richmond record december 2012

12
By Lauren Broussal A well-attended long-term planning follow-up meeting moderated by Town Administrator Matt Kerwood was held at the Richmond Consolidated School on November 14. Under discussion were options developed by the Berk- shire Regional Planning Commission to conclude their long-range sustainability study of Richmond. Gwen Miller and Tom Matuszko of the BRPC began by summarizing key demographic findings, as discussed in the previous meeting of October 3. Next they presented three topic areas describing specific observations about Richmond, followed by a choice of op- tions with associated potential decisions in an organized matrix. (The full “deci- sions matrix” is available in the Novem- ber 16 town newsletter.) Citizen discussion was encouraged during the BRPC presentation. The first topic, Community Sustain- ability, describes the declining number of full-time residents in Richmond and the rapidly aging population. The op- tions propose ways to diversify Rich- mond’s age groups, prioritize multigenerational services, expand services for the elderly, actively market Richmond to new residents, enhance housing opportunities, or alternatively, to embrace the trend toward becoming a community of primarily second-home owners. RICHMOND RECORD Adult Low Literacy Addressed Success Abounds at LitNet Continued on page 9 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Chat with Senator Ben Downing Coffee Talk Held at Town Hall ...........Page 2 35 Tons of Trash Plus Recyclables Allied Waste Services Earn A+ ........Page 3 Little of This, Little of That Goings on Around Richmond ........Page 5 New School Principal C.A.R.E.S. Meet Monica Zanin ..............................Page 6 Books Picks ..............................................Page 7 On The Wing ..........................................Page 10 Community Calendar .......................Page 11 Options Presented Second Long-Term Planning Meeting V olume X, No. 8 Richmond, Massachusetts December 2012 By Jo Anne Magee They meet in pairs as often as weekly over months and sometimes years. Usu- ally from different backgrounds, they share a common interest – literacy - one to teach, the other to learn. The scene is repeated over and over across south Berkshire County every week. All of this is thanks to the efforts of the Liter- acy Network of South Berkshire, or Lit- Net as it is known. LitNet’s website defines literacy as the ability to read, write, compute and use technology at a level that enables an individual to reach his or her full poten- tial as a parent, employee and commu- nity member. About 5,000 adults in south Berkshire County do not have a high school diploma. Another 3,000 are functionally illiterate, as are 20 percent of adults in Massachusetts, the same rate as for the U.S. as a whole. Low literacy rates have large costs. Low literacy in health costs between $106 and $236 billion each year in the U.S. Low literacy economic impacts - crime, lost work place productivity and lost tax revenues from unemployment - cost the U.S. another $225 billion or more each year. Seventy-five percent of state prison inmates do not complete high school or can be classified as “low literate” according to the ProLiteracy website. Photo by Dorothea Greene Executive Director Laura Qualliotine, Literacy Network of South Berkshire. Continued on page 4

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Richmond Record December 2012

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Page 1: Richmond Record December 2012

By Lauren Broussal

A well-attended long-term planningfollow-up meeting moderated by TownAdministrator Matt Kerwood was heldat the Richmond Consolidated Schoolon November 14. Under discussionwere options developed by the Berk-shire Regional Planning Commission toconclude their long-range sustainabilitystudy of Richmond.

Gwen Miller and Tom Matuszko ofthe BRPC began by summarizing keydemographic findings, as discussed inthe previous meeting of October 3.Next they presented three topic areasdescribing specific observations aboutRichmond, followed by a choice of op-tions with associated potential decisions

in an organized matrix. (The full “deci-sions matrix” is available in the Novem-ber 16 town newsletter.) Citizendiscussion was encouraged during theBRPC presentation.

The first topic, Community Sustain-ability, describes the declining numberof full-time residents in Richmond andthe rapidly aging population. The op-tions propose ways to diversify Rich-mond’s age groups, prioritizemultigenerational services, expandservices for the elderly, actively marketRichmond to new residents, enhancehousing opportunities, or alternatively,to embrace the trend toward becoming acommunity of primarily second-homeowners.

