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The bridge club at the senior center poses for a group photo with Ethel Connors, who is celebrating her centennial.
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The club pitched in to buy Connors a cake.

Pittsfield Woman Celebrating 100th Birthday

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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Ethel Connors turns 100 years old on Wednesday.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Ethel Connors will hit a milestone on Wednesday: 100 years.
 
Her bridge club friends at the Ralph Froio Senior Center threw her a surprise birthday party a day ahead of her turning centenarian.
 
Connors walked into her weekly game to a standing ovation on Tuesday. 
 
"This is unreal. I couldn't believe it," Connors said. "It really is a surprise."
 
She weaved her way through the crowd, giving hugs along the way, and there was food, a birthday cake, and the group cheers a toast to Connors. 
 
Connors said the secret to longevity is "exercise, exercise." Every day, Connors does something, whether that be at the hospital or as a participant of the Berkshire Family YMCA's Silver Sneakers program. When she takes a vacation to Cape Cod, she can be seen out on a kayak.
 
Connors is a Pittsfield native and worked for 25 years as a teacher's aide after she spent a few years as an X-ray technician. She started in the classrooms of the former Tucker School.
 
"When the two community schools opened up, I went to Westside and then I went to Morningside," Connors said.
 
She retired from Morningside and still lives in the same house she grew up in. 
 
Meanwhile, she raised five children -- three of whom are retiring themselves. Her elder child does consulting work now, but only a few days a week, and her daughter is a radiologist. Connors has two grandchildren and a great-grandson, and her friend Ellie Persip jokingly adds herself to that list as "an adopted daughter."
 
Connors has been playing bridge for 22 years at the senior center, where the group shares plenty of laughs. While Persip says Connors is "really good" at bridge, she enjoys socializing over a number of different games. 
 
She is also an avid reader and always continues to learn, such as recently taking classes to learn to speak Italian. 
 
The bridge club organized the surprise party to recognize the important milestone but with Connors' popularity, those at the senior center won't be the only ones honoring the occasion.

Tags: birthday,   centenarian,   

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Pittsfield Council to See 10-Year Charter Review Report

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Following almost two years of work, the Charter Review Committee has made its recommendations to the City Council.

Tuesday's council agenda includes the committee's report dealing with governance items such as the charter objection, term limits, and financial procedures. Every 10 years, a panel reviews the City Charter, which defines the city's structure of government.

"The Charter Review Committee was established by city ordinance in May 2023. Its first meeting took place on August 7, 2023, under the direction of City Solicitor Stephen Pagnotta," Chair Michael McCarthy's executive summary reads.

"Solicitor Pagnotta informed the committee that its mission is to offer recommendations to city government concerning the Charter."

The charter objection was the most discussed issue throughout the preview process.  Members determined "the City's interest in a functioning government is not served well by a Charter' Objection being made by a sole Councilor."

The nearly 50-page report proposes amendments to Article 2 Section 9C, Charter Objection, to allow for discussion, require three supporters, and be prohibited when it pertains to the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

"The Committee felt strongly that the budgetary process should not be held hostage to a Charter Objection. The process of approving a budget under the Charter involves months of hearings with firm calendar restrictions, leading to a budget that must be in place before each fiscal year begins," McCarthy wrote.

"A Charter Objection during this process would have the potential to disrupt and delay the budget being in place on July 1 of each fiscal year."

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