Northern Berkshire Community Coalition Newsletter February 2003

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Northern Berkshire Community Coalition Newsletter Inside this issue... • News around the Coalition • Local School News • Neighborhood News • UNITY News • Community Calendar February Coalition Meeting State of Child Welfare in Massachusetts : A Meeting With DSS Commissioner Harry Spence Friday, February 21st 10 AM to NOON NOTE: This is the third Friday of the month First Baptist Church of North Adams 131 Main Street (Eagle Street Entrance) North Adams, MA OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Martin Luther King Day sets Community Tone A full day of events to honor the Reverend Martin Luther King inspired the Northern Berkshire community on January 20th. The day’s events were put together by the Martin Luther King Day committee. Led by Alex Daugherty, the day’s event featured speeches, music workshops, and an interfaith service to start the day. The high light of the day was the presentation of the Peace Maker Award to Dick Dassatti, the inspiration behind our local celebration of Martin Luther King Day. With the children’s chorus of St John’s Episcopal Church, readings by Pastor Joseph DeCosta, Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser, Reverend Jill Graham, and Reverend Frank Ryan, and an inspirational message by Darius Jonathan, the day began within the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church in North Adams. Following the interfaith service, we heard performances by the Sullivan School Choir led by Anne Cain (a project of their 21st Century After School Program) and the Youth Alive, Step and Drum Team and saw a presentation to the Adams Free Library of books on diversity by the MLK Day Committee. Ellen Abbott led the group in songs representing the day. Representative Dan Bosley spoke to the group about his recent trip to South Africa and his lesson of forgiveness that he learned from visiting one of the largest prisons in South Africa. Dan’s tour guide was a “tenant’ in that prison, and Dan learned how difficult prison life was for that man. This man’s strength is seen by his capacity to now work together with some who imprisoned him. The keynote speaker for the celebration was the Reverend Wayne Gadie, a preacher from the greater Boston area. Reverend Gadie challenged us all to contend for peace, to contend for the faith. His talk moved the audience, and was a wonderful way to bring the purpose of Martin Luther King day home to the Northern Berkshire community. The afternoon offered workshops in drumming, and Tai Chi. In addition there was a conversation about volunteering overseas with Joe Manning and a panel. The panel included Missie Davis, Hannah Green, David and Mike Sussman, Roger Brechner, and Phil Loftus, all of whom have volunteered in another country. – Al Bashevkin Harry Spence, DSS Commissioner, to meet with Coalition Feb 21 The Commissioner of Social Services, Harry Spence, will be the guest at our next monthly Coalition meeting, Friday, February 21st from 10 AM to noon at the First Baptist Church in North Adams. He will be talking about our common vision for the delivery of services to our neediest families in our region. He is in a position to make changes in service delivery and has lots of experiences as an agent of change. Lewis H. (Harry) Spence, 55, was appointed Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Social Services by Governor Jane Swift in November of 2001. The Department, operating on a budget of approximately $600 million, is charged with the care and protection of children and provides a wide variety of family programs for more than 21,000 Massachusetts families. Spence was chosen for his long and impressive record of advocating for children and families and providing fiscal stewardship. From 1995 to 2000, Spence served as Deputy Chancellor for Operations for the New York City Public Schools, the nation’s largest school system. Prior to his work in New York, Spence was appointed by then-Gov. William F. Weld to the posts of Receiver, Deputy Receiver and Chief Operating Officer for the bankrupt city of Chelsea, Massachusetts, where he served for four years. From 1989 to 1991, Spence was Lecturer in Public Policy at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard; from 1980 to 1984, he served as the Court-Appointed Receiver of the Boston Housing Authority, which became a model for public housing intervention across the nation; and from 1975 to 1978, he held the position of Executive Director of the Cambridge Housing Authority. He has also worked in private real estate development and practiced law. You will find as you look back upon your life, that the moments that stand out are the moments when you have done things for others. – Henry Drummond Dick