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Ioka Valley Farm Win Maple Syrup Competition

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HANCOCK, Mass. — Pure maple products made by Massachusetts maple syrup producers were once again proclaimed to be the best in the world, as three of the state's sugarmakers took home prizes from the North American Maple Syrup Council's annual competition, held this year in Portland, Maine.
 
Four prizes were collected by Massachusetts producers. Massachusetts' winners were:
 
Maple Cream: 1st place, Rob and Melissa Leab, Ioka Valley Farm, Hancock
Maple Cream: 2nd place, Paul and Serena Zononi, Paul's Sugar House, Williamsburg
Golden/Delicate syrup: 2nd place, Howard and Jeanne Boyden, Boyden Brothers Maple, Conway
Amber/Rich syrup: 3rd place, Rob and Melissa Leab, Ioka Valley Farm, Hancock
 
The winners represent the breadth of the maple industry in Massachusetts. 
 
Ioka Valley Farm is a fourth generation diversified, family owned and operated working farm dedicated to providing high quality locally grown products as well as enjoyment for all ages offering seasonal activities. Maple sugaring has been a part of Ioka Valley Farm since 1992 and currently they have 18,000 taps. Boyden's are a multi generational maple business well known for their high quality syrup, cream, granulated sugar, and candy.
 
They tap between 3500 – 4000 taps each year and market their products directly, mail order, and wholesale. Paul Zononi is a first generation sugar maker that has been producing maple syrup for over 60 years, where making quality maple syrup and maple products has been his passion. He and his wife Serena have been sugaring together since 2007 and have won numerous International Maple Awards. 
 
They currently have 3,400taps. 
 
There are more than 250 maple sugaring operations in Massachusetts, many of which sell their products directly to consumers at farm stands and farmers markets. 

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Williamstown Business Owner Calls for Action on Economic Development

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A Spring Street business owner and former town official is sounding the alarm about the economic health of the Village Business District.
 
Amy Jeschawitz, who owns Nature's Closet and formerly served on the Planning Board, went to the Finance Committee last week to raise concerns about what she characterized as the lack of an "overall plan" for economic development in the town.
 
"Economic development, housing, new growth and business all go hand in hand," Jeschawitz said, alluding to the topic that dominated the Fin Comm's meeting before she addressed the body. "I know what a struggle it is for housing in this town."
 
Jeschawitz sent a letter to both the Fin Comm and the Select Board in which she called on town officials to take action.
 
"As a community we can no longer sit and pretend we are insulated because we live in Williamstown and have Williams College," Jeschawitz wrote. "We need growth, we need new homes, we need  jobs, we need better transportation options and we need to start filling the needs of the  tourism industry who come here from NYC and the Boston area.  
 
"We do not need to form a committee to study this – we have done that repeatedly over the  years to no action. Reports sitting on shelves. We need you, the Select Board and Finance  Committee to start taking actions."
 
Jeschawitz appearance before the Finance Committee on Oct. 29 was followed by a "Williamstown Business District Walking Tour" on Thursday afternoon that was posted as a public meeting for the Select Board to have what the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce billed as "a constructive conversation … to discuss ways to improve the economic development of Williamstown."
 
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