Wine, Beer & Chocolate Tasting to Benefit AYJ Fund

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The AYJ Fund will hold its popular fundraiser featuring "Wine, Chocolate and Craft Beer Tasting" on Sunday, Nov. 2, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Freight Yard Pub. 
 
All proceeds will support children with cancer in the local community and beyond. For a $30 donation, attendees can enjoy a selection of craft beers from Wandering Star Craft Brewery, Bright Ideas Brewing, Berkshire Brewing Company, and Grazie. Guests can also partake of samples from Chocolate Springs, the Village Chocolate Shoppe and cookies from Gimme Some Sugar. 
 
There will also be the popular wine pull, silent auction, music and more, all to support the AYJ Fund and children with cancer. 
 
The AYJ Fund provides "Smiles" packages and fun experiences for children with cancer, technology to keep them connected to friends, school and family, and funding for research to find effective treatments and, one day, a cure.
The fund has provided over 5,900 Smiles and more than $1.5 million to advance brain cancer research.
 
It was created in honor of Anna Arabia, who was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer her first year at Drury High School and died at the age of 16. Throughout her 3 1/2 years of treatment, she was always interested in helping others who were having a difficult time and the AYJ Fund continues to share her love and support.
 
To learn more check out AYJ Fund on Facebook or www.AYJfund.org.
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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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