Dassatti Receives the Peacemaker Award at MLK Celebration He’s a quiet, unassuming man with a real passion for social justice. Dick Dassatti, of North Adams — postman, family man, good citizen, friend to many, and worker for social justice — received the Peacemaker Award at the First Baptist Church in North Adams Monday as part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration. Alex Daugherty, chairman of the Martin Luther King Planning Committee nominated Dassatti for the award. “He doesn’t seek the headlines. He’s always behind the scenes. He doesn’t like recognition,” Daugherty said. “He’s very humbled by all of this. His undying commitment to this community will not be unrecognized as of today. If I could use one word to describe Dick — he’s a catalyst,” he said. “He inspires people to do what they should be doing in this community, not being complacent, not accepting what is wrong, going forward with what is right.” Dassatti has been involved with Habitat for Humanity for years, the COTY Center, and community groups connected to the school system, Daugherty said. Dassatti also does much in the post office’s annual effort to collect food for the poor. North Adams Mayor John Barrett III, who gave Dassatti the award, noted that he didn’t just spring up out of nowhere but comes from a special family. “Dick Dassatti does epitomize all that is good about North Adams and the Northern Berkshire area,” he said. “He’s colorblind.” Barrett noted that despite his reputation for being quiet, Dassatti makes his views known. “I get an earful,” he said. “I have to listen to him because he’s my mailman.” - Thanks to Mark Rondeau of the Advocate News for this article What follows are Dick Dassatti’s comments following his acceptance of the Peace Maker Award : “I really don’t feel that I deserve this award,” Dick responded. “But I do feel that because of the environment that I grew up in and the family that I grew up in, and the neighbors that I had, and the religious leaders that I had at my church, and the political leaders that we had in this community, and just the extended family of a community that we had in North Adams, it just helped me to grow as a person.” “And so I think this award goes to the entire community,” he said. “But I don’t want to detract from the day. This is Martin Luther King’s birthday, and he’s very important to me. He taught me a lot.” “He didn’t die — he was killed. I just wanted to remind you of that. He was protesting with garbage workers. They were a union that was on strike, and he was going to be with them,” Dassatti said. “I guess I just want to remind the people that are here today that in the impending budget crisis that is going on throughout this state and throughout this country that the working people of America should not pay the price that they’re going to be asked to pay.” “When we have millionaires in Boston saying that we can’t ask people with wealth to pay more taxes but instead workers are going to have to go without jobs, families are going to go without heat, and people are going to go without food, that’s not how we celebrate Martin Luther King Day,” Dassatti said. “And we don’t fight wars on Martin Luther King Day. He was a man of peace and love. - Thanks to Mark Rondeau of the Advocate News for this article Our best wishes go out to Marie Harpin, Director of Northern Berkshire Community Action, who will be having surgery on her knee early in February and should return to work early in March. Northern Berkshire Community Action will remain open during the time that Marie is out with her surgery. Applications for fuel assistance, emergency food baskets, and other programs of Community Action should continue to go to the North County office and information about their services is available by calling NBCA at 663-3014. I’m sure that I join with others in wishing Marie a speedy recovery. – Al Bashevkin Public Health Incentive Grant Application Coming Good news! There will be another round of Public Health Incentive Grants this Spring. Applications will be included in the March coalition Newsletter and will be due April 25th. There will be about $3000 available for this round of incentive grants, and the committee is encouraging intergenerational activities, as well as other activities that work to enhance the public health of the local community. Neighborhoods and small community groups that have received grants in the past funding rounds will have a different process to be able to receive resources. Contact Kathy Keeser for information about how to receive these funds. – Al Bashevkin Spanish Course for Human Service Professionals The first offering of the MCLA Life Long Learning course began on January 22 with 8 students enrolled. Graziana Ramsden is a warm gentle teacher who has made the course simple but flexible to fit