NORTH ADAMS - Dr. Richard Ziter will have a special seat for his first Fall Foliage Parade - riding in a convertible right behind Mayor John Barrett III and Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray and backed by the Drury High School marching band.
Ziter graduated from Drury High in 1945 and went on to practice in Manhattan and Port Chester, N.Y. He never made it back to his hometown for the annual parade until now - as grand marshal.
"When they asked me to be grand marshal, I choked up. I could hardly speak," said Ziter on Thursday from his West Stockbridge home. "I'm very, very excited."
Rod Bunt of the Mayor's Office of Tourism said the choice of Ziter for the 52nd annual parade was especially fortunate because of his generosity and enthusiasm. "I'm so glad the [Parade] Committee chose the doctor ... he is really appreciative of the honor."
Ziter has been generous to his alma mater, establishing two $100,000 scholarships in science and music and two more $25,000 scholarships in memory of his brothers, Ted and the Rev. Nelson Ziter.
Bunt also called the participation of Murry a major coup for the city and said a special banner with the mayor's and Murray's names was made up because they would be marching together.
Barrett was an early supporter of the former Worcester mayor's run for the state's second highest spot.
Other dignitaries marching in the parade are U.S. Rep. John W. Olver, D-Amherst, state Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, and state Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams.
More than 140 units and banners will appear in the parade, including Rooty the Rutabaga from the town of Florida, numerous police, fire and first-responder units, marching bands, classic cars, the Shriners and floats, floats and more floats. This year's theme is "Transportation: Then and Now."
Cool, clear weather is forecast for the weekend and Bunt believes that will help the parade draw around 25,000 people this year. While it's difficult to get a good estimate, you can usually see the density of the crowd increase along the roadway as the parade nears Main Street, he said. The fine weather should also lure day-trippers from Vermont, New York and South County.
"I predict a whole lot people will show up," he said.
The Fall Foliage festivities kicked off last Sunday with the annual Family Fun Fair and children's race at Western Gateway Heritage State Park. On Thursday night, there was a MCLA Gallery 51 reception for "Painted Visions: Paintings by Award-Winning Massachusetts Artists," which runs through Oct. 21, and the annual ziti supper at St. Anthony's Parish Hall.
The annual children's parade begins Friday evening at 5:30 from the corner of East and Main streets and marches down Main Street to City Hall. Participants should arrive by 5 p.m.
Another march will be taking place down Curran Highway as the fifth annual Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice of Northern Berkshire Walk of Life sets off from the VNA building. Participants in the fundraiser, which will benefit the new children's palliative care program, will walk to the library and back, about a 3.5-mile loop. There will be several speakers at the conclusion of the walk.
Afterwards, hungry marchers can fill up at the spaghetti supper at the Eagles on Curran Highway from 5 to 8 for $8.
For those with a more classical bent, Antares will perform chamber music at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' Church Street Center at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. The performance is the first in the Patrons of the Arts performance series. To order tickets, call 413-662-5543.
There's plenty more music, and some dancing, with rock 'n' roll and Irish bands playing at local clubs.
The Whooligans, a West Coast band with an Irish sound, will play at American Legion Post 125 on Friday and Saturday night, Sept. 28 and 29, at 8. Tickets are $20 and benefit the Legion baseball team and the State Street T Neighborhood Kids. They can be purchased at the Legion and State Street Tavern.
On Saturday night, local band RU-Ready will play pop and rock songs from 8 to midnight at the Eagles. Call 664-9043 for tickets. Also on Saturday, Skyboro Sound Recording Studio presents "Live at the Elks" with The Shepherds, Johnny’s Ghost, CJ Field and Daisy’s Little Secret, plus special guest Lita Williams. Concert starts at 7 at the Elks Club on Eagle Street. Tickets are available at Skyboro Sound in the Windsor Mill, the Elks and Jack’s Hot Dogs on Eagle Street. Contact Skyboro Sound at 662-2333.
Nearly two dozen regional crafters and artists will be offering their wares in the Autumn Arts and Crafts Festival on Saturday from 10 to 3 on Main Street. Photographs, handcrafted jewelry, ceramics and more will be available for sale.
Also on Saturday, the first Fall Foliage Charity Bed Race will be run on Main and Eagle streets. The charity event starts at 11 with a performance by local country music singer Williams. The races begin at noon.
