Northern Berkshire United Way Adds Two Board Members

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Northern Berkshire United Way announced that Deborah Foss, professor emerita of psychology at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and Annie Pecor, assistant superintendent of the North Adams Public Schools, have joined its Board of Directors.
 
Foss brings decades of experience and leadership to the board. Originally from New Bedford, she was professor of psychology at MCLA from 1987 to 2021 and was the founding associate dean of the Center for Student Success and Engagement.
 
An advocate for students, she was honored twice with the Senior Class Faculty Appreciation Award and received both the Faculty Association's Junior and Senior Faculty Awards.
 
Her commitment to community service is longstanding, having contributed to Northern Berkshire United Way since her first semester at MCLA, thanks to the encouragement of Steve Green and Jerry Desmarais. Foss has played an active role in the organization, serving on and chairing allocation panels for many years.
 
Beyond her professional and community achievements, Foss is the mother of two adult children and four grandchildren.
 
Northern Berkshire United Way welcomes Foss to its Board of Directors and looks forward to her continued dedication and leadership in supporting the organization's mission to strengthen the local community.
 
Pecor brings over 15 years of educational leadership and community service to the board. A native of Berkshire County, she began her career as a middle school English language arts teacher and transitioned into school administration as principal of Craneville Elementary School in Dalton. Pecor attended North Adams Public Schools and earned her master's degree, Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study, and is a graduate of the MCLA Leadership Academy. She later received her educational doctorate from the University of New England.
 
In 2021, Pecor joined NAPS as director of Northern Berkshire Adult Education and 21st Century programming, where she demonstrated her commitment to lifelong learning and community engagement. As assistant superintendent, she continues to champion educational excellence and equity for students throughout the region.
 
Pecor is also actively involved in local initiatives, serving as vice chair of the Berkshire Leadership Program and as a board member of the Berkshire Food Project.
 
The Northern Berkshire United Way welcomes Pecor to its Board of Directors and looks forward to her dedication, leadership, and passion for strengthening the local community.
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Weekend Outlook: Get Outside This Holiday Weekend

iBerkshires Staff

Enjoy the peak of the fall season this weekend before the weather turns frosty!

 

Editor's Pick

Mt. Greylock Ramble/RambleFest
All Around Adams

Oct. 9–12

Massachusetts' highest peak is the centerpiece of a weekend-long celebration of autumn in the Berkshires. A live performance by comedian Jason Salmon on Friday, Oct. 9, and the Big in the Berkshires local music showcase on Saturday, Oct. 10, both will kick off the weekend at The Adams Theater. This year's RambleFest celebration will be held Sunday, Oct. 11, from noon to 5 p.m. p.m. at the Adams Visitor Center, located at 3 Hoosac St. in Adams. This free event will feature live music, food and drink, vendors, children's activities, sight-seeing trains, and more. The 58th annual Mt. Greylock Ramble, a hike along the Cheshire Harbor Trail to the summit of Mount Greylock, will take place Monday, Oct. 12. This 6.6-mile, round-trip hike that is moderately strenuous and can take four to five hours, but the spectacular views at the 3,491-foot summit are worth the effort. The first 2,000 hikers will receive certificates of accomplishment. A free shuttle from the Adams Visitor Center to the trailhead runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. with return shuttle until 4 p.m. Very limited parking will be available near the trailhead, so use of the shuttle is strongly encouraged.

More information here.

 

Multiple Days

'Celebrating Jewish Plays'
Shakespeare & Company, Lenox
Oct. 9–11

"Celebrating Jewish Plays" features three readings presented over three evenings during the holiday weekend. Live poetry, speakers, musical performances, and more have been added to this year's celebration. Multishow weekend passes are also available; tickets are $30 to $100.

Tickets and information here.

 

Thursday

Closing Reception for 'Terra Mater'
Hotel Downstreet, 40 Main St., North Adams
6–8 p.m.

These nature-inspired ink, cyanotype, and mixed-media works by artists Joan Ryan, Livia Linden, Carissa Toomey and Alicia Canary are curated by Anna Salmeron.

More information here.

 

'Goosebumps' Party
Lenox Library, Lenox
3:30–5 p.m.

As part of Banned Books Week, the library invites the public to celebrate the birthday of prolific author R.L. with a Goosebumps Party with crafts, food, and fun. Create neon marker art, slime, and listen to scary stories. Free for all ages.

More information here.

 

Friday

American Stories Curator Talks
Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge
9:30 a.m.

Spend a morning with curators exploring Norman Rockwell Museum's expansive and thought-provoking exhibition commemorating 250 years of America. Each session will focus on a theme drawn from the exhibition. This program occurs before public opening hours, providing a unique opportunity for reflection and enjoyment of the exhibition.

Tickets and information here.

 

Planetarium Show
Milham Planetarium,
Williams College, Williamstown
8–9 p.m.

Weekly planetarium shows are held on Friday nights at the Milham Planetarium to see all that night sky has to offer, from mythology to astrophysics and cosmology.

Registration here.

 

Friday Karaoke
Dalton American Legion
6 p.m.

More information here.

 

Saturday

Geology of Stone Hill

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