RRIICCHHMMOONNDD RREECCOORRDD

Adult Low Literacy Addressed

Success Abounds at LitNet

Continued on page 9

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Chat with Senator Ben DowningCoffee Talk Held at Town Hall ...........Page 2

35 Tons of Trash Plus RecyclablesAllied Waste Services Earn A+ ........Page 3

Little of This, Little of ThatGoings on Around Richmond ........Page 5

New School Principal C.A.R.E.S.Meet Monica Zanin ..............................Page 6

Books Picks ..............................................Page 7

On The Wing ..........................................Page 10

Community Calendar .......................Page 11

Options Presented

Second Long-Term Planning Meeting

Volume X, No. 8 Richmond, Massachusetts December 2012

By Jo Anne Magee

They meet in pairs as often as weekly

over months and sometimes years. Usu-

ally from different backgrounds, they

share a common interest – literacy - one

to teach, the other to learn. The scene is

repeated over and over across south

Berkshire County every week. All of

this is thanks to the efforts of the Liter-

acy Network of South Berkshire, or Lit-

Net as it is known.

LitNet’s website defines literacy as

the ability to read, write, compute and

use technology at a level that enables an

individual to reach his or her full poten-

tial as a parent, employee and commu-

nity member. About 5,000 adults in

south Berkshire County do not have a

high school diploma. Another 3,000 are

functionally illiterate, as are 20 percent

of adults in Massachusetts, the same

rate as for the U.S. as a whole.

Low literacy rates have large costs.

Low literacy in health costs between

$106 and $236 billion each year in the

U.S. Low literacy economic impacts -

crime, lost work place productivity and

lost tax revenues from unemployment -

cost the U.S. another $225 billion or

more each year. Seventy-five percent of

state prison inmates do not complete

high school or can be classified as “low

literate” according to the ProLiteracy

website.Photo by Dorothea Greene

Executive Director Laura Qualliotine,

Literacy Network of South Berkshire. Continued on page 4

Page 2: Richmond Record December 2012

Volume X, No 8 Richmond Record, December 2012 Pg 2

Richmond RecordA monthly newspaper

published in Richmond, MAPublisher – Ann Larkin

Editor – Linda Morse

Treasurer – Roy Jones

Circulation – Irene Jones

Photo Image Editor – Virginia Larkin

Production – Dorothea Greene

Advertising – Roy Jones

Phone (413) 464-0828

Email – [email protected]

Subscription rate: $21.00 Yearly

All subscriptions paid in advance

Published monthly by

Richmond Record 420 East Road

Richmond MA 01254.

Postmaster: Send address changes to

Richmond Record, PO Box 214,

Richmond, MA 01254

Periodicals postage paid at

Richmond, MA 01254

The Richmond Record welcomes letters

from readers. The Record reserves the right

to edit letters for length, content and style.

Vintage holiday postcard from the collection of Virginia Larkin, postmarked West

Stockbridge, Mass in 1907.

Chat with Senator Ben Downing

Coffee Talk Held at Town HallBy Linda Morse

On November 15, a small band of cit-

izenry met in an informal open meeting

to talk with State Senator Ben Down-

ing. He began by reviewing current is-

sues at the statehouse, while noting that

the first six months of the year are typ-

ically devoted to getting a new budget

completed. His good news was that the

“rainy day” fund is in very good shape

at $1.7 billion.

Downing represents 48 communities

in western Massachusetts and he is the

chair of the Joint Committee for

Telecommunications, Utilities and En-

ergy. He reported that bringing broad-

band to the remote areas of the

Berkshires has been going well, with

the introduction of the Massachusetts

Broadband Initiative (MBI). Getting

the system up has been easy, he said,

but getting the last mile to the house is

still a challenge.

