The Northern Berkshire Neighbors program of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition held its Fall Neighborlies Community Recognition Award Ceremony.

Neighborly feeling: The Northern Berkshire Neighbors program of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition held its Fall Neighborlies Community Recognition Award Ceremony at Congregation Beth Israel on Nov. 2. Friends, family and many supporters gathered to honor and congratulate individuals and groups in the Northern Berkshire communities whose acts of kindness and volunteer efforts have made a significant difference in the lives of their neighbors and the community. More photos can be found here.

Northern Berkshire Community Coalition staff and board members, and Mayor Richard Alcombright presented Neighborlies to the following recipients:

Community Health and Wellness: Amalio (AJ) Jusino, Amy Meehan, Andi Lampiasi, Andrew Daniels, Ashley Boyd, Aubrey Armstrong, Barbara Malkas, Becky and Caleb Miner, Berkshire Family YMCA Northern Berkshire Branch, Berkshire Health Systems Community Outreach, Berkshire Outfitters, Beth Piantoni, Brian Gallagher, Carrie Diehl, Charlene Candiloro and Serenity Circles, Chris Gelinas, Colleen Taylor and Freight Yard Pub, Common Folk, Connie Tatro, Corinne Case, Cory Nicholas, Cory Nicholas and the NAPS Food Service Staff, Cosmo Catalano, Darcie Lampiasi, David Risch, Director Cozzaglio and the North Adams Police Department, Dorothy Martell, Elizabeth Rotter, Ellen Janis, Evan Webb and Berkshire Kettlebells, Frog Lotus Yoga, Genavieve Quetti, Gina Tatro, Giselle Gwozdz, Glenn Maloney, Gloria Ruebesam, Ian Downey, Ivan Cardeno, Jackie Lemieux, Jailyn Deeley, Jazmyne Joy, Jeff Deeley, Jennifer Boland, Jennifer St. Germain, Jim DiCiccio, Jim Holmes, Jim Wolfe, John Aldrich, John Franzoni, Jonathan Beaudreau, Josh Meczwyor, Josh Moran, Judy Grinnell, Katelyn Brazeau, Keith Bona, Kenna Waterman, Kylee Bressette, Living Well, MaryAnn King, Matt Tatro and Grazie Restaurant, Mayor Richard Alcombright, Mieke Kohl and SOMA, Mike Leavitt and Berkshire Natural Resource Council, Misa Chappell, Nancy Bullett, Nicole Maloney, North Adams Fire Department, Officer Anthony Beverly, Officer Ben Austin, Officer David Lemieux, Oh Crepe, Olivia Hakes and Freedom Dance, Pastor Dave Anderson, Paul Gordon, Raya Kirby, Rebecca Dodge, Renee Tassone at Eat To Total Health, Sandy Cote, Shelley Fachini, Steve Rondeau, Stop and Shop, Sue Deeley, Suzy Helme, Tara Jacobs, Terry Joy, Tim Shiebler, Tom and Cathy Ralys and Lickety Split, Wendy Krom, Wild Oats, Zen Tree Wellness.

Groups Pulling Together: Allison Kibbe, April Cantoni, Ashley Rice, Berkshire Interfaith Organizing, Bill and Donna Chandler, Brayton Hill Community Action Committee, Chris Bryant, Chris Carr, Christopher Hantman, Christopher Morin, Courtney Randall, Criss Laidlaw, Danielle Gismondi, Diane Cormier, Ed LaCosse, Gary, Susan, Brady, Joshua, Madelyn Clark, Gwendolyn Bird, Jane Berger, Jocelyn Barrett, Josh Moran, Lois Daunis, Lois Hobbie-Welch, Lynda Field, Mary Redstone, Neal Sardana, Perri Bernstein, Sounds and Tones Records, Steven Burdick, Terry and Jerry Goodermote, The Dream Center, The Friendship Center Food Pantry, Tim Shiebler.

Business/Agency Support: Berkshire Regional Transit Authority, Big Y Supermarket, Carpinello Service Center, Christopher Tate, Desperado’s, Keith Bona, Lori & John Morris and The Golden Eagle Restaurant, Mayor Alcombright, Mike Daunis, Mill City Productions, New Hope United Methodist Church, Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, Papa John’s Pizza, Sam Boyden, The Friendship Center Food Pantry.

Youth Taking the Lead: Awesome Summer Garden Program Interns, Brandywine La Belle, Caitlin Mayes, Faith and Hope Motta, Kircys Canela, Mitch Poirier, Robert Foster.

