The VFW gave out donations to local groups including the Clarksburg Fire Department. See more photos here.
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9144 played Santa Claus on Sunday (with a little help from the jolly old elf) at the town's tree lighting.
The post handed out nearly $10,000 in donations to worthy organizations.
Santa arrived on a fire truck with the Clarksburg Volunteer Fire Department and was greeted with cheers but a large crowd of children. He helped VFW members Joseph Bushika and Edward Denault in lighting the young tree, which replaced an older permanent tree.
The crowd headed to the pavilion for pictures with Santa and cookies and hot chocolate provided by the VFW.
In between, the VFW recognized organizations that have helped the town and the larger community with monetary donations. This has been an annual event using proceeds from the golf tournament hosted by the post.
"All these donations have been doubled this year," said Denault. "Reason being as the golf tournament was so successful. Thanks everybody who donated so we got extra money to give out."
The post gave $250 to St. Elizabeth's Rosary Society for its scholarship program; $500 to the Drury High School band for its participation in the Memorial Day event; $500 to the town's Council on Aging; $1,000 each to two local cancer charities, the AYJ Fund and PopCares, and $1,000 each the town library, the Historical Society and and Fire Department.
The Clarksburg School PTG was gifted with $3,500. Denault said the VFW often gave its donations toward field trips and other events but feels the PTG would know best where the money would do the most good for the children.
The evening concluded with the prekindergarten class at Clarksburg School singing "Must Be Santa" and then Santa lead everyone in singing "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer."
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North Adams Man Guilty of Murder
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A North Adams man was convicted Friday of murdering his wife, Charli Gould Cook, in 2019.
A Berkshire Superior Court jury found Michael Cook Sr., 47, guilty of murder in the second degree, assault and armed assault with intent to murder, and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury and assault and battery on a family or household member.
Cook had broken into the Chase Avenue home of his estranged wife on July 11, 2019. The 41-year-old woman was in her bed when Cook hit on the back side of her head with a hammer. The assault resulted in significant injury to her skull causing traumatic brain injury. Emergency personnel found her unresponsive when called to the home approximately 1 a.m. that morning.
She passed away approximately five months after the assault at Baystate Medical Center. The medical examiner ruled her cause of death as a direct result of the brain injury from the July 11th assault. Cook was arrested on assault charges and indicted in 2020 of murder. He had been detained without the right to bail since that time after being determined a danger to the community.
Charli Cook was a native of North Adams who attended McCann Technical School and had worked as a certified nursing assistant.
Sentencing will take place on Thursday, Oct. 10, at Berkshire Superior Court.
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