Gina Coleman Chosen as the Recipient of the 2025 Peacemaker Award

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— This year the MLK Jr. Day of Service Committee announced that Gina Coleman has been selected and will be honored during the luncheon with the 2025 Peacemaker Award at this month's annual Northern Berkshire MLK Jr. Day of Service, on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. 
 
The Peacemaker Award is given annually to an individual or group in Northern Berkshire. 
 
The award, which originated as part of the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, is made to persons who have contributed substantially to peace in our region. In general, the Peacemaker Award recognizes persons who have a history of working with people and/or neighborhoods and communities to provide for greater tolerance, understanding, and caring, stated a press release. 
 
Coleman is the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at the Brien Center, where she provides training to local organizations on addressing bias and bigotry. She serves on the boards of MCLA, BArT, and the Berkshire Music School and organizes the annual Juneteenth Celebration Concert. Coleman is also a founding member of the Williamstown Diversity, Inclusion, and Racial Equity Committee.
 
Coleman contributed her musical talents to the Black Legacy Project in 2021, a collaboration among local musicians to record songs significant to the Black community. The project is part of Music in Common, a nonprofit fostering unity and understanding through music collaboration.
 
The MLK Day of Service begins at 8:30 a.m. at MCLA's Venable Gym with check-in and registration, coffee and pastries. At 9 a.m. there will be a brief welcome and opening remarks before volunteers depart the center to service sites or can stay on site to work on activities at the gym. Participants will choose from local sites to provide service to the community, including: Louison House, Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires, weatherization for homes, ROOTS Teen Center, food collection sites, and meal deliveries. There will be projects suitable for all ages and abilities. 
 
Participants will return to the gym at 12:30 p.m. to share a free luncheon and community celebration, enjoy local entertainment and hear uplifting words in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. The annual Peacemaker Award will be presented during this celebration.
 
Those wishing to participate in the day of service can register the morning of the event or pre-register in one of three ways:
 
Call: 413-663-7588
 
 

Tags: MLK Day,   NBCC,   peacemaker,   

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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

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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