There were a number of questions

and suggestions from the audience. In

response to the problems that many

towns have with their aging popula-

tions, he suggested that younger fami-

lies might be encouraged to reside in

these towns if Internet access was im-

proved.

In answer to a question about under-

funded public pensions, he acknowl-

edged that it is “huge problem,” not

only in every Massachusetts town and

city, but at the state level as well. Be-

fore the recession, the state started to

put money away for this future obliga-

tion, but has been unable to continue

doing so since then. At present, there is

an on-going adequacy study.

A person in the group asked that

communities be allowed more leeway

in their administration of town prob-

lems or opportunities. Too often citi-

zens hear “ You can’t do that because

the state…” He acknowledged that the

problem exists among most towns.

Along those same lines, another per-

son asked for more consideration from

the Massachusetts School Building Au-

thority in its prohibition of school

buildings (under their financing) being

restricted to use for education only.

Downing said he would take it up with

the MSBA in their January meeting.

Asked about the effect of the afford-

able housing initiative, he reported that

10,000 new units are expected this year.

And, finally, on the subject of rail tran-

sit, (e.g., New York to the Berkshires),

he stressed the need for a more robust

and responsive private sector involve-

ment.

Separately, he confirmed that his

committee continues to be against any

further wind turbine siting proposals.

Page 3: Richmond Record December 2012

By Mary Jane Piazza

Is it possible to be fascinated with

trash? Each Monday, Kevin Clark

rounds the corner onto East Slope in his

blue, double barrel Allied Waste truck

at 7:55 a.m. Thirty-five minutes later,

the trash and recyclables of 21 resi-

dences are on their way to their next in-

carnations. "Someone's got to do it,"

says Clark with a laugh, speaking for

himself and Richmond’s other curbside

quarterback, Bobby, each of whom op-

erate single man trucks starting on op-

posite sides of town. Clark, who

coincidentally grew up on Cone Hill

Road, says he has many boyhood mem-

ories of going to the town dump with

Richmond icon Johnny Foster and "sep-

arating out stuff." And while Saturdays

at the town dump are a memorable part

of Richmond nostalgia, today a good

heave-ho and technology do it all.

Clark says that curious homeowners

often come out to his truck to see just

how recycling is done. "There's one

opening on the curb side you're work-

ing from, but inside, the truck has two

lengthwise compartments - one for trash

and the other for that week's recy-

clables." This day’s recyclable was

paper, which the truck's motor continu-

ously squashes to the rear of the farther-

away bin behind the driver's side. To

then load household trash, Clark closes

the large longitudinal divider over the

recyclable side, revealing the opening

for household trash. When the pressure

gauge indicates the bins are full, the

paper contents are driven to the Allied

Waste Services of Pittsfield facility

(now merged with Republic Services

Company) in Cheshire. There, Rich-

mond's eight tons of paper per month is

bundled and loaded on tractor-trailers.

Full trucks are then driven to a facility

in Poughkeepsie, New York. On oppo-

site weeks, the same compartment col-

lects Richmond's average of five tons of

plastic and metal items per month, and

is then driven to North Adams, crushed

and mounted into high piles awaiting

their secondary market. Richmond's

average of 35 tons of household trash

per month, is taken to Covanta Pittsfield

(former Viacon) on Hubbard Avenue,

where it is burned to generate heat for

Crane and Company. Only harmless

steam is emitted from the smokestacks.

People often ask how trash is sorted -

or if it is sorted at all. According to Al-

lied/Republic Customer Service Repre-

sentative Doreen Fontaine, household

trash is pre-sorted by "advanced ma-

chinery with humans behind them," in-

cluding magnets, scales and radar

detectors for high levels of hazardous

waste. If high levels of contaminants

are found, the load is “frozen” and taken

to a special place for decontamination.