the needs of human service workers from various agencies. She was patient with the many mistakes we made but still managed to take us through learning four typical questions and answers that would translate basically as: what is your name, how do you spell you name, what is your phone number and where are you from. We also did a quick learning of numbers (0-10) and the alphabet in Spanish. The class was fun and the time went very quickly. With practice the students will be able to communicate in basic Spanish terms with people coming to our agencies who may not speak English. eTangents Offers Free Consultation . eTangents is a New Media design studio founded by Joseph R. Moyer, a designer with seven years experience in New Media, Internet marketing, and project management. The studio’s goal is to help individuals, businesses, and not for profit groups utilize the Internet to promote themselves and their services in a way that speaks clearly to their target audience. eTangents has worked with a variety of clients including The Prospect Foundation, the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, author Ariane Goodwin, Ed.D., artist and book designer Dan Rose, and photographer John A. Lisee. The Studio is currently developing an Internet version of the NBCC’s newsletter, with release planned in the coming months. Contact eTangents for a free consultation at 413.822.5253 or e-mail joe@etangents.com Handicap Aids Available From UCP The United Cerebral Palsy Association of Berkshire County presently has five different size temporary portable ramps available to anyone in Berkshire County for short-term use or demonstration: 10ft, 8ft., 6ft., 5 ft., and 3 ft. They can be set-up and delivered. The wheelchair lift is also available which allows for access to stage areas and other platform surfaces. If you are a resident of Massachusetts and have a disability that seriously limits your ability to use the telephone effectively, and use Verizon as your provider, you may be eligible to receive assistive telephone equipment. For more information about any of these programs, contact Steve Gagne at 413-442-1562 NB Anti-Poverty Network Sets Mission The Northern Berkshire Anti Poverty Network met during January to begin a process that will craft a mission statement for this group. Although the wording is not exact, the mission of the Anti Poverty network will be to educate the community about poverty and to use the forum to strengthen the services that are available to people living on low and fixed incomes. The next meeting of the Northern Berkshire Anti Poverty network will be Thursday, February 20th at noon (to serve lunch) and at 1 PM for a meeting at the Berkshire Food Project at the Congregational Church in North Adams. For information, contact Al Bashevkin. - Al Bashevkin BFAIR Offers Commercial Cleaning Services Berkshire Family and Individual Resources (BFAIR, Inc.) provides supports to people with disabilities and their families that promote valued community roles. Arcadia Employment Services is a component program of BFAIR that operates a mobile work crew. The work crew is available for residential and commercial moving, office cleaning, lawn- care, yard cleanups and miscellaneous home and office duties. The crew offers very reasonable rates and is available to clean offices in Northern and Central Berkshire County. The work crew has contracted their moving services with the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission and the Department of Mental Retardation. The mobile work crew is fully insured and charges very reasonable rates. Please contact Mike Boland, Program Director of Arcadia Employment at 413-664-4911 x18 for more information. Newcomers Task Force Looking for Interpretors The Newcomer’s Task Force is beginning to gather a resource list of possible interpreters/ translators for our region that will be made available for everyone. Due to limited resources, Northern Berkshire Community Coalition will not be responsible for, nor be able to verify interpreter/translator qualifications. Agencies will be responsible to verify qualifications and references themselves. Sample interpreting guidelines and evaluation forms will be available to serve as a guide process specific to an agency. If you know of anyone that has the necessary training or qualifications to become an interpreter/translator, please contact Kathy Keeser (663-7588) with their contact information (name and address) as soon as possible. Our hope is that this resource list will help agencies to better serve the rapidly growing non-English speaking community – Kathy Keeser CET Offers Community Presentations The Center for Ecological Technology (CET) together with the Western Massachusetts Master Gardeners Association (WMMGA) is offering free presentations to community organizations, garden clubs, and the general public, on how to maintain natural lawns and gardens. Chemical pesticides and fertilizers are harmful to human health, wildlife, and the environment. Schedule a presentation to learn how to avoid these potential threats. Contact Joy Kirschenbaum at 1-800-238-221 or joyk@cetonline.org. Nutrition Program for Children Offered CALLING ALL PARENTS! If you have questions about nutrition, have a child that’s a picky eater or need fresh ideas on eating healthy, plan to join Family Net for an evening of discussion on nutrition and suggestions on how to encourage children to try new foods. On February 26th at 6:30 – 7:30 PM. Rich Flores, Clinical Dietitian from North Adams Regional Hospital will be available to answer your questions. The presentation is free, refreshments, and on-site childcare will be provided. Call 664-4821 to register. Young Heroes Plan a Community Health Day Molly Meczywor’s Ninth grade English class at Drury High School is engaged in a service-learning project whose theme is heroes and safety. Their quest is to learn about everyday heroes in this community. After talking about heroes in mythology and hearing about acts of heroism in this community, Mrs. Meczywor’s class decided they would become certified in CPR. Senior Amy Cozzaglio, Mrs. Meczywor’s teacher’s assistant, is helping with the project. The police department is generously donating the time and talents of some officers, who will train the students in CPR. Their work has inspired Mrs. Meczywor and her students to present a Community Health Fair at Drury on Saturday, February 8th. In addition to a six-hour CPR training session for 100 participants, around 20 community organizations will set up booths in the hallways. Any individuals interested in staffing a table or teaching a Mass CPR certification course are encouraged to contact Molly Meczywor at Drury High School (662-3240). AmeriCorps *VISTA Hannah Greene is also helping to coordinate the project and can be reached at 662-5384. – Hannah Greene 21ST CCLC and NB Health Systems Provide Family Nights : Public is Invited 21st Century Community Learning Centers and the Northern Berkshire Health Services are joining together to offer a series of Family Nights in the North Adams Public Schools. There will be three different programs offered promoting the benefits of enjoying a healthy lifestyle. Families are encouraged to attend the programs at the school of their choice, however pre-registration is appreciated. Is your New Year’s Resolution to live healthier? Be a part of our family night and get some great information about basic nutrition and how to incorporate a good diet with fitness as part of a fun and healthy lifestyle. You can participate in a cooking demonstration and get to eat the snack you prepare. Following the nutritional component, there will be a one-hour exercise segment demonstrating the importance of physical activity, and stretching. Nutritionists from the North Adams Regional Hospital’s Dietary Services, as well as other nurses or clinical staff will conduct this program. Program #1 will be offered in the following sequence: Brayton Elementary Thursday January 23rd, Sullivan School Wednesday, January 29th, Greylock will hold it Thursday, January 30th, and Conte Middle School will be announced. Interested in alternative health therapies? This family night series will inform families about alternative health methods and present actual demonstrations of services available in the community such as Rieki and massage therapy. Presenters will discuss the purpose and history of each method. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience these methods by a number of different providers. Program #2 will be hosted at Conte Middle School on Wednesday, February 5th, Greylock Elementary on Tuesday, February 11th, Brayton Elementary on Thursday, February 13th, and Sullivan Elementary on Wednesday, February 26th. Join our Family Night Magic Show! The show will display the value of good oral hygiene. Families and children will hear about maintaining basic oral health with dental assistants from McCann Technical School demonstrating proper brushing and flossing technique. There will be staff on hand to conduct screenings for participants who choose to partake and find out if a follow-up appointment is needed. Don’t have dental insurance? This is a great chance to learn of opportunities available to uninsured families in the community. Program #3 will be held at Greylock Elementary on Tuesday, March 11th, Conte Middle School on Wednesday, March 12th, Brayton Elementary on Thursday, March 13th, and Sullivan Elementary on Wednesday, March 26th. These programs will run from 6 PM to 8 PM at Conte Middle School, Sullivan Elementary School and Greylock Elementary School, and from 5:30 to 730 PM at Brayton