Conte Community School Wins Safe Routes to School Bike Rack Grant

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BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has announced the winners of the 2024-2025 Bike Rack Grant through its Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program.
 
Conte COmmunity School was one of the tree winners.
 
Now in its second year, this grant helps schools replace old, worn, and damaged bike racks, or acquire new or additional bike racks. 
 
"For students and staff who bike to get to school, a bike rack is just as essential as a traditional parking lot for those who drive," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. "We are pleased to continue to promote safe bicycling with grant programs like this and congratulate this year’s winners for their commitment to supporting school community members who walk, bike, and roll." 
 
All SRTS partner schools were encouraged to apply. The bike racks are intended to be ordered and installed within the current school year. Each selected winner receives the funding necessary for the acquisition and installment of two to five bike racks.
 
Over 60 applications were submitted. The other winners are: Blueberry Hill Elementary School, Longmeadow and Jenkins Elementary School, Scituate 
 
This is the first round of bike rack grant awardees, not including the successful pilot projects in Medford and Brockton during the 2023-2024 school year. Each of the pilot schools were given bike racks that could accommodate 15 new bike parking spaces. The selected bike racks were customizable, so schools could decide what colors they wanted and if they wanted the racks bolted into the ground or resting on pavement/grass. 
 
The Massachusetts SRTS Program, sponsored by MassDOT and with funds from the Federal Highway Administration, promotes safer routes for students to walk, bike, and roll to and from school by fostering partnerships between community-led organizations, local law enforcement, education leaders, and public health departments.  
 
The program currently serves more than 1,200 schools in more than 280 communities across the Commonwealth. Through these partnerships, the Massachusetts SRTS Program highlights the importance of pedestrian and bicycle safety. SRTS also provides information, materials, and resources to support schools and communities with their local SRTS initiatives. 
 
 

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BRPC Votes in New Director, Bids Farewell to Matuszko

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The BRPC board voted Thursday to make Laura Brennan its next executive director.

Brennan is the economic development program manager for the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. She has been in the role since July 2023 but has been with BRPC since 2017, first serving as the senior planner of economic development. 

She earned her bachelor's degree from Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania and earned a graduate-level certificate in local government leadership and management from Suffolk University.

Brennan was the preferred candidate the Executive Search Committee, which voted last week to present her and candidate Jason Zogg to the full committee. Zogg withdrew his application on Wednesday.

Board members congratulated Brennan, who was in attendance, with Chair Douglas McNally saying they have her back.

The commission voted to create a three-person negotiation subcommittee with executive committee members Malcolm Fick, Buck Donovan, and Sam Haupt. They will negotiate benefits, compensation, and terms of employment.

Brennan will be taking over for retiring Executive Director Thomas Matuszko. Matuszko was appointed as executive director in 2018, having previously been a principal planner from 1997 to 2000 and then assistant director from 2001. The new director will be the fourth in nearly 60 years.

Matuszko gave his last executive director report, amending the bylaws and changing the wordage to be more inclusive among other notes.

McNally said he was grateful that he made sure to do that before his leave.

Since it was Matuszko's last meeting those in attendance thanked him for his time at the BRPC.

"I had to just say you have had a huge positive impact on the Berkshires and thank you," said McNally.

"Thanks for my internship, Tom, 20-plus years ago, and everything you've done for Berkshire County," said Sarif and Matuszko said he was happy to still see her here after this long.

"I think Laura has learned a lot from you, and so she'll just be able to carry on. And so tonight is a great night for Berkshire County," said Christine Rasmussen.

"It's really, it's been a great ride, and I've enjoyed it almost all the time," said Matuszko. "There have been only very few times that hasn't been extremely enjoyable and satisfying. So I mostly appreciate the support that you all have given me and delegates and alternates over the years have given me and provide our staff."

He urged them to have the same relationship with Brennan, and provide her the help and support to be successful. 

"Thank you for all you've provided me with an opportunity, a great opportunity. I couldn't have asked for a better career."

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