TRIBUTE: A parent pays homage to retiring MGRHS administrators

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 09:50:02 -0400
From: Deb Burns <Deb.Burns@storey.com>
Subject: moving on

I just want to express my thanks to three people who are leaving Mt.
Greylock today. I wish them all the best, but I feel deep sadness at
their departure, since they have been at the core of the school for so
long.

Joan Manners began as the secretary to the superintendent when I was a
sophomore at Mt. Greylock (never mind what year). She has been at the
center of the school for decades, kind, caring, yet professional and
thorough. She is an artist on the pipe organ and a choir director, and
her life will continue to be full and rich, but we'll miss her.

Most people don't even comprehend how lucky we've been to have Marti
Mellor. With her deep understanding of every aspect of how the school
works, in every capacity, she is the one person who can answer almost any
question. She has been a wizard at finding money for programs and making
it possible for the school to continue offering an excellent education
despite this agonizing budget crisis.

During the past (however many) years, Mark Piechota has been a true
inspiration for so many of us. We have admired his educational vision,
his compassion for teenagers, his big-picture comprehension, and his sense
of justice. During the past five or so years of budget crisis, we were
amazed and humbled by his grace under pressure, his courage,
steadfastness, and resourcefulness. Mark and Pat are moving to the
Philadelphia area where Mark will become headmaster at a very lucky
private school.

Most of all, these three individuals have loved our kids and thought of
them first. They have nurtured and supported them and followed their
activities. Mt. Greylock has been so fortunate to have these three
administrators and we will miss them terribly.

I wish them the best of luck and much happiness in future endeavors. --
Deb Burns

ADVISORY: Williamstown Chamber officials on WNAW Wednesday, 8:30 a.m.

Subject: Tune in to WNAW/WMNB tomorrow-6/29/05

Paul Lovegreen, president of the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce,
and Amber Braman, director, will be on the Opinion Show tomorrow, June 29
at 8:30AM on WNAW (AM 1230). Tune in to hear what's going on at the
Chamber and call in with questions!

Wednesday concert at Windsor Lake to feature Champagne Jam

Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2005 14:31:44 -0400
From: Rod Bunt <tourist@bcn.net>

Champagne Jam will play next in an ongoing series of free concerts held at
Windsor Lake this Wednesday, June 29th, from 7:00 - 8:30 PM. The
performances combine music with the natural backdrop of the lake, beach
and nearby mountains. The band consists of Tracy Kittler, vocalist, who
also plays keyboard and guitar; and Dave Kittler also sings, plays bass
and percussion. The band's repertoire includes a wide range of musical
styles, including Big Band, country, golden oldies and timeless rock 'n
roll classics. Hoosac Bank and the city of North Adams sponsor these free
concerts. Performances are staged each Wednesday through August 10th with
a rain date of August 17th. The concerts begin at 7:00 PM sharp and last
until 8:30. Patrons are urged to bring chairs or blankets for their
comfort.

For more information about the concerts on the lake or any North Adams
event this summer, please call the North Adams Office of Tourism at
664-6180 or tourist@bcn.net

Free History Walk Details the "Lost" City of North Adams

Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 14:17:41 -0400
From: Rod Bunt <tourist@bcn.net>

Local Historian Paul W. Marino has announced the next in his series of
Historical Walks for the summer of 2005. The Walk will be a tour of Center
Street, and will take place on Saturday, July 2.

While little remains of Center Street today, it was at one time a very
significant part of North Adams, and one that was greatly changed by Urban
Renewal in both the 1950's as well as the 1970's. As such, Center Street
evokes memories of when the city of North Adams looked-and felt-more like
a city than it does today; when there were streets and alleys everywhere,
all harboring treasures that have since been lost to demolition.

What historical treasures stood on Center Street? A theater that was never
used as a theater, and another that was used as a synagogue; a store where
a movie star worked, a bowling alley, and a parking garage for carriages.
One of the city's three firehouses was on Center Street, a restaurant
owned by a mayor, and another that can be connected to a sports figure now
enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

And from Center Street, one can see several significant sites, such as
where the original Clark Biscuit Company bakery was, and where the
infamous Reed Murders took place. At the time they occurred, the Reed
Murders were expected to be as notorious and memorable as the Borden
Murders in Fall River; neither crime has ever been solved. The Walk will
also include a look at Eagle Street's business section and North Church
Street.

