PopCares to Host 14th Annual Dinner and Auction

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — PopCares, Inc., a local nonprofit that provides financial and emotional support to families battling cancer, is holding its 14th Annual Dinner and Auction on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. 
 
The event will take place at The Greylock WORKS, located at 508 State Road in North Adams.
 
The dinner, which has sold out in previous years with over 500 attendees, will feature a baked stuffed chicken or a vegetarian option, catered by Bounti-Fare. 
 
The evening's entertainment includes a live auction, silent auction, chance auction, raffles, a "Desert Dash," and a 50/50 drawing.
 
General seating tickets are available for $45, while VIP seating costs $100. Tickets are sold online only, and early purchase is recommended as the event always sells out.
 
Founded in honor of Bill "Pop" St. Pierre, PopCares aims to provide support to those fighting cancer and their caregivers in the Northern Berkshires and bordering Southern Vermont towns. The organization has given over $1 million to 1,457 local families through direct financial assistance, resource referrals, and small acts of kindness.
 
Proceeds from the dinner and auction will help the organization continue its mission to support community members affected by cancer, with all funds raised staying local. The nonprofit is also accepting sponsors and raffle items by Sept. 23.
 
For more details, visit the PopCares Facebook page, PopCares.org, or call 413-281-1094

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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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