$100,000 Matching Gift Offered to Local Nonprofit Berkshire South

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Bob and Mary Ann Norris want to help you prove that the power of community is infinite: They have offered local nonprofit Berkshire South Regional Community Center a $100,000 match for the center's current year-end fundraising campaign.

"We want to help others know how much their participation is needed," Bob Norris said. "Nothing could be more inspiring than to see Berkshire South flourish. We want this place to thrive forever."

Bob Norris has been involved with Berkshire South since its inception.

"The extent of services provided by Berkshire South was not provided 20 years ago," he said. "We developed a worthy mission, and it is so gratifying to see the mixtures of people and programs here today."


Jenise Lucey, executive director of BSRCC, noted the difficulty in keeping the doors open year after year.

"If you ever considered making a gift to the center, now is the time to do it! The size of their match reflects a need that is very real. Annually we must raise 1 million dollars, which is 40 percent of our operating budget, through philanthropic gifts," she said. "Memberships alone, for which we are grateful, are not enough. Your donation will go farther than ever with this very generous matching gift."

Last year, BSRCC served nearly 5,000 warm Community Supper meals. More than 31,000 miles were run on fitness center treadmills. Special Olympians swam 1,280 pool lengths in the aquatics center. Summer campers spent 34,450 hours in active play away from screens. Nearly 3,000 members shared community in the Center’s spaces. Next year, there will be more of each.

To donate, visit the website.

 


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Dalton Fire District Votes OK All Articles, Return Incumbents

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Fire Chief Christian Tobin explains the Fire Department budget at Tuesday's annual district meeting. 
DALTON, Mass. — Voters approved all 22 articles on the warrant unanimously at the annual Fire District meeting on Tuesday night at the Stationery Factory.
 
Approximately 75 voters attended the meeting, which lasted a little more than a half hour, to vote on the proposed $3,524,680 budget for fiscal year 2025. 
 
The Fire District and town are two separate governing bodies. The Fire and Water departments are the Fire District's responsibility. The Board of Water Commissioners and the Prudential Committee govern the district.
 
A number of the budget hikes are caused by increases outside the district's control, specifically insurance, Water Commission Chair James Driscoll said during the meeting. 
 
Ambulance and fire proposed a combined budget of $1,873,608, up approximately $360,000. The department's increase is related to competitive wages and stipends, and personnel, all of which aim to improve the district's Property Protection Classification. 
 
In addition to that, just like the other department's in the district, insurance hikes contributed to the increases.
 
Article 9 raised $370,560 to pay the principal and interest on several district loans. 
 
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