The Walk, which is accessible to persons in wheelchairs, will begin at
2:30 pm under the Route 2 overpass on Marshall Street. Interested persons
are advised to dress for the weather, wear a hat with a wide brim, and a
good pair of walking shoes; they should carry a canteen or bottle of
water, and be prepared to have their ears talked off. For additional info,
contact: Paul W. Marino 663-3809 - historyman2@earthlink.net

LISTEN: June 21 WGBH radio show on Downing Street memo

If you go to this page:
http://www.radioopensource.org/2005/06/20/the-downing-street-memo/

And click on the Listen 24MB MP3 link, you'll find a fascinating one-hour
interview and talk show with Michael Smith, the author of the original
Sunday Times "Downing Street memo" story. He explains his perception of
why that story, and one he did earlier when he was with the London
Telegraph, are so significant. In particular, he cites a Crawford, Tex.,
meeting between Tony Blair and George Bush in which, according to the memo
writer, the two world leaders agreed to pursue a policy of forcing "regime
change" in Iraq -- illegal under international law.

The program is called Radio Open Source, with Christopher Lydon. It just
started up a few weeks ago and you can get the stream on the web at:

http://www.radioopensource.org/

Outdoor Cinema Begins at MASS MoCA on Saturday

Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 14:25:39 -0400
From: Rod Bunt <tourist@bcn.net>, Mayor's Office of Tourism

This Saturday, June 25, at 8:30 PM, MASS MoCA will open its outdoor cinema
(with the largest screen in the Berkshires) featuring the projected
drawings of William Kentridge. The shorts will be screened with live
music composed by Philip Miller, who will join us from South Africa to
conduct a string quartet, plus voice, piano, and trumpet.

Kentridge is one of the world's best draftsmen. Using charcoal, markers,
and an eraser, he renders lush drawings, snaps a single frame of film, and
then goes back into the sheet, re-working it, pushing charcoal around and
into the drawing, and then taking a second frame film. The effect is
gorgeous and liquid, masterful in the way that we think of old masters.

Lickety Split and the MASS MoCA bar will be on hand to serve dinners and
drinks. MASS MoCA's Cinema Courtyard is the place to be on a beautiful
summer night.

Images Cinema seeks volunteers

From: Janet Curran <janet@imagescinema.org>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 27, 2005

Contact: Ruth Giordano, (413) 458-1039 / ruth@imagescinema.org

IMAGES CINEMA SEEKS VOLUNTEER HELP

Williamstown, MA __ Images Cinema is seeking volunteers to help as cleaners
and concessions workers. The cleaning crew meets once a week on Friday
mornings at 10 – 11:30 AM. Concessions volunteers are needed for a minimum
of 20 minutes before scheduled film screenings. They are compensated with
free passes to movies. Many of our volunteers attend the screening directly
following their work shift. Others take away passes for future use, or share
them with friends or associates. Images Cinema is located at 50 Spring
Street, Williamstown, MA.

Without a strong and varied crew of volunteer workers, the independent,
non-profit movie theatre, Images Cinema, could not function. Volunteers sell
popcorn, soda and candy. They also sweep, vacuum and mop the theater. They
prepare mailings and distribute newsletters. When Images is planning an
event, volunteers are called on for a variety of tasks.

If you can spare a few minutes a week to support independent film in the
area, please email ruth@imagescinema.org or call Ruth at 458-1039
Tuesday–Saturday evenings after 6:00pm.

WTF actors will read Declaration of Independence on July 4

NEWS RELEASE
From: Williamstown 4th of July Parade <williamstownparade@yahoo.com>
Contact: Sandra Thomas, 458-1039/458-9630 or Leslie Reed-Evans, 458-5150

WILLIAMSTOWN THEATER FESTIVAL ACTORS READ THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Founding documents of the United States also on view

Williamstown, MA _ The Chapin Library at Williams College will be open on
Monday, July 4th, from 10:00am to 2:00pm, for viewing of the Founding
Documents of the United States. At 11:30am, actors from the Williamstown
Theater Festival (names to be announced) will read the Declaration of
Independence, the British reply to the Declaration, and the Preamble to
the U.S. Constitution.

The reading will follow the 2005 Williamstown 4th of July Parade on
Monday, July 4 at 10 am. The parade will begin at the Williamstown
Elementary School and travel down Southworth Street to Main Street to
Spring Street to Latham Street where it will end at Weston Field.

Parade participants just added to the line up include: League of Women
Voters, Williamstown Selectmen, Village Ambulance, House of Local History
and Overland Community Service.

Also marching will be: American Legion Color Guard, Clark Art Institute,
Williams College Museum of Art, Images Cinema, Steep Meadow Farm,
Caretaker Farm, Williamstown Community Chest, Williamstown Rural Lands
Foundation, Clover Hill Farm, among others.

To participate, call Sandra Thomas at 458-1039 or Leslie Reed-Evans at
458-5150.