Workers in Bobcats and forklifts also

inspect and sift through trash before it

is burned. "When I started working

here in 2006, I knew nothing about trash

except that it stinks," laughs Fontaine.

“We are fortunate that we have an incin-

erator in the Berkshires so that our area

is kept pristine and beautiful." Besides

Crane and Company, Fontaine says she

is aware of an Anheuser Busch facility

in Texas that heats with methane gas

channeled from beneath a landfill.

Fontaine also educates customers as

to what places, such as Best Buy or Tar-

get, will take electronic items for free or

even give you a rebate gift card. Holi-

day Farms in Dalton accepts yard waste

to be turned into compost. In some

cities, Fontaine says, Allied/Republic

runs programs to educate school chil-

dren on recycling and safety around

trucks, thereby educating their parents

as well. “One of my most often asked

questions, though, is whether all plastic

is recyclable. The answer is no," and di-

rects customers to the “Do's and Don'ts”

on back of the collection calendar.

Volume X, No 8 Richmond Record, December 2012 Pg 3

35 Tons of Trash Plus Recyclables

Allied Waste Services Earns an “A +”

Continued on Page 6

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Master Lic.# A-12685

Steve Drager Electric Company

Page 4: Richmond Record December 2012

In 1991, two visionary reading spe-

cialists, Margaret “Peg” Smith and Zoe

Dalheim, founded LitNet to address the

literacy problem in south Berkshire

County. At any one time, about 120 tu-

tors and 100 students work together.

About 80 percent of the students are

non-native English speakers.

LitNet’s results are impressive. Laura

Qualliotine, of Lake Road in Richmond,

LitNet’s executive and education direc-

tor, proudly reports annual achieve-

ments. Ten students each year pass their

citizenship exams; five pass their GED

exams; more than 75% of the non-native

English speaking students make signif-

icant English language learning gains

in one year. Other less directly measur-

able results include buying homes, re-

ceiving promotions, securing new em-

ployment opportunities, advocating for

their children and, perhaps most impor-

tantly, improving self-esteem.

Rosalba Costaneda’s story provides a

vivid example. She was profiled in the

fall 2012 LitNet newsletter. Rosalba

turned to LitNet for help when her

daughter fell ill and she waited two

hours at the hospital for a translator.

“At that point,” Rosalba said, “I knew I

needed to learn English.” Today she is

able to help her children with their

homework, go everywhere without help

and ask questions of her doctor.

LitNet plays an important role in

south Berkshire County as the primary

adult literacy provider. It does that

through the generosity of its supporters

and without state or federal funding or

charging fees. Laura Qualliotine cap-

tured that spirit when she said, “I’m

grateful to be part of a community that

is part of the community.”

Laura came home again to LitNet this

spring, having served as interim educa-

tion director in 2005. When asked what

some of the major challenges are she

mentioned the ongoing need for volun-

teers and, of course, money. Low tech-

nology and financial literacy are needs

that LitNet is also working to address.

In fact, LitNet is rolling out a financial

literacy program this coming spring.

Laura is also concerned about low liter-

acy native English speakers and is re-

searching ways to reach out and support

this hidden population.

Volume X, No 8 Richmond Record, December 2012 Pg 4

Kitchens & Baths

Windows & Doors

Sheds & Decks

Snowplowing

Licensed & Insured

25 Years Experience

Kevin Stottle, Owner

170 North Street, Dalton, MA 01226

(413)684-2684

[email protected]

Literacy Addressed from page 1

Happy

Holidays

Photo by Dorothea Greene

LitNet staff members (left to right seated)

Executive Assistant Shelley Wojtkowski

and Tutor Coordinator Mary Spina confer

with Executive Director Laura Quallio-

tine.

Page 5: Richmond Record December 2012

Volume X, No 8 Richmond Record, December 2012 Pg 5

A Little of This, A Little of That

Goings on Around Richmond

A luncheon to honor Richmond’s vet-

erans and veterans' widows was held

at the school in early November. This

was a collaboration between the Rich-

mond Consolidated School and the

Council on Aging. The event included

entertainment and a ham dinner pre-

pared by Tammy Jervas and her crew.

