flowers and decorations from graves on or before Oct. 14. The department will remove any decorations remaining after that date.
Public Meetings
A schedule of public meetings in or about Williamstown, as provided by Town Clerk Mary C. Kennedy, 458-9341, from official postings. Meetings are held at the Municipal Building, 31 North St., unless otherwise indicated:
Wed., Sept. 25: ConCom, 7:15 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 26: ZBA, 7 p.m.; 4th of July Parade Committee, 7:30 p.m. Tues. Oct. 1: Mt. Greylock Regional School Committee, 7 p.m., school library; master plan steering committee, 7 p.m. Legion. Wed. Oct. 2: sign commission, 5 p.m.
Harper Center
Elder Services Nutrition Program serves hot meals. Please call 458-8250 or 458-5156; 48-hour notice is appreciated. Voluntary donations for van transportation are 50 cents one way from Williamstown and $1 one way from North Adams. Service is available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Wed., Sept. 25: 1 p.m., bridge. Thurs., Sept. 26: 10 a.m., tai chi; 11 a.m., van to Wal-Mart. 11:30 a.m., lunch; 1 p.m., crafts. Fri., Sept. 27: 10:30 a.m., exercise. 11:30 a.m., lunch, 1 p.m., cholesterol screening. Sun., Sept. 29: 11:30 a.m., lunch. Mon., Sept. 30: 10:30 a.m., exercise; 11:30 a.m., lunch; 1 p.m., line dancing. Tues., Oct. 1: 9 a.m.,oil painting. 9:45 and 10:45 a.m., van to Stop & Shop.
Deaths
Margaret Post Pierson, 95, Artist, Longtime Volunteer
Margaret Post Pierson, 95, died Tuesday, Sept. 17 at her home in Williamstown after a long illness.
Born in Fenwick, Conn. June 28, 1907, she was the daughter of Robert C. and Elizabeth (Dixon) Post. She was educated at the Dwight School in Englewood, the Pine Manor School in Wellesley, and the former Finch Junior College in New York City. She then studied sculpture at the Art Students League in New York City, and at the Yale School of Fine Arts, where she met her husband, William H. Pierson Jr., who is Massachusetts Professor of Art Emeritus at Williams College.
After her marriage in 1936, she continued her study of sculpture at the Art School of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where she also studied ceramics. She and her husband came to Williamstown in 1940, when he joined the Williams faculty, and except for the years during World War II, they have lived here ever since.
As well as being an artist, Mrs. Pierson was an animal advocate and an avid gardener. She was a founding member of the volunteer corps of the Women's Exchange, working there for 40 years, and serving on its board. She also volunteered for Recording for the Blind, and was a member of the board of the House of Local History. She was actively involved in various charitable causes involving environmental conservation, the rights of Native Americans, and the welfare of children and animals.
Besides her husband, she leaves two daughters, Elizabeth P. Rainey and Sara P. Bennett, both of Berkeley, Calif., and two granddaughters.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. The George M. Hopkins Funeral Home, 61-67 Spring St., is in charge of arrangements.
John D. Chapman, 85, Avid Golfer
John D. Chapman, 85, of 31 Church St., died Thursday, Sept. 19, at Sweet Brook Care Centers. He was the husband of Elizabeth (Garrison) Chapman.
Born Oct. 29, 1916, in Williamstown, he was the son of John H. and Mildred (Charon) Chapman. He was educated in Williamstown schools, and graduated from the former Williamstown High School. He was employed at the former Cornish Wire Co. for 20 years, then worked at Oak Industries in Hoosick Falls, N. Y., retiring in 1981.
An avid golfer, Mr. Chapman belonged to the Mt. Anthony Country Club in Bennington, Vt., for many years. He won many golf tournaments throughout Berkshire County and Vermont, and was at one time state champion in Vermont. He was also a member of the Taconic Golf Club and, most recently, of Waubeeka Golf Club.
Mr. Chapman and his wife spent the last 21 winters in Florida. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Williamstown.
Besides his wife, he leaves two sons, John Chapman Jr. of Williamstown and Gregory Chapman of Lanesboro; a daughter, Carol Crosscup of New Bedford; a brother, Francis Chapman of Williamstown; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a daughter, Eileen Lora Barrett, and three sisters, Doris Jones, Phyliss Chapman and Jane Rivard.
Burial will be at the convenience of the family in Southlawn Cemetery, South Williamstown. The George M. Hopkins Funeral Home, 61-67 Spring St., is in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Eileen Barrett Center at North Adams Regional Hospital or to Village Ambulance Service in Williamstown.