Elementary School. For more information, contact the 21st CCLC office at 664-9633. Community Bulletin Board February 2003 Seniors: • Volunteers are needed to spend time with local elders. To help, contact: Marge Ware at 664-8719. Agency: • Resources for Child Care will be providing Family Child Care Orientation intended for adults wishing to open a Family Child Care business and for those interested in becoming Approved Assistants. All orientations are from 9:30 Am - 12:30 PM and will be on Thursday, March 6th, Friday, April 11th, Thursday, May 8th, and Friday, June 13th. Attendance fee is $15.00. For information contact: Resources for Child Care at (413)443-7830. • Resources for Child Care will be providing Family Child Care Plus Orientation School Age Child Care for family child care providers with 2 years experience may apply to OCCS for the limited Large Family Child Care (6+2) license. These orientations are from 6:00 - 9:00 PM. on Wednesday, February 19th, and Thursday, May 15th. Attendance fee is $15.00. For information contact: Resources for Child Care at (413)443-7830. • Resources for Child Care will be providing Large Family Child Care Orientation . In order to attend this orientation, providers must be at least 21 years of age, with 3 years experience as a licensed child care provider, have an Approved Assistant working in their program and must meet OCCS licensing requirements. These orientations are from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM on Saturday, April 5th for Providers and 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM for Approved Assistants. Attendance fee is $25.00 for Providers and $15.00 for Approved Assistants. For information contact: Resources for Child Care at (413)443-7830. • Youth Center, Inc. is sponsoring a “Family Swim” at Hoosac Valley High School. Members of the Youth Center, non members and families are ALL welcome. Family Swim provides families with a safe and fun activity for the upcoming fall and winter months. Dates: Jan. 13th and 28th; Feb. 18th and 25th; March 11th and 25th; April 8th and 22nd. Time: 5:45 - 7:45 PM. Fees are $4 single member, $5 non single member, $10 member family, $11 non member family. For more information: contact Liz Baker at the Youth Center 743-3550. General: • First Baptist Church of Williamstown has set the dates for its Ecumenical Lenten Program, March 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th from 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Topics to be covered are Discovering the Bible- What it is, how we got it, and how to use it. Four Parts: General Overview, Old Testament, New Testament, and Preservation, Circulation, and Influence. A series of four half hour videos from Gateway Films followed by a discussion. For more information contact: FBC, 731 Main Street, Williamstown at 458-4811. • Willinet is looking for individuals of nonprofit organizations interested in producing television programs. For more information contact them at: 458-0900 or email at willinet@williams.edu • Next Native American Pow-wow in North Adams will be Saturday, March 22nd at the Eagles in North Adams. For information, contact; Dan Sher at 743-5081. • Some students at Conte have expressed desire for Hip Hop Dance to be included in the After School Program. Any interested dance instructors contact: Elayne Murphy at Conte Middle School 662-3200 or 281-8792 (cell) or Elaynemurphy@hotmail.com. • "Respect: Women and Popular Music" will be presented Thursday, February 13th, 7:30 PM, in Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall at Williams College. "Respect" is an engaging and entertaining look at the evolving roles of women in 20th century America, using Top 40 song hits. With music, costumes, and screen images, "Respect" illustrates how, in the early part of the century, song lyrics resonated with women's dependency and submissiveness; echoed their rebellion in the late 1960s; and reflected their independence in the 1990s. The show is written and performed by Dr. Dorothy Marcic of Vanderbilt University, Nashville. Admission is free. "Respect" is sponsored by the Baha'i Club of Williams College. For more information, contact Margaret Tash at 458-8092 or Brenda Thomas at 743-2401. February 3rd, 7th and 10th Northern Berkshire Tonite Local access TV at 8:00 PM (2/3), 7:30 PM (2/7) and 9:00 PM (2/10). This week co-hosts Al Bashevkin and Ken Swiatek will have as their guests Carolyn Burns of the Berkshire Center for Families and Children and Ray Burke, Area Director for the Department of Social Services. February 14th United Way Breakfast The Northern Berkshire United Way will celebrate the campaign finale with a breakfast at the Williams Inn at 7:45 a.m. on February 14th. For information: contact the United Way office at 663-9062. February 18th Northern