Veterans seated (left to right) are:

David O'Clair, Richard Stover, Philip

Foster, Reno Castagna, and Melvin

Marion. Standing (left to right) are:

Gerald Dubois, Peter Crause, William

Edwards, Thomas Vagnini, Myron

Ritrosky, Francis Malnati, Michael

Hogue, James Magner and Bruce

Lamke.

Pre K and K students led the Pledge of

Allegiance.

Photos by Virgina Larkin

Rick Bartlett and Fran Malnati are in

charge of keeping the flapjacks flying

at the Fuel Fund Pancake Breakfast,

The well-attended annual event raises

funds to compliment those appropri-

ated by the town for residents who

are eligible for the federal fuel assis-

tance.

Good citizens Cathy Gamberoni (left)

and Eileen Masiero, armed with

gloves, rakes, hedge clippers (and no

doubt some Advil) spent several hours

administering fall cleanup at the Vet-

eran’s Memorial perennial bed

around the flagpole in front of the

school.

Santa’s helpers wrestled this season’s

very large and apparently reluctant

Christmas tree into position in front

of Town Hall. The tree was donated

by Paul Polson of Polson Electric in

Pittsfield.

Photo by Dorothea Greene Photo by Dorothea Greene Photo by Michael Paul Esposito

Page 6: Richmond Record December 2012

Town Administrator Matt Kerwood is

pleased with Allied/Republic, now in its

first three-year contract with the town.

"When we changed from ECO Waste

Services, the three-year contract

dropped $10,000 with Allied/Republic.

As an idea of the cost to individual tax-

payers, we budget $145,000 per year for

trash removal which, divided by the

total number of parcels including com-

mercial parcels, averages $182 per year.

But the real savings has come in the

drastic improvement in service and the

goodwill generated. Allied/Republic

has shown itself to be a good neighbor

by a $400 donation to “Peas On Earth,”

another $400 donated to the Emergency

Fuel Fund and $1000 towards the

Household Hazardous Waste Collection

Program offered yearly for Richmond

residents.”

Kevin and Bobby say that seeing and

checking in with Richmond seniors is a

highlight along their day’s route. They

are particularly grateful for the treats

and notes of appreciation that people

frequently leave for them by the curb.

For a copy of the Richmond Recy-

cling Calendar and guidelines, go to

www.alliedwastepittsfield.com or con-

tact [email protected].

Also, the free Richmond town calendar

with recycling days noted is now avail-

able for pick-up at Town Hall, Bartletts,

the post office, the library, and at Rich-

mond Telephone.

Volume X, No 8 Richmond Record, December 2012 Pg 6

Holiday gift suggestions for those on your list

who love to read.

For the fiction fan

“The Round House”

by Louise Erdrich Winner of the 2012 National Book Award, this

novel, set in an Ojibwe community in North

Dakota, explores the difficult relationship be-

tween whites and Native Americans in mod-

ern society.

For the cooking enthusiast:

“The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook”

by Deb PerelmanPerelman, a celebrated (and quite funny!)

food-blogger and amateur cook, shares over

100 recipes in this bestselling book. Simple

and delicious ideas for holiday entertaining as

well as everyday meal planning.

For the naturalist

“Skulls”

by Simon Winchester In this coffee-table book part-time Berkshire

resident Winchester (best known for his non-

fiction bestseller on the Oxford English Dic-

tionary, “The Professor and the Madman”)

introduces readers to Alan Dudley, a well-

known skull collector who amassed more

than 2,000 skulls from amphibians, birds, fish,

mammals and reptiles. A fascinating explo-

ration about the unique role of skulls in sci-

ence, art and religion.

