Toy Library Coming to Pittsfield's Onota Lake

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Wahconah High senior plans to build a toy library at Onota Lake Beach to foster community and benefit kids.

On Tuesday, the Park Commission supported Alexandra Bills' toy library proposal as part of her National Honors Society individual service project.  She hopes to see it come to fruition by April, utilizing donated materials and the help of her father for construction.

"I wanted to create a toy library like the other examples in Berkshire County from the sled library to the book libraries," she explained. "But I wanted to make it toys for Onota Lake because a lot of kids forget their toys or some kids can't afford toys."

She proposed that it be located on the right side of the staircase at the public beach.  The student will ask a local company to donate lumber for the project, build it with her father who has carpentry experience, and have friends and family members provide toys to fill it.

"I would be checking on it weekly if not daily in the summer to pick up toys," she added. "But there also will be a sign to have 'pick a toy, leave a toy, please pick up after yourself’ so kids can also learn that as well."

Members of the National Honor Society, which is one of the longest-standing and most recognized co-curricular student organizations in the U.S., must fulfill a community service requirement to participate.

Bills pointed out that there will be no rough edges on the structure and it will be child-height so they can access it.  The library will sit on a sturdy surface such as pavers, be affixed to a structure so that it stays in place, and will be stored during the winter time.

Late last year, a sled library was OKed for Clapp Park and came to fruition soon after.  Lending libraries are said to be popular pieces of pubic infrastructure that benefit the community.

• The commission voted to change its meeting time from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m.
   
• The bid for the restoration of Springside Pond was awarded to William. J. Keller and Sons Construction and work will begin in the late spring or early summer.  Plans include sediment removal, dam repair, an elevated boardwalk, and a paved path for accessibility, and are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.
   
• The bid for the Taconic High School track was awarded to Mountain View Landscapes and it will be fully reconstructed this spring.

Five Local Firefighters Graduate From Massachusetts Firefighting Academy

05:32PM / Monday, January 06, 2025

Cody Doyle, left, and Owen Hoffman of Dalton hold their axes after graduating from the academy on Monday. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Five local firefighters were among the 20 graduates of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy on Monday. 

 

Jahyde Bullard, Phourasamy Din and Matthew Tobin, all of Pittsfield, and Cody Doyle and Owen Hoffman of Dalton completed the academy's 50-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program.

 

Bullard, Din and Tobin were appointed permanent firefighters by Mayor Peter Marchetti last July. 

 

"Massachusetts firefighters are on the frontlines protecting their communities every day, and today’s graduates are needed now more than ever," said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. "The hundreds of hours of foundational training they’ve received will provide them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely."

 

The graduating firefighters of Class  No. S39 represent the fire departments of Amherst, Chicopee, Dalton, Monson, Northampton, Palmer, Pittsfield, South Hadley Fire District 1, Springfield, Ware, and Westfield.

 

The Richard N. Bangs Outstanding Student Award, which is presented to one recruit in each graduating career recruit training class, was presented to Dylan Sliech of Springfield Fire and Emergency Services. The award is named for the longtime chair of the Massachusetts Fire Training Council and reflects the recruit's academic and practical skills, testing, and evaluations over the course of the 10-week program.

 

The graduates received classroom training in all basic firefighter skills during the course. They practice first under non-fire conditions and then during controlled fire conditions. To graduate, students must demonstrate proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation, and fire attack. Fire attack operations range from mailbox fires to multiple-floor or multiple-room structural fires.