Berkshire Collaborative for Non Violence Facilitated by the Elizabeth Freeman Center in the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition Conference Room, 85 Main Street, Suite 624 at 9:00 AM. Contact the Elizabeth Freeman Center @ 663-7459 for more information. February 20th Anti Poverty Network The next meeting will be at noon at the Coalition office (suite 624) to address poverty in Northern Berkshire. Lunch will be served at noon and at 1:00 p.m. we will attend a meeting at the Berkshire Food Project at the Congregational Church in North Adams. If you work with this issue and are interested in attending, contact: Al Bashevkin at the Coalition at 663-7588 or by email: abashevkin@nbccoalition.org February 21 (note third Friday of February) Next Coalition Monthly Meeting Please note the change to the third Friday of February for the next monthly meeting of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition. Harry Spence, Commissioner of the Department of Social Services has been invited to talk with us about visions for service delivery. February 21 GROOOVE Cafe At the Hairpin Tune Music Store in North Adams on February 21 starting at 7:00 p.m. Admission is $3.00. Performers: call 663-7588 to sign up. February 25th Northern Berkshire Youth Collaborative Noon to 1:30 at the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition office. This will be a training meeting and is an opportunity for all youth serving organizations to talk together about youth and their work. Lunch will be provided. This group communicates by email. To get on the list, contact the Coalition office @ 663-7588. March 29th Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kid’s Sake Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kid’s Sake Saturday, March 29th Mount Greylock Bowl. Gather a team of 4 or 5 friends, relatives or co-workers - raise a minimum of $50.00 each. Rock and bowl to the tunes of DJ Brian Flagg. Beginning at 6:00p.m. Great fun, door prizes, raffle. Registration required. For info call Sarah- 663-7588 The Coalition Newsletter is about to launch an electronic newsletter. With the support of recent Silicon Village Web Academy graduate Joseph Moyer, the Coalition is in the process of making it possible to e-mail the newsletter to interested Coalitioners. We hope that our electronic version will be ready for distribution by April or May. If you would like to receive this electronic newsletter, simply send an e-mail to newsletter@nbccoalition.org and tell us of your interest. We will add your name to our e-mail list. If you are already on our mailing list, adding your name to our e-list will not affect your receiving the newsletter in the mail. – Al Bashevkin Neighborhood Expo to be shown on Local Cable Access TV (channel 15) Watch for the exciting sessions and talks that took place at the Neighborhood EXPO on Saturday, November 16th. All the shows will be on Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. on Channel 15. The series will repeat, after it runs through the first time. After the series has been through twice, probably sometime in mid-May, we will have copies of the video tape to loan out. Before then, contact Paul Marino at Northern Berkshire Community Television if you want to arrange to get a copy. Paul has edited most of the sessions. For more information, please contact Kathy at nbCC (663-7588) or Paul Marino at NBCTC (663-9006). Schedule for EXPO session on Channel 15, 5:30 p.m.: Sat 2/8 at 5:30 p.m. - Dreaming Along With the Bricks Sat 2/15 at 5:30 p.m. - Neighborhood Improvement Sat 2/22 at 5:30 p.m. - Activities, Exhibits & Peacemaker Sat 3/1 at 5:30 p.m. - Circles of Women Sat 3/8 at 5:30 p.m. - Economic Changes Sat 3/15 at 5:30 p.m. - Coming Home Sat 3/22 at 5:30 p.m. - Local Music Sat 3/29 at 5:30 p.m. - Historic Florida Community Resources The Emergency Relief Fund of the Berkshire Taconic Foundation offers one-time assistance to individuals and families in crisis when all other resources have been accessed. Applications are accepted on behalf of clients by social service agents and may be submitted by fax, email, or mail. Decisions are generally given within ten working days. The fund is supported by donations from the Foundation’s donor-advisors and has a limited amount of funding available. Because there are many more requests to the fund than can be supported, an agency may as of this date only apply to the fund once a month. The Emergency Relief Fund supports individuals who are in dire straits. Our fund ranges from $50 to $500 and very occasionally more. In the past, the ERF has paid for medications and other health-related emergencies, car repair, security deposits, utility payments to prevent shutoff, food, legal services, etc. To apply, contact: Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation in Gt. Barrington @ 413-528-8039 or by email info@berkshiretaconic.org. Community Training Opportunity Established in 1991, Uniting Families for Change (UFC) is a grassroots, multicultural coalition of families in Western Massachusetts who have come together to bring about positive changes for people with disabilities and their families. One way in which UFC hopes to foster this change is by annually providing a Family Leadership Series, which consists of three two-day workshops for a group of approximately thirty parents and family members of a person with disabilities. The workshop dates are: April 11 & 12, May 30 & 31, and October 3 & 4, 2003, and will be held at the Quality Inn, Routes 7 & 20 in Lenox, Mass. UFC will provide your hotel accommodations; provide meals during workshop sessions; provide a stipend for respite/child care and travel expenses, if needed. The attendees are required to: attend all three workshop sessions; arrange for your respite/child care provider; participate in all activities, and complete (minimal) assignments between sessions. To take advantage of this opportunity and for more information: call Gwen Gosselin or Dana Dansereau at (413) 562-4885. The office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation is pleased to announce the telephone number and web address for the state’s new telemarketing law, which allows consumers to reduce, but not eliminate, the number of telemarketing calls they receive by signing up on the Do Not Call Registry, effective January 1, 2003. Consumers will have until March 1 to register for the first list, which will go into effect on April 1. The list will be updated every quarter thereafter. ON LINE: www.mass.gov/dontcall CONSUMER LINE: 866-231-2255 U.S. MAIL: MA Do Not Call Program P.O. Box 1348, Boston, MA 02117 Telemarketers and List Brokers Subscription Line : 866-339-1475 Contact Phone Numbers.... What follows are contact Numbers for the North Adams Public Schools 21st Century Community Learning Center Deb Rosselli, Project Director, 664-9633 Trista Walsh, Admin Assistant, 664-9633 Brayton School: Noella Carlow 662-3074 Greylock School: Joan Rivers 662-3292 Sullivan School: Judy Noel 662-3291 Conte Middle School : Elayne Murphy 281-2972; Diane Ryczek 662-3024 Expo Contributors Businesses and Groups The Aladdins Appalachian Bean Cafe Berkshire JuvenileCourt Community Service Program Beta Lambda Sorority of MCLA Brooks China Buffet CVS Flying Garbanzos Freedman, DeRosa & Rondeau Freight Yard Restaurant & Pub Hoosac Bank The Market Massachusetts Electric Mass MoCA MLK Committee North Adams Masonic Association NorthernBerkshire CommunityTV Northern Berkshire United Way St. Joseph Court Steeples Wal-Mart Williamstown Community Chest Individuals Mayor John Barrett Bob Barton Al Bashevkin Linda Bissaillon Marilyn Boesse Michael Boulay & Friends for Hancock Bluegrass Dan Broad Stan and Maralyn Brown Eric Buddington Nancy Bullett Natalie Cain Erica Cruz Alex and Sue Daugherty Shirley Davis Steve Elmstrom Evelyn Gallese Doris Gamache Tammy Gelinas Dr. Mary Grant Steve Green Marie Harpin Maureen Hasan Pat Hernadez Kathy Keeser Joy Kirshenbaum Sarah Kline Marya Kozic Wendy Krom Mary Ellen LaFountain Carolyn Leab Georgette Mancuso Joe Manning Connor Meehan Rick &Tammy Moon Diane Parsons Joan Preite Mark Rondeau Edna Rudnick Dave Sacco Ron Sheldon Youlin Shi Jan Shotwell H. Mark Smith Marcia Sweet Linda Tassone Brenda Thomas Elena Traister Barbara Wagner Walking Catamount Monica Wissman Coalition Supporters : Public Sources : • MA Department of Social Services • MA Cultural Council • Berkshire County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition • NA Public Schools’ 21st Century Grant • National Endowment for the Arts • US Office of Juvenile Justice and Deliquency Prevention • MA Department of Public Health. Foundation Supporters • Campaign for Human Development • Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation. Local Support • City of North Adams • Contributions from our many supporters. The Coalition is a member agency of the Northern Berkshire United Way and the Williamstown Community Chest. Northern Berkshire Legislative Contacts Rep Dan Bosley 3 Elmwood Avenue North Adams, MA 01247 (413) 663-7486 Rep Shaun Kelly 399 Main Street Dalton, MA 01226 (413) 684-5133 Sen Andrea Nuciforo 74 North St Pittsfield, MA 01201 (413) 442-6810 Cong John Olver 78 Center St Pittsfield, MA 01201 (413) 442-0946 http://www.house.gov/olver Senator Edward Kennedy. 