For the picture book set

“Hello! Hello!”

by Matthew Cordell A graphically stunning book about a lonely

young girl trying to make a meaningful con-

nection with her family despite their obses-

sion with all things digital.

“Abe Lincoln’s Dream”

by Lane Smith Award-winning picture book artist and writer

Smith uses true stories and White House

trivia to celebrate America’s popular 16th pres-

ident.

Allied Waste Services from page 3

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Books PicksBy Holly Freadman

Page 7: Richmond Record December 2012

By Pam Glass

It was the day after the election, a

week after Hurricane Sandy and a

nor’easter loomed in the forecast. Mon-

ica Zanin, the new, interim Richmond

School principal was busily checking

on student departures, as school had just

let out. The atmosphere, charged with

more than its usual energy, was vibrant

and dynamic. The external forces of

weather and politics were having their

effect on the students giving them more

to think and talk about. Their highly an-

imated chatter gushed like a stream,

flowing through the halls sweeping any-

one in the way. They skittered in all di-

rections, clutching backpacks, coats and

hopes of having the next day off.

The clock ticked past three and with

the wave of excitement descending,

Zanin was free to talk. Her door stayed

open leaving her accessible to anyone

who needed her. She was cheerful,

composed and unruffled from her day.

Her smile was warm and gracious, a

feature she is rarely without.

Zanin comes to the Richmond Con-

solidated School from Reid Middle

School in Pittsfield where she held the

position of head of guidance and in-

struction for the past four years. Her

14-year tenure at Reid also included

teaching sixth grade Math and English

Language Arts along with years as a

guidance counselor. She is proud to note

that Reid Middle School is now at Level

One status, commended by the state for

meeting requirements. “It was seven

hard years of a diligent effort in creating

a positive environment and implement-

ing processes to increase achievement

to bring the school up,” she said, speak-

ing of her former colleagues and her-

self. The details of this achievement

reveal her tenacity and capability, and

her skill with dismantling the big pic-

ture into attainable, smaller steps.

She began her interim principal term

at RCS on October 1, 2012. Asked if

the job was overwhelming after five

short weeks, she replied “My experi-

ence of collaborating with teachers over

the years and being in many different

leadership roles, especially the last two

years, has helped me deal with the day

to day issues that come at you which are

just as important as the big picture.

This school has so much to offer. RCS

is unique in that you don’t see Pre-K

thru eighth often, and this mix of ages

provides another layer of learning for

these kids. We have eighth graders tak-

ing ownership in the science lab by as-

sisting third graders. By giving the

older kids a chance to collaborate with

each other and work with younger ones,

they feel the sense of responsibility. I

always remind them that the younger

ones are looking up to them and they

are the role models.” Zanin went on en-

thusiastically: “Our professional devel-

opment day in October was a fantastic

day of working together as a team. RCS

did not have a set of universal expecta-

tions that was highly communicated

throughout the school. On that day,

teachers and staff created and voted on

a set of beliefs that make up the

acronym C.A.R.E.S. which stands for

Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility,

Empathy and Self-Control. C.A.R.E.S.

will apply to every aspect of school and

Volume X, No 8 Richmond Record, December 2012 Pg 7

Continued on page 8

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New School Principal C.A.R.E.S.

Meet Monica Zanin

Photo by Dorothea Greene

Principal Monica Zanin

Page 8: Richmond Record December 2012

will be visible throughout in the form of

banners, posters and other means.”

When asked about juggling the multiple

needs and requests of staff and students,

she did not flinch and repeated again

her favorite tool of the trade - collabora-

tion. “We can disagree respectfully and

move forward. What I love about what

I do is that while everyone has different

roles and different views and different

needs, we all have the same end goal.

And that is, we want the children to

have a safe, happy, positive and learn-

ing enriched school experience.” Zanin,

a parent of a four year old and an eight

year old continued, “I am all about com-

munication and working together.” (The

discussion paused several times as chil-

dren, parents and even the fire chief

sauntered in to ask her questions.)

