Lenox, Williamstown Students Name State Snowplows

05:32PM / Thursday, December 26, 2024Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — The state Department of Transportation has selected snowplow names submitted by students at Morris Elementary and Pine Cobble schools.

They were among the 12 winning classrooms for the third annual "Name A Snowplow" contest for elementary and middle school students.

Katie Simonelli's second-grade class at Morris in Lenox offered the name "Snowana" and Jeff Uhas' fifth grade at Pine Cobble in Williamstown submitted "Ice Ice Baby."

The names will be applied to trucks in District 1, headquartered in Lenox.

"This contest is a great way for schools across the state to connect with the crews who work tirelessly to keep our roads clear each winter," said Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. "Thank you to everyone who took part in this contest, and congratulations to our winners."

Last year, fourth-graders at Crosby Elementary School in Pittsfield named a truck "Flurry Fighter" and sixth-graders at Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School in Shelburne Falls came up with "Sled Zeppelin."

The contest this year received entries from classrooms located across Massachusetts to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows within the six districts that will be in service during this 2024/2025 winter season. The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to help recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during the winter season.?

One name each is selected from submissions from kindergarten through Grade 4 and from Grades 5 through 8.

"Maintaining safe and clear roads across Massachusetts during winter is no easy task. We appreciate how educators are engaging their students in this fun competition that honors this vital public service," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. "Congratulations to the winning classrooms, and we look forward to seeing your snowplows out in the field."

Besides District 1, the winners are listed below.

District 2

K-4: "Control-Salt-Delete," Kathleen Koonz's kindergarten at Swift River School in New Salem

Grade 5-8: "It's Snow Problem," Tina DeLullo's Grade 6, Paul R. Baird Middle School in Ludlow

District 3

K-4: "Abominable Plowman," Kimberly Tremlett's fourth grade, Brophy Elementary School in Framingham

Grade 5-8: "Mac N' Freeze," Abby Normandin's fifth grade, Oak Street Elementary School in Franklin

District 4

K-4: "Snow Force One," Kristen Butler's kindergarten, Great Oak Elementary School in Danvers

Grade 5-8: "Blizzard Buster," Gabrielle Campbell's seventh grade, North Andover Middle School

District 5

K-4: "Taylor Drift," Lisa Perry's first grade, Dighton Elementary School

Grade 5-8: "C3P Snow," Deborah Stratton's fifth grade, St. Mary's Catholic School in Mansfield

District 6

K-4: "Ice S'now More," Kathleen Blaho's fourth grade, St. Mary of the Hills School in Milton

Grades 5-8: "Meltin' John," Sean Milligan's eighth grade, Manville School in Boston

Tags: MassDOT, snowplow,

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Williamstown CPC Again Sees More Requests than Funds Available

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:04AM / Monday, January 19, 2026

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Community Preservation Committee will meet on Tuesday to begin considering grant applications for the fiscal year 2027 funding cycle.

As has been the case in recent years, the total of the requests before the committee far exceed the amount of Community Preservation Act funds the town anticipates for the fiscal year that begins on July 1.

Nine applications totaling $1,003,434 are on the table for the committee's perusal. The committee previously has discussed a limit of $624,000 in available funds for this funding cycle, about 62 percent of the total sought.

Over the next few weeks, the CPC will decide the eligibility of the applicants under the CPA and make recommendations to May's annual town meeting, which approves the allocations. Only once since the town accepted the provisions of the 2000 act have meeting members rejected a grant put forward by the committee.

The nine applications for FY27, in descending order of magnitude, are:

• Purple Valley Trails (in conjunction with the town): $366,911 to build a new skate park on Stetson Road (49 percent of project cost).

• Town of Williamstown: $250,000 in FY 27 (with a promise of an additional $250,000 in FY28) to support the renovation of Broad Brook Park (total project cost still unknown).

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