MountainOne Recognizes Mountaineers with Volunteer Awards

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — MountainOne hosted an evening of celebration at the Publick House Historic Inn, bringing together employees (known as Mountaineers) from across Massachusetts for the All-Mountaineer Event on Thursday, Sept. 5. 
 
Mountaineers from the Berkshires, South Shore, and Pioneer Valley gathered to recognize and celebrate the remarkable contributions made over the past year.
 
The event also highlighted MountainOne's recent honor from the Boston Business Journal, which named the company one of Massachusetts' Most Charitable Companies. 
 
To express appreciation for their dedication, MountainOne presented Mountaineer Volunteer Awards to Mountaineers who exemplified exceptional service, leadership, and community spirit. Each award recipient received a certificate and $1,000 to donate to charities of their choice. The selected organizations include Abington Youth Football & Cheer, Chesna Soccer Jamboree, Berkshire Dream Center, and No Paws Left Behind.
 
The award winners include:
 
Erin Galvin, Community Banking Officer – Mountaineer Volunteer Spirit Award
 
The Mountaineer Volunteer Spirit Award recognizes a Mountaineer who embodies the MountainOne spirit through enthusiasm, dedication, and a positive attitude in all volunteer activities and community engagement initiatives. Erin is a standout Mountaineer who exemplifies just that. She is a vibrant representative at numerous Quincy events, including Quincy Pride, the Albanian Festival, and the Quincy Asian Resource events. Additionally, she provides steadfast support at other branch events like the Scituate Parade and Rockland Day. Erin's professionalism, reliability, and pride in representing MountainOne highlights her deep commitment to our community initiatives.
 
Alyson Lesure, Claims Representative & Branch Support Supervisor – Peak Mountaineer Volunteer Award
 
The Peak Mountaineer Volunteer Award recognizes a Mountaineer who consistently supports team efforts and collaborates effectively. Alyson's contributions this year have been outstanding. From her involvement in the MountainOne Steel Rail Races, Steeplecats games, and North Adams Farmers Market, Alyson has been a reliable and impactful force in our volunteer initiatives. Her readiness to contribute wherever needed and her strong commitment to teamwork have significantly enhanced every event she's been part of.
 
Erik Ray, Community Banking Officer – Mountaineer Volunteer of the Year Award
 
The Mountaineer Volunteer of the Year Award honors a Mountaineer with exceptional dedication to volunteerism and community engagement. Erik's commitment extends well beyond community events, including North Adams Pride and Downtown Trick-or-Treat. His active involvement with local nonprofits, such as serving on the board of Child Care of the Berkshires, and the Northern Berkshire United Way, underscores his significant impact on the community. Erik's ability to inspire and motivate his colleagues to participate in MountainOne's initiatives truly embodies the spirit of volunteerism and makes a meaningful difference both within and outside the company.
 
"Congratulations to Erin, Alyson, and Erik for their outstanding contributions," said Robert Fraser, president and CEO of MountainOne. "Their efforts demonstrate the dedication we value at MountainOne. I am also proud of all our Mountaineers for helping us earn recognition from the Boston Business Journal and for collectively contributing over 600 hours of volunteer service. This honor is a testament to the collective commitment of our entire team."

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Clarksburg Students Write in Support of Rural School Aid

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

Mason Langenback calculated that Clarksburg would get almost $1 million if the $60 million was allocated equally.
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Eighth-graders at Clarksburg School took a lesson in civic advocacy this week, researching school funding and writing letters to Beacon Hill that call for fully funding rural school aid. 
 
The students focused on the hardships for small rural schools and their importance to the community — that they struggle with limited funding and teacher shortages, but offer safe and supportive spaces for learning and are a hub for community connections.
 
"They all address the main issue, the funding for rural schools, and how there's a gap, and there's the $4 million gap this year, and then it's about the $40 million next year, and that rural schools need that equitable funding," said social studies teacher Mark Karhan.
 
A rural schools report in 2022 found smaller school districts cost from nearly 17 percent to 23 percent more to operate, and recommended "at least" $60 million be appropriated annually for rural school aid. 
 
Gov. Maura Healey has filed for more Chapter 70 school aid, but that often is little help to small rural schools with declining or static enrollment. For fiscal 2027, she's budgeted $20 million for rural schools, up from around $13 million this year but still far below the hoped for $60 million. 
 
Karhan said the class was broken into four groups and the students were provided a submission letter from Rural Schools Advocacy. The students used the first paragraph, which laid out the funding facts, and then did research and wrote their own letters. 
 
They will submit those with a school picture to the governor. 
 
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