Zanin does not dwell on the recent,

revolving door of principals at RCS.

She emphatically spoke of moving RCS

forward and her desire to be at the

school for the long run. The school day

came to a close and the Nor’easter still

loomed in the forecast; outside the win-

dows of RCS though, sunny skies

seemed to be ahead.

Volume X, No 8 Richmond Record, December 2012 Pg 8

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Page 9: Richmond Record December 2012

Each option generates a column ofdecisions. For instance, if Richmondmarkets itself to attract new families orenhances housing opportunities foryounger residents, that might trigger in-vesting in the school, billing itself as adestination residential community usingthe school as a draw, and reassessing thezoning bylaws to allow for more rentalsand low-to-moderate income housing.

Selectman Roger Manzolini notedthat as a town, Richmond should evolvein the direction desired by the towns-people, providing services only asneeded, “not the other way around.” Healso urged residents to think in terms ofplanning for 25 years or more. How-ever others disagreed, noting thatsweeping changes may occur over thecourse of decades that can impact de-mographics, with the recent recessionand expected recovery cited as exam-ples. In discussing new families, it wasalso noted that the amount of StateChapter 70 funds associated with newstudents is not “a game-changer,” butthat an influx of young adults wouldprovide potential volunteers for townboards and emergency services.

The second topic, Long-Term Finan-cial Sustainability, deals with both thefiscal challenges presented by the

school given the declining school-agedpopulation, and the lack of growth andhomogeneity of Richmond’s tax base.Options range from identifying theschool as a priority and enhancing it, toreducing school services or even clos-ing the school. Regarding the tax base,options are to increase and diversify thebase and/or to reduce costs.

Decisions prompted by identifyingthe school as a priority would includemarketing it aggressively as a reason torelocate, identifying it as a magnetschool, enhancing services, actively re-cruiting out-of-district students, and di-versifying housing opportunities toattract younger families. The option toclose the school precipitates differentchoices that include joining a nearby re-gional school district and giving uptown autonomy in educational decision-making. Choosing to diversify the taxbase triggers decisions about commer-cial development and the balance be-tween rural character and growth, whileattempting to reduce costs will in-evitably spark tough discussions aboutwhich town services can be eliminated.

One resident commented that even ifaffordable housing becomes available,families might not come if there are nonearby jobs. Another responded thatjobs are increasing and Richmond

should position itself to attract youngworkers as the economy brightens,which requires taking steps now. ARichmond fireman noted that there arefiremen who have been looking foryears for affordable housing in Rich-mond. Another resident requested acost-benefit analysis of closing theschool as opposed to keeping it open,which Kerwood stated is now beinggenerated by the State.

The final topic, Next Steps, containstwo options, to engage residents inlong-term planning or to pursue no fur-ther planning efforts. The first option,already the inherent choice, lists deci-sions that require residents to becomeinvolved in future planning steps. Ac-cording to Kerwood, 15 people from across-section of taxpayers, includingsecond-homeowners, will be appointedby the selectmen to an advisory com-mittee to begin work in early January,tasked with weeding through the op-tions and presenting suggested actionitems to the selectmen. Financial andzoning matters will require a town vote,while the select board can decide policymatters with the goal being to formulatea long-term sustainability plan for Rich-mond.

The BRPC plans to issue a final re-port that will be available online atTown Hall, incorporating the feedbackfrom this second meeting.

Volume X, No 8 Richmond Record, December 2012 Pg 9

Long Term Planning from page 1

Page 10: Richmond Record December 2012

Volume X, No 8 Richmond Record, December 2012 Pg 10

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Do you remember a recent article in

the Berkshire Eagle about a young man

from Pittsfield, who was leading a

group of FEMA volunteers in Long

Beach, N.Y. after Hurricane Sandy?

