nbCC to Host the Annual 'Neighborlies'

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (nbCC) will host the Neighborlies, an annual community recognition celebration, on Wednesday, Nov.19, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the MCLA Church Street Center in North Adams.

This event is free and open to the public. Community members are encouraged to join in supporting and celebrating friends and neighbors for their selfless acts of kindness and volunteerism. Snacks and light refreshments will be available.

Throughout the year, nbCC encourages residents to celebrate people of all ages who have performed acts of kindness or made a positive difference in their lives, in their neighborhoods, or in their community. This year, over 150 individuals will be recognized with an award. Anyone may recognize individuals or groups in one or more of the following categories: neighborly acts, youth taking the lead, family support, businesses and groups pulling together on a project, or community health and wellness. 

Rillie Burns will be presented with this year's Steve Green Award. Rillie is a local youth and a part of the North Adams Public Library's Teen Art Club. She is receiving the Steve Green Award for her work with the Library to provide free hygiene and menstrual products to the community. This award was created in honor of Steve Green, a longtime board member of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition and a dedicated educator. Steve was known for his generosity, commitment to service, and deep sense of community. This award is given to individuals who embody those same values—dedicating their time and efforts to strengthen and support their communities

This is the list of this year's recipients:

Businesses & Groups Pulling Together - Ashley Melillo, Barb Tassone, Bridget Mckeever, Gwen Miller, Have Hope Group, Heart and Soil Collective, Liz Baker, Maryam Kamangar/ Goodwill of the Berkshires, Melanie Davis, North Adams Good News & Keith Bona, Patrick Kavey, Rebecca Cuscaden Marvin, Shana and Melissa Parker, Williamstown Council on Aging, Wreaths Across America- North Adams Cemeteries

Health & Wellness - Abigail Reifsnyder, Adams Soccer League, Adrienne Wootters, Alicia Canary, Alison Pebworth, Ana Gentes, Barbara Gallo, Becky Dodge, Berkshire Food Project Team, Beth Daunis, Bill Wootters, Bonnie Cunningham, Carla Fosser, Carol Cutler, Charlie Blaisdel, Colin Harrington, Cynthia Lanoue, Dana Rapp, Daniel Bird, Dave Wesley, Donna Tatro, Eleanor Derby-Kilfoyle, Emilee Reynolds, Fiona Smith, Fire Chief  Tom Francesconi, Fran Berasi, Franklin Risatti, Greg LaPerle, Greylock Yoga, Jake Laughner, Jean Steele, Joan Scott, Jocelyn Barret, John Minnis, Josh Mendel, Joyce Brewer, Justin Luciani, Kate Merrigan, Kathryn Benson, Lesa Bennett, Helen Romano, Keith Miles, Kevin Boisjolie, Kim Seward, Kurt Gabel, Kyle Malloy, Laura Wood, Leslie Appleget and Barbara Malkas, Lisa Boyer, Lisa Walker, Liz Boland, Lois Daunis, Lydia Zarek, Mark Jagiello, Marlene Walt, Mel Hamilton, Michael Biros, Mike Daunis, Nora Therrien, Phil Krutiak, Regina Marie Shea, Rich Davis, Rich Wolfe, Richard Netherwood, Rob White, Robert Dubriel, Roberta Lamb, Sam Whitney, Sandie Boisvert, Sandra Zarek, Sarah and Gwen Farnsworth, Sarah Sawyer, Sheila Bounds, Sheila Dassatti, Steve Smachetti, Sue Davis, Sue Walker, Susan Flash, Suzanne Dubriel, Terry LeClair, Tim Kitchell, Tina Kelly, Virginia O'Rorke

Family Support - Angel Quinones, Berkshire County Headstart, Beth Davis, Brianna Sabato, Bridget McKeever, Cathy Ellsworth, Colegrove Park Elementary Lunch/Summer Staff, Connie Tatro, Gianni Donati & Marlene Middleton, Jamie Cassavant, Josie Bunt, Julianna Saez, Kaylea Nocher, Lynn DeSanty, Mary Jirkowsky, Michael Maria, Nataleigh Harrington, Nicole Mullett, Sara Luciani, Steven Wandrei, Tamara Young

Neighborly Act - Alex Daugherty, Alice Bojanowski, Angela Mariani, Ann Marie Haddad Bartlett, Annie Rodgers, Barbara Bessette, Betsy Bean, Bryanna Bayly, Chris Barbeau, Christopher Biddy, Colin Recette, Colleen Venable, Courtney Meisberger, Danielle Condron, Debbie Linton, Denise and Tracy Melito, Erik Ramos-Jacobo, Fred Lora, Ian Bouthillette, Jacqueline McKeon, James Guthrie, Jessica Bourassa-Pitroff, Jose Osorio, Julie Clayton, Kareem Washington, Kayla Lescarbeau, Keishla Urena, Kevin Dowling, Marcus Ford, Michael Bedford and Sarah Sutro, Micheala Brait, Mike and Diane Pytko, Mike McMahon, Mike Sabato, Nate Staffin, Nick Sacco, Patrick Shade, Patti Lentine, Providencia Medina, Reese Wehrle, Sarah Kline, Sharaya Keele, St. John's Episcopal Church Williamstown volunteers, Suzy Helme, Tania Amador Casey, Tracy Zustra, Berkshire County Turtle Rescue Inc, Walter Mercado Rosenburg Cepeda, Wanda Gyurasz,

Youth Taking the Lead - Aiden Mendonca, Alena Tucker, Berkshire Thunder and Lightning Track Team and Volunteers, Donnie Cusson,  Drew Zuckerman, Iriana Gomez, Jacob Serrano, Josie Bunt, Mark Kruzel, Raymond Bunt, Reese Kitchell, Rillie Burns, Sofia Francesconi, Timothy Kupiec

 


Tags: NBCC,   neighborlies,   

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Letter: CDBG Funding for Housing Fix-Up, Purchase Assistance, and Affordable Housing Trust

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

At the public hearing (03/25/26) on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Application submitted by North Adams, the presentation indicated that no funding was allocated to assisting residents with housing fix-up and housing purchase.

North Adams remains the only jurisdiction in Berkshire County that does not include these types of programs in their CDBG application. The grant application also misses an opportunity to fund the newly created Affordable Housing Trust which receives CDBG funds in other jurisdictions.

North Adams funded housing fix-up and housing purchase assistance in the past and these programs helped many residents with home upkeep and purchases. The need for these programs has only increased since they were abandoned by North Adams.

For the median income resident of North Adams the median home price is $40,000 more than they can afford. Over 27 percent of homeowners spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing and 12.5 percent of homeowners spend more than 50 percent of their income on housing. Over 20 percent of properties in North Adams are rated as below average condition by the North Adams assessor.

There should be no doubt that North Adams needs both fix-up and home purchase assistance programs and a well supported Affordable Housing Trust. I urge North Adams residents to advocate for funding for these programs during the upcoming budget review meetings.

Virginia Riehl
North Adams, Mass. 

Riehl is co-founder of the North Adams Community Housing Organization (NACHO)

 

 

 

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