And, finally, the parade steps off at 1 p.m. on Sunday from the Wal-Mart parking lot. On Tuesday night, the parade committee literally laid out the line of march using color-coded index cards, said Bunt, who was fielding calls about the festivities every two or three minutes on Thursday.
While the lineup is pretty well set, a few latecomers are being slipped into position by putting an a or b after a number to prevent renumbering the entire parade. Volunteers are planning a hearty breakfast on Sunday before they get into position
"Everybody knows their jobs," said Bunt. "For good or bad, [the parade] will be coming down the road."
The line of march for the 52nd annual Fall Foliage Parade:
1 North Adams Police Color Guard
2 Fall Foliage Parade Banner
3 St. Peter's Drum Corps, Torrington, Conn.
4 Police and public safety units from around Berkshire County, organized by the North Adams commissioner of public safety
5 Pittsfield Police Department honor guard, community van, SWAT vehicle
6 North Adams Fire Department
7 Clarksburg Volunteer Fire Company
8 Florida Volunteer Fire Department
8a Rooty the Rutabaga and Uncle Sam, town of Florida
9 Adams Forest Warden Department
10 Monroe Volunteer Fire Department
11 Savoy Volunteer Fire Department
12 Williamstown Fire Department
13a North Adams Ambulance Service
13 Children’s Parade Banner
14 Fifes & Drums of Olde Saratoga
15-16 Mayor John Barrett III and Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray
17 Greylock Federal Credit Union
18 Dr. Richard Ziter, grand marshal
19 Drury High School band
20 BFAIR Banner
21 Congressman John Olver
22 State Sen. Benjamin B. Downing
23 State Rep. Daniel Bosley
24 104th Color Guard
25 Alton & Weston Banner
26 Stamford Community Church
27 BerkshireRides Banner
28 BerkshireRides Van
29 Taconic Pipe Band
30 City of North Adams Banner
31 North Adams City Council
32 Berkshire County Radio Vans
33 JH Maxymillian
34 Andover One Wheelers Unicycle Team
35 Specialty Minerals Banner
36 Berkshire District Attorney David Capeless
37 Berkshire Chamber of Commerce Float
38 Crane Personal Design
39 Northern Berkshire Register of Deeds Frances Brooks
40 Adams Cooperative Bank Banner
41 Ichabod Crane Marching Band
42 Big Y Banner
43 Big Y
44 Fraternal Order of Eagles Banner
45 Clark Billings Banner
46 Brattleboro, Vt., American Legion Band
47 American Legion Auxiliary Frank R. Stiles Unit 125
48 Williamstown Post 152 American Legion
49 AMVETS Post 100, North Adams
50 AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary Department of Massachusetts
51 Massachusetts Army National Guard
52 Dr. George Curran VFW 996 Ladies' Auxiliary
53 The Whooligans band
54 American Legion Post 125, North Adams
55 Northern Berkshire Vietnam Veterans Association
56 A-Plus Vacations Banner
57 Berkshire Bank Banner
58 Berkshire Bank fire truck
59 Berkshire Gas banner
60 National American Miss Massachusetts Teen 2007
61 TD Banknorth Banner
62 Lewis S. Mills Marching Band
63 North Adams Transcript Banner
64 United Cerebral Palsy
65 Holiday Inn Banner
66 Marksmen Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps
67 NBCTV Banner
68 Drury Drama Team
69 Coakley, Pierpan, Dolan & Collins Banner
70 North Adams Ambulance
71 Prospect Drum Corps
72 Al Marden Banner
73 Special Forces float
74 Fall Foliage Area Cycle Clubs
75 Colonial Navy of Massachusetts
76 H.A. George Banner
77 St. John's Players
78 Adams Alert Hose Company No. 1
79 Legacy Bank Banner
80 Holyoke High School Marching Knights
81 Grand Commandery Knights Temples of Mass. and R.I.
82 Hoosac Bank Banner
83 Mountain One Financial Partners
84 Reach Community Health Foundation in North Adams Trolley
85 Dilego Banner
86 Adams Agricultural Fair Prince & Princess 2007
87 State Bureau of Forest Fire Control
88 Brown Packaging Banner
89 Springfield Kiltie Band
90 Landmark Banner
91 Wild Country Cloggers
92 West Oil Banner
93 Berkshire Dance Theatre Inc.
94 MCLA Banner
95 MCLA
96 Moodus Drum & Fife
99 MCLA - Gallery 51
100 Greylock Community Club Banner
101 Berkshire Family Center
102 South Adams Savings Bank Banner
102a Youth Center, Inc.