As I was reading it, I noticed that his

group had been training in West Vir-

ginia, and I thought, “I wonder if, by

any chance …”

Flashback to two summers ago, when

I volunteered to host an intern from

Berkshire Botanical Garden. She ar-

rived carrying a small, potted plant and

wearing a big smile. The chemistry was

right from the beginning, and we settled

in to a comfortable routine. During the

day, of course, she was busy at Berk-

shire Botanical and on the weekends

she usually went home to Boston. But

during the week we had dinner together

and watched old movies. The routine

varied only occasionally when she in-

sisted on commandeering the remote

and I suffered through something called

“Wipe Out,” where seemingly rational

adults tried to climb on rapidly moving

structures while being pummeled by

high velocity water hoses. There was a

lot of money involved, apparently.

Anyway, the summer moved pleas-

antly along, and we had a jolly time.

She introduced me to geo-caching and

disclosed that there is a site on East

Road. We did the movies at BIFF, pic-

nicked at Tanglewood and had a few

celebratory parties on the back porch.

At last, the day came when she had to

leave. She handed me a note which she

asked me to read after she left. The note

told me how much she had enjoyed the

summer and that she was now hooked

on old movies, but the surprise was on

the back. It was a miniature watercolor

of my backsteps, complete with dog,

cat, window box, flagstone walkway …

every detail. I was touched. It still lives

on my refrigerator door.

Naturally, we kept in touch and I

knew she was volunteering with FEMA

and that she was training in West Vir-

ginia. When I read the article I won-

dered if this was the very unit she was

in and I e-mailed her. Sure enough, it

was the same and she asked if I would

mail her the article. At the moment, she

is living on a navy ship at the Maritime

College in the Bronx with a group of

FEMA employees. She reports that

about 160 people a day come to the

Disaster Recovery Center. Most have

lost everything and are angry at FEMA.

Her job is to look up their applications

on the computer, answer their questions

and try to help them through the

process of FEMA assistance, which can

be frustrating and confusing. She was

looking forward to having a day off, her

first since super storm Sandy struck.

The work is exhausting but she feels a

sense of satisfaction when she can pro-

vide immediate help.

In the end, this is a story about two

people who decided to reach out to

make someone else’s life a bit easier,

and found themselves enriched in the

process.

On The Wing

By Ann Larkin

Page 11: Richmond Record December 2012

Volume X, No 8 Richmond Record, December 2012 Pg 11

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Now

in our

10th Year!

The Fieldhouse-Canaan

Free use for senior indoor walking

Thursdays 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

13132 Route 22 - Canaan

(Half-mile south of Route 295)

Phone: 518-288-8342

Richmond Free

Public Library

Tuesdays & Thursdays

10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Saturdays 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Phone: 698-3834

&Holiday Open House

Thursday, December 20

All day/drop in

&Book Discussion Group

Meets the 4th Tuesday of each month

but will not meet during

the holidays.Tuesday, January 22 @ 2:00 p.m.

“Winter’s Tale” by Mark Helprin

Thursday, January 24, 2013

6:30 p.m.“An Evening With Jeanet Ingals”

Shout Out Loud Productions, Inc.

A non-profit organization

focused on raising awareness

concerning sex trafficking,

abuse and poverty in the lives

of women and children.

Call the library

for more information.

&Children’s Story Hour

Ages: Infant and Up!

First Thursday of Each Month

3:30 p.m.

(Time changed from 10:30 a.m.)

Blood Pressure Clinics

Free on Thursdays

9:00 a.m. –10:00 a.m.

Sponsored by the Community Health

Association

Richmond Congregational Church.

Weekly Exercise Classes

Sponsored by

Council On Aging

$2.00 per class

Tai Chi

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Mondays at Town Hall &

Wednesdays at the school cafeteria

&Strength Training

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Town Hall

&Line Dancing

3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Town Hall

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Page 12: Richmond Record December 2012

RICHMOND RECORD Richmond, Massachusetts

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