TONIGHT (June 22): Free concert at Windsor Lake in North Adams -- 7 p.m.

Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 11:27:39 -0400
From: Rod Bunt <tourist@bcn.net>

The first free Concert at the Lake is tonight at 7:00 PM

(June 22, 2005)

The popular Pittsfield - based "Eagles Band," led by
Richard Paul will perform tonight at Windsor Lake off of Bradley Street in
North Adams. This community band features as many as 40 members, and will
play free, at the lake this evening from 7:00 - 8:00 PM. Concert goers are
encouraged to bring chairs or a blanket for their comfort for tonight's
concert. Hoosac Bank and the city of North Adams make this summer series
possible. For a full list of Concerts at the Lake, please contact the
Mayor's Office of Tourism at 664-6180 or email tourist@bcn.net

AVAILABLE: Bob Dylan & Willie Nelson Tickets

Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2005 19:51:35 -0400
From: Sandra Thomas <sandra@imagescinema.org>
Subject: Bob Dylan & Willie Nelson Tickets

Are you, or anyone you know, looking for tickets to Thursday night's
sold-out concert at Waconah Park in Pittsfield?

Dave Ackerson (my brother-in-law) has three that he is looking to sell.
Contact him directly: daveackerson@yahoo.com

Rock on,
Sandra

Sandra Thomas
Executive Director
Images Cinema
* non-profit community film house *
50 Spring Street
Williamstown, MA 01267
Movie Line: 413-458-5612
Office/Fax: 413-458-1039
http://www.imagescinema.org

Free history walk on Saturday in North Adams

Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 16:49:40 -0400
From: Rod Bunt <tourist@bcn.net>
Subject: Another Free City History Walk!

Local Historian Paul W. Marino has announced the next in his series of
Historical Walks for the summer of 2004. This will be a Cemetery Walk, to
be held in Hillside Cemetery on Saturday, June 18. The Walk will cover the
north section only, and is especially suitable for children and families.
At 205 years old, Hillside is North Adams' oldest municipal cemetery, its
second oldest existing cemetery, and its third oldest overall. Many of the
city's founders and shapers are buried there, including the town's first
Postmaster, and its first millionaire and a man who was a personal friend
to two U.S. Presidents. A physician who established a school in is
Hillside, along with the first local educator to have a school named for
him, and the only woman to be so honored; an attorney who invented a
railroad brake, and a man who died a hero's death in the construction of
the Hoosac Tunnel, a local man who was an eye-witness to President
Lincoln's delivery of the Gettysburg Address, and a world-famous
archaeologist. Rich in history, Hillside is equally rich in fine
stonework, including the several statues, the breath-taking Isbell
monument. Two monuments are registered with the Smithsonian Institute,
through the Save Outdoor Sculpture program; one of these---the John Henry
Haynes marker---is most likely the only one of its kind in the world. The
Walk starts at 2:30 PM at the top of the hill off Brown Street. Interested
persons are advised to dress for the weather. They should wear a hat with
a wide brim and good pair of walking shoes, and carry a canteen or a
bottle of water, and bring an extra pair of ears, since Paul will talk off
the first pair! In addition, they should remember to bring any children
they have handy, as this Walk is especially suitable for them, and
concludes with a treasure hunt. For more information, please call
663-3809, or email historyman2@earthlink.net

Williamstown July 4th parade seeks entrants

Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 12:59:28
From: Janet Curran <janet@imagescinema.org>

Subject: PRESS RELEASE: Williamstown 4th of July Parade

WILLIAMSTOWN 4TH OF JULY PARADE SEEKING ENTRANTS
What's more of an American Tradition than a parade!

Celebrate Independence Day by marching in Williamstown's annual 4th of July
Parade on Monday, July 4 at 10 am. Parade organizers are seeking entrants -
kids, bikes, floats, bands, animals, musicians, clowns, community service
organizations, businesses - everyone is invited to participate.

The parade will begin at the Williamstown Elementary School and travel down
Southworth Street to Main Street to Spring Street to Latham Street and end
at Weston Field.

For more information contact Sandra Thomas (413.458.1039,
sandra@imagescinema.org) or Leslie Reed-Evans (413.458.5150).

Mt. Greylock school board offers 6% raise over three years to teachers

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 09 Jun 2005 16:04:30 -0400
From: Robert Petricca <Robert.Petricca@petricca.com>

Wednesday, June 8, 2005
For Immediate Release

Mt. Greylock School Committee alters contract offer

The Mt. Greylock school committee announces today some key
changes in its contract offer to the Mt. Greylock Educators
Association.
The school committee has offered a three year contract
with a wage proposal of 0% for FY05, 3% for FY06, and 3% for FY07,
resulting in a 6% total increase or 2% average annual wage increase.
The faculty association's latest offer(5/6/05)asks for a 7.25% increase
in a four year contract, for an average annual wage increase of
1.81%
The Mt. Greylock school committee has modified its proposal on teachers' health insurance contribution from asking for a 25% contribution over 3 years to a 20% contribution starting in September 2005. This would make a 80-20 split instead of the current 90-10 split. The teacher's association has offered to increase their contribution to 20% over the next 3 years, giving an 80-20 split, but at the end of the 3 years their contribution would revert back to a 90-10 split. The school committee could not accept this.
Other provisions in the committee's contract offer remain
unchanged. "We are very close on most items," said Petricca, "with
tentative agreements penciled in on all but a few of the points we have
been discussing."
For example, the request that tuition waivers be granted for
out-of-district students whose parents are Mt. Greylock teachers will not be accepted by the school committee. On the surface it is a nice idea, but when we analyzed the loss of revenue to the district, we were
amazed by the large sums the budget would lose and this would benefit only a small number of teachers.
"We are very close to an agreement," Petricca said, "and the School
Committee members are committed to holding negotiating sessions
throughout the summer to reach a settlement.

FACTS:

School Committee:

* 3 year contract (2005-2007)
* 0%/3%/3% pay increases Avg 2%/year over 3 years
* 80/20 insurance split, effective September 2005.

Faculty:
* 4 year contact (2005-2008)
* total average (per employee) raise 1/1.5/2.25/2.5. 1.81% Avg annual
over 4 years.
* 80/20 insuance split phased in over 4 years.
* Sunset clause - employee share reverts to 10% after 4th year (90-10).

ARTS: Eclipse Mill artist opening set Saturday/Sunday

Submitted by:
From: Debi Pendell <debipendell@msn.com>

Public invited to Artist Open Studios
at the Eclipse Mill
243 Union Street (Route 2), North Adams MA

Saturday & Sunday
June 11 & 12, 2005
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. each day

Artits are opening their doors to the public to display our work for you
to see. Including panting, mixed-media collage, fiber arts, printmaking,
illustration, fine-art bookselling, ceramics and sculpture.

for further information and/or directions, see the website:
www.eclipsemill.com<about:blank>

The Eclipse Mill building is handicap accessible.

Lectures set on rotator-cuff injuries and acid-reflux disease

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 11:09:34 -0400
From: Rod Bunt <tourist@bcn.net>
To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
Subject: NARH Sponsors Local Lectures

North Adams Regional Hospital will sponsor two
lectures by local physicians in June, focusing on rotator cuff injuries and
acid reflux disease. Both lectures will take place at the VNA & Hospice of
Northern Berkshire in the Community Room, 535 Curran Highway (Route 8),
North Adams. Chi Zhang, M.D., a gastroenterologist, will speak on Tuesday, June 7
at 7 p.m. Dr. Zhang's discussion will focus on acid reflux disease and
heartburn. Acid reflux disease is experienced by many Americans but is a
treatable condition. Dr. Zhang joined the NARH Medical Staff in 2004 and is
fellowship-trained in gastroenterology. He also holds a Ph.D. in
neuroscience from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
Suk Namkoong, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with Orthopedic Associates of
Northern Berkshire, will speak on Tuesday, June 14 at 7 p.m. and will focus
on rotator cuff tears and treatment. Rotator cuff tears are most common in
people over 40 but can also occur in younger people following acute trauma
or repetitive overhead activity or sports activity. Dr. Namkoong is fellowship-trained
in sports medicine. He is a graduate of Princeton University and earned his
medical degree from New York University School of Medicine.
Both talks are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will
be served

FREE CONCERT: by Wintergren Saturday, 1:15 p.m. in Pittsfield

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 01 Jun 2005 00:00:41 -0400
From: Jared Polens-Wintergreen Trio <wintergreentrio@hotmail.com>
Subject: June tunes

The weather is *finally* feeling like spring (now that it's almost summer) and
to celebrate, Wintergreen will be playing a free outdoor concert this Sat, June
4 from 1:15-2PM at the corner of First and Fenn St. in downtown Pittsfield.
There'll be other music happening there during the day, and if we're all lucky
it'll turn out to be a beautiful June afternoon, so c'mon down!

And in other news, last Saturday we recorded the final two songs for our new
CD! There's still plenty of work to do: adding in guest musicians, mixing to
get levels just right, and all the rest of the musical magic that Greg Steele
works there at Derek Studios in Dalton, but we're beginning to see the light at
the end of the tunnel. I'll keep you all posted as things progress. Cheers!
-- Jared Polens