Neighborly Acts: Alice Beaudreau, Amanda Beckwith, Atara Thompson, Aubrey Armstrong, Carolyn Ferrara, Chris Tolar, Crystal Ogert, Debbie Pickering, Dian Gage, Donna & David Motta, Ed LaCosse, Erik Carlson, Francesca Shanks, Herb Wilkinson, Jennifer Munoz, Kayla LaVoice, Linda Corsi, Lyn Wilson, Mayor Richard Alcombright, Rebecca Godbout, Tara Jacobs, Tonia Canavan, Wendy Krom.



 

* History continued: Dr. Paul Donovan, a long-time practicing physician in North Adams, has written and published the second of a three-part series on the history of North Adams Regional Hospital, which closed in 2014. Part II covers the years 1910-1956, which follows the history of the hospital through the construction of a new building that opened in October 1955. Among significant developments in that 45-year time frame were the leadership of Herbert W. Clark and his son, Herbert B. Clark, the growth and development of the Medical Staff, and construction of the “new” North Adams Regional Hospital which was formally opened on Oct. 12, 1955.

Also during the period covered in the book, North Adams Hospital operated a nursing school that graduated more than 300 nurses.

Part I of the series covered the years 1882-1910. In 1882 a catastrophic train accident galvanized a small group of North Adams residents to initiate the concept of a hospital which was built with private donations and opened in March 1885. Part I concludes with a major reorganization in 1909-1910 due to financial difficulties.

Part III is expected to be published in 2017.

The book can be purchased at Main Street Emporium in North Adams, Water Street Books in Williamstown and through the North Adams Historical Society starting in November. Copies are also available to borrow from local libraries. Comments regarding the work are welcomed. Email the author at emsportmed2015@gmail.com.


 

* New Directions meeting: There is no such thing as an unplanned pregnancy - unexpected to the parents maybe, but God planned it, said Dr. Kathy Koch of Celebrate Kids, who was the featured speaker at a recent fundraising dinner for New Direction, the local pregnancy support center located at 98 Church St. in North Adams. Koch talked about how today's young people are different because of the culture and the speed of technology. This presents different challenges to those wishing to reach the youth with the pro-life message and to assist those who need help with an unexpected pregnancy.

Judy Williams, director of New Direction, spoke briefly about how some clients are told by their family not to continue an unexpected pregnancy because she can’t afford it, or she needs to finish school first. Or worse, she is kicked out by her parents if she won’t have an abortion, or abandoned by the baby’s father if she wants to carry to term. In circumstances like this, an abortion is a desperate act by someone who feels like she doesn’t have a choice, Williams said.

New Direction offers counselors that establish relationships with clients and provide the help they need to continue a pregnancy as well as free pregnancy tests and free, limited obstetrical ultrasounds. For more information, call 413-346-4291.

* Taxing work: The Volunteer Income Tax Preparation (VITA) program is seeking volunteers to file taxes for the 2016-2017 tax season with Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity and other locations in Berkshire County. Information sessions about volunteering will be held on Nov. 14 and 16 at Greylock Federal Credit Union on 150 West St., Pittsfield, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The volunteer tax preparers are certified and trained to several IRS standards. Central Berkshire Habitat, along with Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC) are sponsored by the IRS and Berkshire United Way to file taxes for moderate- to low-income individuals and households. This is Habitat's fifth year running the VITA program as a commitment to financial stability in the community. Volunteer preparers can file state, federal, and amended returns. VITA is also offered at the Ralph F. Senior Center. To qualify for this free program, households' annual gross income must be $54,000 or less in 2016.

To RSVP for the VITA volunteer information sessions, please call Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity at 413-442-3181 or email freetaxes@berkshirehabitat.org.

 

* Creating dreams: The Hoosac Valley Leo Club is starting its annual fund-raising drive for the Create a Dream project this Christmas season. The club provides gifts for families in need in the Northern Berkshire area.

The project involves raising funds for the purchase of gifts, the actual buying of them, and the subsequent wrapping and distribution of them. Anyone wishing to donate can send donations to the Hoosac Valley Leo Club, 125 Savoy Road, Cheshire MA 01225. Checks should be made payable to the Hoosac Valley Leo Club.

The project runs through Dec. 15.
 

* Bible study: A Saturday morning study group will be meeting at Hevreh of Southern Berkshire at 270 State Road in Great Barrington. Every Shabbat morning, gather with Rabbi Neil P.G. Hirsch and Rabbi Jodie Gordon at 8:45 a.m. to dive into the less-often read books of the Bible. Email Rabbi Hirsch for more information at nhirsch@hevreh.org.

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