2400 JFK Federal Bldg., Boston, MA 02203 315 Russell Senate Office Bldg. Washington DC 20510 (202) 224-4543 (202) 224-2417 (fax) senator@kennedy.senate.gov Senator John Kerry One Financial Plaza Springfield, MA 01103 304 Russell Senate Office Bldg. Washington DC 20510 (413) 785-4610 (413) 736-1049 (fax) (202) 224-2742 john_kerry@kerry.senate.gov President George Bush The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500 (202)456-1414 (202) 456-2461 (fax) President@whitehouse.gov To Submit to NBCCoalition Newsletter: The Newsletter is a publication of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition. To submit articles (100 words or less) for the MARCH newsletter, SEND BY FEBRUARY 24th TO : E-Mail : abashevkin@nbccoalition.org cleab@nbccoalition.org Fax : 413-663-9877 STAFF Executive Director Al Bashevkin: abashevkin@nbccoalition.org Business Manager Sue Daugherty:sdaugherty@nbccoalition.org Northern Berkshire Neighbors Kathy Keeser: kkeeser@nbccoalition.org Natalie Cain: ncain@nbccoalition.org UNITY Erica Schmitz: eschmitz@nbccoalition.org Caroline Scully : cscully@nbccoalition.org Jessie Kirkwoood, UNITY Intern Administrative Asst. Carolyn Leab: cleab@nbccoalition.org Coalition Volunteer Marcia Sweet - Experience Works MCLA Intern Final Thoughts... I’m very befuddled. The latest cuts to the State budget proposed by Governor Romney are wide sweeping and they impact lives on many levels. My question is why balance the budget on the backs of our most vulnerable ? The Healthy Families Program at Child Care of the Berkshires is slated to close at the end of February. Healthy Families is a voluntary program for first time parents aged twenty years and younger. Their goals are to reduce child abuse and neglect for a population that is most at risk for what Lisbeth Schorr calls “rotten outcomes.” Children born to children are most at risk for not succeeding, and if the child-parents cannot complete their education, and feel hopeless and helpless about their future, they will likely fail in creating an environment where their children will succeed. Most teen parents were born to teen parents. The cycle of poverty begins here. Healthy Families is an investment in our future, and at a cost of $2400 per family is very reasonable. We should see this as a capital investment, an investment in our social fabric, much as we encourage businesses to invest in their own equipment. A four million dollar cut to the Healthy Families program budget will force this statewide program to close. Has this investment worked ? Our local figures mirror the statewide data. Six percent of the families invested in Healthy Families report a repeat birth within a three year period, compared to 16% of teen moms in Massachusetts and 35% nationally. Eighty percent of our Healthy Families participants continued their education or graduated from high school while enrolled in the program. All of our local Healthy Families have the opportunity to benefit from the intensive home visiting component of the program and the education that the young parents receive about the growth and development of their children. The logic of not investing in a program that works to break the cycle of poverty for our most vulnerable eludes me. Think of the future savings, both social and economic, that our society would gain through the success of the Healthy Families Program. Clearly we must find ways to not put into greater jeopardy those who are already vulnerable in our society. - Al Bashevkin
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McCann Recognizes Superintendent Award Recipient

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

Landon LeClair and Superintendent James Brosnan with Landon's parents Eric and Susan LeClair, who is a teacher at McCann. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Superintendent's Award has been presented to Landon LeClair, a senior in McCann Technical School's advanced manufacturing course. 
 
The presentation was made last Thursday by Superintendent Jame Brosnan after Principal Justin Kratz read from teachers' letters extolling LeClair's school work, leadership and dedication. 
 
"He's become somewhat legendary at the Fall State Leadership Conference for trying to be a leader at his dinner table, getting an entire plate of cookies for him and all his friends," read Kratz to chuckles from the School Committee. "Landon was always a dedicated student and a quiet leader who cared about mastering the content."
 
LeClair was also recognized for his participation on the school's golf team and for mentoring younger teammates. 
 
"Landon jumped in tutoring the student so thoroughly that the freshman was able to demonstrate proficiency on an assessment despite the missed class time for golf matches," read Kratz.
 
The principal noted that the school also received feedback from LeClair's co-op employer, who rated him with all fours.
 
"This week, we sent Landon to our other machine shop to help load and run parts in the CNC mill," his employer wrote to the school. LeClair was so competent the supervisor advised the central shop might not get him back. 
 
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