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The gazebo at Wahconah's getting a bit of a glow up thanks to Eagle Scout Logan Kunde.

Wahconah High Senior Renovating School's Gazebo

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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DALTON, Mass. — Wahconah Regional High School senior Logan Kunde will be renovating the school's gazebo.  
 
The Central Berkshire Regional School Committee approved the initiative during its meeting in June. 
 
Kunde decided to renovate the high school's gazebo for his Eagle Scout Service Project. Planning and developing a service project is the fifth requirement of the Eagle Scouts, highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts.
 
The project is a significant milestone in a Scout's journey as it represents their dedication to leadership and service, which are two of the most important values a scout embodies, Kunde said. 
 
For many Scouts, it is their first business project and is one that they have complete control and responsibility over, he said. "And its success will lead to multiple opportunities and successes later in their lives."
 
As part of the project, Kunde will remove the gazebo's frames and screens, power wash and stain it with different colors. 
 
Kunde plans on starting the project this week and hopes to have it complete by July 20. 
 
"During this experience, I have reinforced my time management skills, overcome multiple setbacks, and taken charge of my own work — all skills that are necessary for success in a fast-paced working environment," he said. 
 
Kunde first planned on doing his project in late June but "unfortunately" learned at the "last minute" that he needed to obtain permission from the School Committee first. 
 
The day of the committee's meeting, June 27, was also the day Kunde was leaving for vacation. 
 
"Obviously, I was frustrated by this turn of events, but I had no other option. I postponed my project, went to the board meeting, got approval, and promptly went on vacation the next day," Kunde said. 
 
In addition, the project was originally going to be "a simple cleaning and painting job," but the school's representative Kunde had been working with requested a number of other things, "including moving the gazebo and setting it into the ground," Kunde said.  
 
A job like that would have been far too big to handle, so Kunde negotiated with the representative and reached a settlement that resulted in the removal of some screens and the addition of the renovation. 
 
"These setbacks, while annoying, are indicative of what a work life will be like in the future. Sometimes, things don't go the way you want, and you have to adapt to your situation accordingly," Kunde said. 

Tags: Boy Scouts,   WRHS,   

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Dalton Division Road Project in Pre-25 Percent Design Stage

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The town's engineers say there is still time to work through the Dalton Division Road project’s design and permitting process. 
 
In December, the Select Board voted to advocate for Concept A, which would have sidewalks on both sides, a 5-foot bike lane in the road on both sides with a buffer, and a 2-foot painted buffer between the vehicle lane and in the bike lane. They also recommended the two-way stop control option. 
 
Since that decision, there have been sentiments to revisit this decision to reduce the cost and improve safety at the intersection off Williams Street, Washington Mountain Road, and Mountain Road. 
 
The original vote would have been the most expensive and "certainly not" the engineer or the state's "preferred design," Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said during a meeting in November. 
 
During last week's Select Board meeting, Fuss & O'Neil project manager and senior traffic engineer Steve Savaria represented the options, explained potential obstacles, and demonstrated the next steps. Present board members have yet to vote on their final choice. 
 
The project is still in the pre-25 percent design stage and is currently on the fiscal year 2029 Transportation Improvement Program list, so there is "plenty of time" to work out the details. 
 
Since the original vote, some board members have shifted their opinion toward advocating for the most feasible and timely option with a "path of least resistance to get this project done." 
 
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