103 Leland and Gray
104 Mike Nugai - 1 fire truck
105 North Adams Teachers' Association
106 Carpenter’s Union Banner
107 Berkshire County Line Dancers
108 Marlow & Co. Banner
109 Uncle Sam Chorus
110 Uncle Sam Pageant Winner
111 Tatro Cont. Banner
112 Amsterdam Marching Rams
113 Century 21 Banner
114 Philmont Fire Company float
115 Northern Berkshire health Banner
116 Winner of Fall Foliage Bed Race
117 Aubuchon Banner
118 Hoosac Valley High School Band
119 Cascade School Supplies Banner
120 Mini Cooper Tour
121 Nassif Pharmacy Banner
122 Torrington High School
123 Morrison Berkshire Banner
124 Adams Lions eye-screening vehicle
125 Berkshire Fatherhood Coalition
126 Whitney’s Banner
127 Night Cruzers of Berkshire County
128 Meehan & Co Banner
129 Oldies but Goodies Rock 'n' Roll Show
130 Thomas Rumbolt Banner
130a Berkshire Lodge of Masons
131 Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America, Helma Court 64
132 Lady Shriners of Rutland, Vt.
133 Tire Warehouse Banner
134 Melha Shriners
135 Boxcar Media Banner
136 Berkshire Highlanders Pipe Band
137 A-1 Septic Banner
138 New Car Dealership Banner
139 American Livery Banner
140 North Adams Police Ropes Float
141 North Adams Elks Banner
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McCann and Taconic Awarded CTI Grants
Staff Reports
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced $525,482 in Career Technical Initiative (CTI) implementation grants awarded to two organizations in the Berkshires to train 80 individuals for careers in high-demand occupations within the trades, construction, and manufacturing sectors in the region.
In North Adams, McCann Technical School was awarded $344,871 to provide training to 60 participants for Automotive Technician, Advanced Manufacturing, and Welding positions. They will partner with T&M Auto Sales Inc., Berkshire Bridge & Iron Co. Inc., Haddad GMC, Haddad Subaru, Bedard Brothers Auto Sales Inc., Lenco Armored Vehicles, TOG Manufacturing, Sinicon Plastics, Adams Plumbing & Heating Inc., and Gills Point S Tire.
"We are excited to be working with our MassHire team to continue to address our workforce needs and build talent pipelines and career pathways in Advanced Manufacturing, Welding and Automotive Technician," McCann Superintendent James Brosnan said. "This CTI award will provide hands-on training and support as we continue to expand our skilled talent pool for employers in the Berkshires."
In Pittsfield Taconic High School was awarded $180,610 to provide training to 20 participants for Metal Fabrication and Auto Technology positions. They will partner with O.W. Landergren Inc., Lenco Industries Inc., Bedard Brothers, Haddad's Auto Group, and RW's Auto Inc.
"Pittsfield Public Schools is incredibly grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Commonwealth Corporation for the CTI award to Taconic High School. This grant will have a significant and lasting impact on our community by providing skilled technicians to address critical shortages in Berkshire County," said Superintendent Joseph Curtis. "We are excited to partner with Lenco Industries, Haddads, Bedards, RW Auto, O.W. Landergren, Northeast Fabricators, and the MassHire Berkshire Career Center. These partnerships will serve as a catalyst for positive change, ensuring that our trainees are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st-century workforce, while simultaneously strengthening our local economy."
The CTI grant program, a state-funded workforce initiative, partners with career and technical education schools to provide adult learners, especially unemployed and underemployed individuals from underserved populations and underrepresented groups, with career training and technical skills to meet the needs of Massachusetts employers. The program transforms career and technical education schools across the state to become "Career Technical Institutes" that run after dark programs in the construction/trades, manufacturing, and skilled trades career pathways.
"Addressing our workforce needs and building talent pipelines and career pathways in construction, trades and manufacturing sectors is a priority for this administration," said Governor Maura Healey. "CTI offers hands-on training that will support our jobseekers, workers and employers. We're proud to expand the CTI awards to these two schools in the Berkshires to strengthen our workforce and grow our economy throughout the state."
Jesse Saylor of TSKP Studio, the school project designer, said the conductivity of the soils were comparable or better than three recent school completed in Connecticut.
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The School Committee earlier this month approved upping the pay scale by $35 to $55 a day and creating a new base of $130 for substitutes with fewer credentials.
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