Mrs. Patricia (Pangborn) Benoit, 77, Former Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor
Mrs. Patricia (Pangborn) Benoit, 77, of Devonshire Estates, 329 Pittsfield Road, Lenox, and a former longtime resident of 857 North Hoosac Road, Williamstown, died Monday, Sept. 23, at the Sunbridge Nursing Home in East Longmeadow.
She had been a commercial pilot and flight instructor for the former Mohawk Valley Aviation, now the Harriman-West Airport in North Adams.
Born in Chippewa Falls, Wisc., March 18, 1925, she was the daughter of Peter and Charlotte (Nimmons) Pangborn. She attended schools there and graduated from the Chippewa Falls High School in 1943. She then attended the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Okla., and later the Dallas Aviation School.
Before coming to North Adams in 1949, she worked at Tinker Field Air Force Base during World War II as a civil service employee making radio repairs on B-29 bombers. She also worked at Western Electric in Eau Claire, Wisc.
She was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Williamstown.
Her husband, Charles Noel Benoit, whom she married Feb. 5, 1951, died in 1990.
She leaves a daughter, Christine Nimmons Benoit of East Longmeadow; a son, David Charles Benoit of Austin, Texas, and a brother, Donald Pangborn of Sheboygan, Wisc.
Funeral services are private, and there are no calling hours. Burial will be in Eastlawn Cemetery at the convenience of the family. The Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams MA 01247.
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Susan K. (Pedersen) Kaufmann, 47, of 115 Adams Road, died Friday, Sept. 20, at Williamstown Commons.
Born in Pittsfield, Aug. 13, 1955, she was the daughter of Jan and June (Piper) Pedersen. She attended schools in the state of Florida and in Huntsville, Ala., where she graduated from Grissom High School in 1973. After high school, she moved back to Berkshire County with her family. She assisted her late husband Robert Kaufmann in operating the former River House Restaurant and the Waterworks Laundry, both on Water Street.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church. She was an active member of the Berkshire County Cancer Support Group. She enjoyed sailing, scuba diving and fishing. Her husband Robert Kaufmann, whom she married in 1987, died Aug. 11, 2001.
Besides her parents, of Stockbridge, she leaves a daughter, Katharine B. Kaufmann, a student at Northfield Mt. Hermon School in Northfield, Mass.; a sister, Karen P. Quackenbush of Florence, Mass.; a brother, Gary G. Pedersen of Great Barrington, and two stepchildren, Andrea and Jeff Kaufmann.
A memorial service will be Oct. 5, a Saturday, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Congregational Church, with the Rev. Sandra Rehe, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society Casting for Recovery Program or to Northern Berkshire Hospice through the Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams MA 01247.
Susan’s family and friends would like to extend a heartfelt thank you and appreciation to the following organizations for their support, love and compassion shown during this very difficult time of sickness and loss: Massachusetts General Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Williamstown Commons, Northern Berkshire Hospice, Village Ambulance, and all her friends and relatives.
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Windsor Man Promoted to Major in National Guard
WINDSOR, Mass. — Corbin Lounsbury of Windsor was recently promoted to major in the New York Army National Guard.
Major Gen. Ray Shields, the adjutant general for the state of New York, announced the recent promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.
Lounsbury, assigned to Cyber Protection Team 173, received a promotion Sept. 5 to the rank of major.
Army National Guard promotions are based on a soldier's overall performance, demonstrated leadership abilities, professionalism, and future development potential. These promotions recognize the best-qualified soldiers for a career in the New York Army National Guard.
There are 20,000 members in New York's Army, Air National Guard, the Naval Militia, and the New York Guard. They are managed by the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs, the state's executive agency responsible to the governor.
Guardsmen and women are eligible for monthly pay, educational benefits, international travel, technical and leadership training, health and dental insurance, and contributions towards retirement programs similar to a 401(k).
The city has lifted a boil water order — with several exceptions — that was issued late Monday morning following several water line breaks over the weekend. click for more
The bridge had been closed to all vehicle traffic since March 2023 after being deemed structurally deficient by the state Department of Transportation. click for more
The Water Department has been responding to multiple water line breaks throughout the city since Friday, causing temporary loss of water in some areas. click for more
Nearly a year of study and community input about the deteriorating Veterans Memorial Bridge has resulted in one recommendation: Take it down. click for more
