image description
Sen. Adam Hinds’ 2018 greeting card was designed by Lenox sixth-grader Savannah Reber.

Hinds Seeks Designs for Annual Holiday Card Contest

Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — School is in session and summer doesn't officially end until Sept. 23, but Team Hinds is thinking about the holidays.

State Sen. Adam G. Hinds (D- Pittsfield) has sent packages to 57 schools across his Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden District inviting students in grades three through six to participate in his annual Holiday Card Design Contest.

Each December, Hinds sends almost 1,000 greeting cards by mail to friends, family, colleagues and constituents. The winning design will be used as the cover art for his 2019 holiday greeting card. The student artist will be identified on the card, featured in the senator's media and social media outreach, and win a pizza party for their classroom with Hinds.

"One of my favorite things to do is visit local schools and interact with students of all ages," Hinds said. "I love the holidays, and I love to see children’s excitement during the holiday season. This contest lets our team tap into that excitement and spread cheer throughout the community."

Last year, 348 students from a dozen schools located across western Massachusetts submitted entries to the contest. The winning drawing was submitted by Savannah Reber, who was then a sixth-grader at Lenox Memorial Middle & High School. For weeks, Hinds’ district office, located in downtown Pittsfield, was extremely festive, decorated with all the student entries.


"Visitors in my office loved looking at all the artwork last year," Hinds said. "I know I'm looking forward to seeing them all as well."

The contest is open to all students in grades three through six who live in one of the 52 communities within the senator's Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden District. The winning image will be chosen by Hinds and used as the cover of his 2019 holiday greeting card. The image may also be used in the his press and social media. The printed holiday card will credit the student artist by listing their name, age, grade, hometown and school. The winning student will be announced by Senator Hinds in December and will win a pizza party luncheon with the Senator for their classroom.

Contest entries must be returned to Hinds' Pittsfield office no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15. Entries may be dropped off in the office Monday through Friday during normal business hours, or mailed to Senator Adam Hinds Holiday Greeting Card Contest, 100 North Street, Suite 410, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Entries can also be scanned (in color) and emailed.

Contest entry forms have been mailed to schools in Hinds' district this week, and are also available on the senator's social media pages or by contacting his office.


Tags: Hinds,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Dalton Water Crews Fixing Leak on North Street

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — It's been a busy couple of days for the Dalton Water Department's four-man crew who have been addressing a couple of water leaks. 
 
Drivers on North Street approaching the bridge will see the crew working with REWC Land Management, Inc. employees to locate a water main and repair the leak. 
 
Water Department Superintendent Bob Benlien emphasized that the leak is minor and does not affect any residents. He does not foresee having to turn the water off and expects it to be repaired by the end of the day. 
 
The leak was so minor that it did not appear in the department's flow chart, so it is less than 100 gallons a minute, he said. 
 
The likely cause is aging infrastructure as the pipe was installed in the 1930s, Benlien explained. 
 
The main thing is finding the pipe and the leak, which they are currently doing. The road has changed over time, and it looks like the pipe was moved when the bridge was built up so the department is searching for the pipe and leak now. 
 
The water main is located on a state road with a gas main within close proximity, so the department opted to contract  REWC because it has a vacuum excavation truck.
 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories