“When Mom got sick, I was so overwhelmed managing her care, filling out paperwork and trying to be there for her. Thankfully, HospiceCare in The Berkshires was there to make everything easier. They provided compassionate care that supported a quality of life for Mom.”
Offering compassion to our community:
• Emotional and spiritual support
• Symptom management
• Integrative therapies
• Home health aides
• Meaningful end-of-life care
• Bereavement counseling
Mission Statement
The mission of Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. is to provide Berkshire elders, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities the opportunity to live with dignity, independence, and self-determination, and to achieve the highest possible quality of life.
Statement of Inclusivity
Elder Services practices non-discrimination in employment practices and service delivery. Embracing diversity, our in-home and community-based services are available to all without regard to race, ethnicity, language, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or lifestyle.
A new location, a new program and unprecedented growth
By Christopher McLaughlin, Executive Director of Elder Services
Berkshire Senior
Editorial Board: Deb Aldrich-Jegtvig, Laura Feakes, Christopher McLaughlin, Kathleen Phillips, Susan Guerrero, Kara Graziola and Kayla Brown-Wood.
Advertising: To place an advertisement in Berkshire Senior, please contact Kate Teutsch at (413) 496-6324 or e-mail advertising@berkshireeagle.com.
Berkshire Senior is published bi-monthly by Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc., 73 South Church Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201, 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242, e-mail: esbc@esbci.org or on the internet at www.esbci.org.
NOTICE
Berkshire Senior advertising helps to the defray the costs of producing the newspaper. Inclusion of advertisers in no way implies that Elder Services endorses any product or service.
Signed columns are the opinion of the writers and not necessarily the opinion of Elder Services. For medical, financial or other advice, seek a qualified professional in the appropriate field.
Elder Services and its programs are funded, in part, by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging and Independence (EOAI) (formerly the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA)).
State and federal funds provided to Elder Services are limited. Elder Services welcomes charitable donations to help meet the growing needs of Berkshire seniors, and gratefully acknowledges all donations.
Hoping all is well with you and yours.
As I am writing this, the dog days of summer are upon us full force with mid-80 to low 90 degree temperatures during the day and rainstorms (sometimes with powerful and damaging winds) in the evening or at night. This week is the first week all our staff began working from our new location at the Clock Tower. We are on the first and second floors at 73 South Church Street in space that formerly housed Wayfair’s call center. Our clients are able to enter our space at ground level directly across from the Miller Supply parking lot, where 20 parking spaces are reserved for our clients and staff. Things are going well though not all of the cubicles, tables, etc. are yet fully assembled and there are isolated issues with phone and computer service, all of which is to be expected.
This is a very important year for Elder Services. Not only is the Agency celebrating its 50th Anniversary, our administrative offices have transitioned to new, more accessible space that will house us for the next 15 years as we experience unprecedented demand for our programs and services.
When I arrived at Elder Services nearly six years ago there were fewer than 60 employees in our administrative office. Today there are eighty with plans to add more to meet growing demand. The State Home Care Program, where direct care workers from home care agencies we contract with provide homemaking, home health aide and personal care services to our clients, is by far our largest program and one where demand continues to grow. This should not surprise anyone as Berkshire County is the second oldest county in Massachusetts. You may remember that during the pandemic the Commonwealth introduced the “Enough Pay to Stay” initiative to provide additional funding to ensure that direct care workers throughout the Commonwealth were incentivized to continue providing home care services to seniors. Owing to a limited population, a small workforce and rural geography, Berkshire County was particularly hard hit by direct care worker staffing vacancies during the pandemic. The good news is that though it took some time to bear fruit, Enough Pay to Stay seems to have at least stabilized the direct care workforce. Unfortunately there still are not enough workers to send to the homes of every senior who qualifies for services. The good news is that fewer seniors are having to wait and the wait times are less than they had been.
continued on page 4
I Read It in the Berkshire Senior
by Peggy Zamierowski
Anyone in Berkshire County who listened to morning radio on WUPE in the eighties or nineties would be familiar with the melodic tone in Alex Seseske’s voice. They would not have seen, but probably ‘heard’ his winning smile, even as he reported the wintry weather and announced school closings. Alex held down the “Alex in the Morning Show” at first, and then co-hosted the “Alex and Larry in the Morning Show.” Following thirty years in radio, he worked at Canyon Ranch Health Resort in Lenox for thirteen years. In retirement, Alex decided to become a volunteer driver with Elder Services of Berkshire County.
Alex hails from Guilford, CT, went off to college, and became a teacher. He reports that his one year of teaching was a disaster! He had always been interested in the news and music, so when he saw an ad for the Connecticut School of Broadcasting he took classes over the course of a summer. He sent audition tapes to area radio stations and WBRK had a night opening. Alex eventually moved on to broadcasting at WUPE and the rest, as they say, is history.
Alex interacted with many people during the contests, birthday announcements and live appearances. He engaged in public service, promoting various activities and organizations throughout his years in radio. At Canyon Ranch, he helped guests schedule their classes, services and meals during their stay. He is most fond of all the great conversations he had with radio listeners and resort guests, and so he sought volunteer work that would keep those conversations going. Alex saw an ad in the Berkshire Senior for volunteers to drive folks to medical appointments and said to himself, “That’s something
I could do!” The flexible hours attracted him as he didn’t want to commit to a fixed schedule. Being able to go out of town and visit with his Mom and grandkids was important to him.
“I soon learned what a big deal it is for people who can’t drive”, he said. “Folks are so appreciative, they tell me they just didn’t know how they were going to get to the doctor’s office. This service really makes a difference in people’s lives!”
Alex recalled a South County man, a retired plumber and electrician who had worked throughout CT and MA, who needed transportation to cataract surgery. The gentleman spoke of having no other recourse. Pretty quickly the two of them discovered they had a lot in common, having frequented many of the same places in CT near where Alex grew up. “Just having a chance to chat with each other was special”, Alex said. Alex’s ride recipient was so deeply touched that he made a donation to Elder Services.
“Transportation is so expensive, people want to pay or tip me.” One man, going to the dentist, insisted on filling up Alex’s gas tank. “I’m not going to tell anyone!” the rider exclaimed. Alex felt conflicted and had a conversation with the volunteer coordinator regarding the rider’s kind offer. He was reminded that, as a volunteer for a nonprofit organization, he could not accept gifts. Alex told his ride recipient, “If I did this…” and the gentleman finished his sentence for him. “…you’d feel guilty. Your conscience would bother you, wouldn’t it?”
“I like being able to help people. I have the time and I have the car.” Recognizing how difficult it is for people who can’t drive anymore, Alex states, “I feel fortunate that I am still able.”
We at Elder Services are fortunate to have Alex Seseske
and all of our amazing volunteers give their time, their spirit, and especially their hearts, joining us in our mission “to provide Berkshire elders, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities the opportunity to live with dignity, independence and selfdetermination, and to achieve the highest possible quality of life.”
It isn’t just a quote, some fancy words on a page. Our Meals On Wheels, Meal site, Ombudsman, SHINE, Money Management, and Home and Community Based Program Volunteers breathe life into our mission each and every day. We cannot do it without you. We are deeply grateful. Thank you!
A New Location continued from page 3
Like the State Home Care Program, many of our other services and programs are operating at unprecedented levels. One of our newer programs, the Community Transitions Liaison Program (CTLP), is beginning to benefit individuals transitioning back into the community from nursing homes. The CTLP was introduced by the Commonwealth in response to the Masters vs. the Commonwealth of Massachusetts class action lawsuit. The lawsuit highlighted the plight of many individuals who require specialized care due to behavioral health issues, acquired brain injuries (ABI), etc., but have no option other than to live in nursing homes because the Commonwealth has no suitable facilities for them. The CTLP’s mission is to successfully transition any individual age 22 or older who wishes to leave a nursing home back into the community. Though the program is helping people leave nursing homes, the reality is that Berkshire County still does not have specialized facilities for those for whom another type of facility would be appropriate.
We look forward to serving our clients in our new, more accessible space and to respond to the challenges of growing demand. If you or someone you know has been “on the fence” about reaching out to Elder Services to inquire about services, it may be time to call (413) 499-0524. We would love to hear from you!
Until next time be good, be kind and be careful.
Alex and transportation client Frances
Food Service
Volunteer Opportunities
Prepare and package meals at the Lanesborough ESBC kitchen. Morning food prep for a 2 to 3 hour commitment. One day or more per week.
Meals On Wheels Driver
Grocery Shopping Assistant
Companionship
Senior Dining
Long Term Care Ombudsman
SHINE—Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone
Deliver timely hot meals to homebound seniors on a set route. Shifts begin at 9:30 am; ending by 12:30 pm. Substitute drivers welcome. Supportive staff available during delivery times.
Shop with a list and deliver groceries to senior’s home. Transport a senior to grocery store for independent shopping. Weekly or biweekly trips.
Provide conversation / connection to a senior in Berkshire County. A weekly 1-2 hour visit in-person or by telephone conversation.
Assist with dining prep and clean up at local Council on Aging sites. Arrive late morning for dining set up and to serve hot lunch.
Visit residents in a nursing facility to listen to and advocate for them. Ombudsman training required for ethics and skills education.
Provides comprehensive training on the specifcs of Medicare to assist seniors navigate health coverage options during open enrollment and throughout the year. Consistent attendance required for SHINE certification completion.
School Day Memories
by Susan Guerrero
Most people remember something about their elementary school days. Specific times in life and in memory go by, perhaps fade, but do not entirely disappear. They often remain within the human mind and heart until the end.
Flashbacks and clear memories from the past, even decades old, are still alive. Perhaps a certain teacher, sounds of elementary school bells or children laughing, a whiff of freshly mowed grass, and thoughts of trudging home for a lunch of toasted cheese sandwiches and Campbell’s tomato soup, come rushing back at a moment’s notice.
Many remember buying new clothes and getting haircuts before the start of a new school year. Just like today, the hearts of many students beat faster as the first day of school draws closer. How many mothers, throughout the decades, looked forward to seeing their little ones go to kindergarten? Then, the mother encouragers broke down into tears as their little ones walked away from them and in through the doors of a school. Happiness and sobbing somehow became closely linked. That scenario, no doubt, still goes on today. Such moments mark the end of one era and the beginning of another. Life’s chapters keep going on, through good and bad times. Memories of elementary school days, lived so long ago, remain safely tucked away but still alive.
Barbara and Armand Walger, life-long natives and residents of Pittsfield, have been married for 54 years. Both have poignant and clear memories of their elementary school days. Barbara went to the former Bartlett School on Onota Street and Armand attended the former Rice Elementary School on Winter Street. The latter school, built in 1890, closed in 1976, and was razed two years later, according
Flashbacks and clear memories from the past, even decades old, are still alive.
to Internet information sources.
Bartlett School, on the other hand, opened in 1912. Located at 279 Onota St, today, its classrooms have been converted into and serve as apartments. The huge windows are about the only reminders of the way the school used to be. Classrooms have been made into efficiency apartments with kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, and bathrooms.
In the day, some 70 years ago, in a corner kindergarten classroom at Bartlett, Barbara Walger remembers a high table with a sandbox on top. Little ones could easily stand in front of it, reach over into the sand, and play, since everything was arranged to be at the height of the children.
“We had to take naps,” Barbara recalled. “I remember one of the girls cried every day and I wanted to cry, too.” She also remembers Miss Sue Coffee, the
very strict principal of Bartlett at the time she attended in the 1950s. Corporal punishment was allowed at that time and, to the chagrin of naughty children, used. Barbara said she can still picture Miss Coffee in her mind’s eye. She was tall, thin, and wore her hair back with a bun at the back of her head.
As a little girl, Barbara walked home for lunch. The family lived several blocks away from the school on McArthur Street. They even walked home for lunch in below zero weather, she said. Barbara’s paternal grandfather, who was from France, lived with the family. Her mother went back to work during the time of the Korean War and left the house at 7 a.m. Barbara’s grandfather used his cooking skills to feed his grandchildren. “He made breakfast for us every morning,” she said. “There were waffles, pancakes, soft boiled eggs, and all
kinds of cooked cereals.” She said when she got home from school for lunch, there was a “beautiful sandwich” waiting for her. She’d eat and then run back to Bartlett School in order to go to the playground before the afternoon session of the school started. The students played games and were on different teams, she recalled. When the loud school bell rang, echoing across the entire playground, the students knew it was time to line up and march back into the school and into their respective classrooms. Lunch time recess was over.
Barbara remembers “a physical ed guy” named Mr. Stanley who visited Bartlett as well as other schools in the city. If the weather was bad on the day he came, or if it was winter, students would go down to the basement where they did square dancing under Mr. Stanley’s watch. “He played Farmer in the Dell just to get us moving,” she said.
Barbara still has clear memories of holiday time at Bartlett, especially Christmas.
The author’s class photo from Bartlett School
“Santa would come,” she said, “and give us stockings. Different groups and classes went out to the hall and sat in folding chairs.” Those were always exciting afternoons. She also recalled the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) would raise money by sponsoring cupcake sales “a couple times a month.” Mothers of students in the school, including Barbara’s mom, would make the cupcakes which were tenderly cared for as they were set out on long tables in the hallway. Students could walk around the tables and decide which 25 cent cupcake they would select. It was
In the spring at Bartlett, there was always a maypole on May Day.
a fairly daunting task for little kids whose eyes must have been as big as saucers, looking at the vast array of yummy, homemade cupcakes.
Somehow, even students who had no money were able to participate. (Perhaps teachers kept extra quarters in their classrooms for exactly that purpose.)
Students also paid ten cents for little cartons of milk which, no doubt, helped wash down the sweet cupcakes. Barbara said she was given her dime in a cloth handkerchief with crocheted edges that was tied up in a neat little bundle so she wouldn’t lose it.
In the spring at Bartlett, there was always a maypole on May Day, Barbara said. There were long, crepe paper ribbons in all different colors that students held as they walked around the maypole. At Halloween, when everyone went home for lunch, they would come back wearing their special costumes, Barbara said. Then, each class would take turns going from classroom to classroom, showing their costumes to other students.
Nothing about Bartlett’s architecture made an impression on Barbara. The building was “very rectangular and made
continued on page 8
School Day Memories continued from page 7
of brick. It was very plain, all just about the same as other schools.” The outside of Bartlett today actually has changed very little from all those years ago. The playground, however, in the back of the school, is a parking lot for residents and it’s not even very big, like the playground in the day, in the memories of Bartlett students.
Barbara said she and her sister had “very good discipline from our parents.” She said she would die if she ever got caught doing something bad enough to require the principal calling her mother. Her mom was the disciplinarian in the family. Sadly, she died at age 37 years old when Barbara was just 15 years old. After that, she said, she never wanted to do anything that would hurt her dad. “I was happy in elementary school,” Barbara said. “Those were my favorite times. It was hard when we went to junior high.” Barbara went to North Junior High, now called Reid Middle School.
The former Rice Elementary School baseball team in the 1950’s. Armand Walger is third boy on the left in the first row.
fooling around with squirt guns, flipping baseball cards, and playing dodgeball. He also recalled how students used to have air raid drills, ducking under their desks, for safety.
days at Bartlett are still sharper than a razor’s edge.
The New England artist, Norman Rockwell, came to the Bartlett Elementary School playground and sketched the students for a magazine cover, she said.
A life-long music teacher and soloist, her very first public solo was at a Bartlett School Maypole celebration when she was in the first grade. Sadly, one of the few things she cannot remember is the title of the song she sang. She was only six years old. She also remembered singing “Silent Night” in the sixth grade at Bartlett.
One fundraiser the school had entailed students selling packages of garden seeds.
Today, it has been seven decades since Barbara traipsed the halls of Bartlett School. She married at age 19 and divorced and then got married to Armand.
She had four children and has eight grandchildren including two step grands and even four great grandchildren. Speaking through his wife, Armand Walger told some of his elementary school recollections from the 1950s. The thing he remembers most about his kindergarten teacher is that she had a wooden leg. Then, his first grade teacher was “very mean” to any boy who displayed bad behavior. His second grade teacher was a compulsive hand-washer.
Like his wife recalled. Armand said Mr. Stanley, the phys ed guy, came to Rice School, too. He remembers having fun playing musical chairs. He said the principal of Rice when he went there was Miss Tone and the name of the janitor, who was crippled, was Mr. Cook. Armand said he and his buddies played a lot on the playground, trading different colored marbles with each other. They also enjoyed
In the spring, everyone would bring yoyos to school. They provided loads of fun among the students. Armand’s hard work ethic began quite early in life. While in elementary school, he became a paper boy. “He picked up his pile of papers on the corner and folded and arranged them in his bag and delivered them after school,” Armand’s wife recalled. One of Armand’s favorite things to do was play baseball and he was on the Rice Elementary School Baseball Team.
That interest in baseball never waned and in high school Armand became a star pitcher on the PHS Baseball Team, Barbara said. He played for three years and was featured in the Sports Section of the Berkshire Eagle on numerous occasions.
Armand enlisted in the Marines when he heard he might be drafted, Barbara noted. He spent most of his career as a chauffeur at the General Electric Company in Pittsfield. He drove company officials to their destinations including the late Jack Welch, chair and chief executive of the company from 1981 to 2001. Armand worked at General Electric, during the “glory days” of the company, from 1968 to his retirement in 2003.
Another former Bartlett School student, Diane (Wicker) Stetson, now lives in Mission Viejo, California, where she has made her home for many decades. Diane is now in her 80s but her memories of elementary school
“I remember selling all my garden seeds to my Daddy as he used them in his garden,” she said. Also, she said she remembered that corporal punishment was alive and well in her elementary school days. “Our principal had a paddle waiting for deserving students,” she said. Her principal was also the late Miss Coffee.
Genevieve Miller’s parents, Mary and Bronislaw (Benjamin) Bartnicki, were Polish immigrants who lived Pittsfield before eventually relocating to Woronoco, near Westfield. The little town was home to Strathmore Paper Company which employed dozens of Polish immigrant workers. Genevieve, who turned 96 years old in April, said she went to the same elementary school in the paper mill town from first through eighth grade. “For the fourth, fifth, and six grades, I was taught by Miss Sears, in the same room. I loved Miss Sears. She was a very good teacher,” she said. She and her classmates walked to school which was located about a mile from the home in which they lived. “We would then walk home for lunch and return to school for the rest of the day,” she said. “In the winter, we would stop in the boiler room of Strathmore to warm up for a few minutes before continuing on.” Genevieve said one of the last times she saw Woronoco was during an excursion there with her late husband, Michael. “We went to the area where the school used to be located,” she said. “All that remained was a set of stairs.”
Elder Services is Relocating and Celebrating Golden Anniversary
by Kayla Brown-Wood
You may already know that Elder Services of Berkshire County is celebrating two milestones this year; our 50th Anniversary and relocating our administrative offices to a new, central location in the heart of Pittsfield.
Elder Services of Berkshire County was incorporated in June 1974 as a private, non-profit agency known as Berkshire Homecare. The agency employed just three staff who worked out of a small office on Wendell Avenue. The following year, Berkshire Homecare was designated as the Area Agency on Aging (AAA), and later renamed Elder Services of Berkshire County (Elder Services) in 1993. Shortly after, in 1997, Elder Services received another designation as the county’s Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) through the Executive Office of Elder Affairs. Elder Services of Berkshire County has continued to retain those designations and expand its services over the years to meet the needs of aging adults in our community.
Fast forward to 2024. Much has changed over a half-century and the population of seniors living in Berkshire County continues to grow. Elder Services has continued to carry out its mission through an expansive list of services including Home Care, Information and Referral, Caregiver Support,
Housing Options, Long-Term Care Ombudsman Advocacy, Money Management, the SHINE Program, the Senior Nutrition Program (Meals on Wheels), and more.
The rising census and development of new services also means we’ve outgrown our current office space on South Street. We are excited to announce that as of August 1st, Elder Services will be fully operational out of our new home at the Clock Tower Business Center at 73 South Church Street in Pittsfield. We are thrilled to move to a new space that better accommodates our staff and clients who will be able to access our office with convenient parking and a ground floor entrance.
We are very proud of our accomplishments over the past 50 years and look forward to serving our community for many years to come. To help us celebrate, please consider donating to our $50 for 50 Years campaign, by visiting esbci. org. All donations help support our mission to provide Berkshire County elders, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities the opportunity to live with dignity, independence, and selfdetermination, and to achieve the highest possible quality of life.
Thank you for all you have done to support us and we look forward to serving you in our new space!
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
by Kara Graziola
6.5 million. That’s the number of individuals over the age of 65 living with Alzheimer’s in the United States in 2022. It is projected that by 2025, 150,000 Massachusetts residents will be living with Alzheimer’s. Currently, 55 million people are living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia worldwide.
Alzheimer’s disease is a type of brain disease caused by damage to nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. Alzheimer’s is a slowly progressive brain disease that begins many years before symptoms begin. Early signs of Alzheimer’s can include; memory loss that disrupts daily life such as asking the same question over and over and needing to use memory aides such as reminder notes. Other symptoms include difficulty remembering a familiar recipe, organizing a grocery list,
trouble with vocabulary, poor judgement, withdrawal from social activities and changes in mood and behavior. Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life, while Alzheimer’s is a specific disease. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia.
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Research shows that that not only is Alzheimer’s disease responsible for the deaths of more and more Americans, but also that the disease is contributing to more and more cases of poor health and disability in the United States.
Each year the Alzheimer’s Association holds the Walk to End Alzheimer’s as a fund raiser for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Participants in the walk are asked to raise funds that assist the Alzheimer’s
Association with being able to work towards prevention, treatment and ultimately a cure for Alzheimer’s. Funds raised have allowed for more enhanced research, provide support groups, and a 24/7 Helpline offering information and referrals. The Alzheimer’s Association funds independent researchers worldwide through its International Research Grant Program.
The Alzheimer’s Association has contributed over $405 million to 1,100 active projects in 56 countries spanning six continents. The Alzheimer’s Association’s grants have funded some of the most active research in Alzheimer’s and dementia science. Projects include advancing our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, identifying new treatments, improving support for families and caregiver’s and
furthering knowledge of brain health and disease prevention. The walk is held in over 600 communities nationwide, including a walk in Berkshire County.
Berkshire County’s’ Walk will be held on Saturday October 5, 2024 at the Adams Visitors Center in Adams, MA. The Walk begins at 10 a.m. Please consider joining the walk as an individual, joining a team or creating your own team. You can also donate to a team or make a general donation to the Berkshire County walk. Visit www.alz.org for more information about Alzheimer’s disease and the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
The following donations were received between May 1, 2024 and June 30, 2024. Donations received on or after July 1, 2024 will appear in the next issue of Berkshire Senior.
$50 for 50 Donations
Bonny DiTomasso
Kathleen Phillips
Shelley Crippa
Tammy Burris
Bethany Kieley
Memorial Donations
In Memory of: William Broderick
Katherine Broderick
In Memory of: Barbara J Kurek
Richard Kurek
In Memory of: Tom Renzi
John Terek
In Memory of: Ernest LeBarron
Dawn L. White
David J. Tierney, Jr. Inc.
Michael & Linda Cachat
Daniel Kruszyna
Carole LeBarron
Christine & Dennis Croughwell
Ronald & Sherida MacWhinnie
Dery Funeral Home
Coralie E. Pelkey
Sherry Albert
Kellie & Jacob Keplinger
Daniel & Linda MacWhinnie
Barb & Ken Hassan
Mr. & Mrs. Edward Bishop
In Memory of: John W Korte, Jr.
Henry & Lisa Baldwin
Marjorie & Robert Powell
Charles H. Baldwin & Sons
Susan Harrington
Eric T. Shore
Margaret Deutsch
Robert & Mary Korte Kinmore
Peter & Patricia Negrini
Michael and Justina Norton
Janet M. Dohoney
Kathryn C. Korte
William & Maureen Seward
Charles Prince III
John & Ada Masiero
Richard & Victoria Premerlani
Raymond & Eileen O’Connor
Eugene A. Dellea
Timothy & Mary Korte
Pamela H. Ivey
Corvettes of Berkshire
In Memory of: Annie, Oz, Jack and Elvis
Nancy Stuart
In Memory of: Robert Wheeler
Keith & Barbara French
Kathleen & Timothy Face
George & Patricia Kellar
In Memory of: Norma Maroney
Nicholas E. Kirchner
In Memory of: Sam Lagrotteria
Nicholas E. Kirchner
Elder Independence
Donations
Sheila Keator
Patricia Hathaway
Jesse Lipson
United Way of Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley
Virginia Giddens
Benjamin & Jo Anne Ginsberg
Lawrence Spatz
Shelley Crippa
Charities Aid Foundation America
Patrick Gray
MaryAnn Minella
Alfred and Evelyn Goggia
Neville D Toye, Jr.
William & Sandra Walley
Ronald H. Bourgoin
Joseph & Nancy Tirrell
Barbara Rubin
Kathryn Hughes
Winthrop D. Kie, Sr.
Marilyn Desoe
Alfred Bedini, Sr.
John P. McComish
John & Deborah De Forest, Sr.
Patricia E. Choquette
Thomas A. Dillon
Joel & Patrice Less
Helaine Rose
Tammy Burris
Trad Campbell
Bernard Gregory
Edna Aulisio
Patrick Litano
Joanne M. Seymour
Judith A. Williams
Lois Ireland Forsley
Susan J. Ricci
Maureen A. Marrone
Nan Bernstein
Roberta Nussbaum
Gilbert & Norma d’Oliveira
Robert & Shirley Annelli
Donald J. Wasuk
Lorraine & Albert Mancuso, Jr.
Thomas Furlano
John Keenum
Constance Metall
Irick Living Trust
Dr. & Mrs. Myron Ritrosky
Steven C. Rogers, Sr.
Rosemary Fahey
Dr. Joel & Mrs. Sue Colker
Elaine Lee
Fern E. Lavelle
Jo Ann Lancaster
Katt Lissard
Arthur & Louise Hillman
Debra Sullivan
Jane B. Wheeler
Meals on Wheels Donations
Alice Rose
Adams Community Market
Dale Ellen Vreeland
SHINE Donations
Cynthia M. Armstrong
Mary Horton
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BERKSHIRE COUNTY LEGISLATORS
UNITED STATES CONGRESS
Congressman Richard Neal
372 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-5601
300 State Street, Suite 200 Springfield, MA 01105-1711 (413) 785-0325
Rep. Smitty Pignatelli
24 Beacon Street, Room 473F Boston, MA 02133 (617) 722-2692
24 Beacon Street, Room 279 Boston, MA 02133 (617) 722-2017
District Office: (413) 464-5635
Paul.mark@masentate.gov
ESBCI’s Isaac Share interviews Jade Schnauber of the North Adams Farmers’ Market.
Editorial Board Members Wanted
Do you look forward to reading Berkshire Senior every other month? Do you have a passion for issues that are important to seniors? Are you creative? If you’d like to have input into the format and content of Berkshire Senior we’d love to have you serve on our editorial board! We meet once every other month for about 60 minutes via Zoom. If you are interested, please contact Christopher McLaughlin, Executive Director at (413) 499-0524.
Don’t Get Left Out in the Cold!
by Laura Feakes
It’s not too early to think about how you are going to pay your home heating bills all the way through next spring. Don’t wait until your heat is not working and your time and options are limited. Look at last year’s bills, then budget your money. Ask to sign up for your utility company’s budget plan. Apply for fuel assistance for help in paying a portion of winter heating bills. Now is also a good time to ensure your furnace is working properly – tune up your heating system or replace an old furnace with a new, more energy efficient one. Here are some important money saving tips to help you manage your heating budget this coming winter season: Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC, www. bcacinc.org) is the local agency that administers the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), known commonly as Fuel Assistance. This program helps low income people pay for part of the cost of their primary source of heat from November 1st through April 30th. Renters whose heat is included in
their rent may also be eligible. The income guidelines for the 2024-2025 season are: up to $49,196 for a 1 person household and $64,333 for a 2 person household. To apply visit the BCAC online customer portal (https:// toapply.org/BCAC) and submit the online application. Or, call BCAC: 413-445-4503 (Main office in Pittsfield), 663-3014 (North County), or use the toll free automated system 1-866-216-6200. The online portal should be up and running approximately the first/second week of October and BCAC will start taking telephone appointments for new applicants mid-October as well. Funds are not dispersed until November 1st. Green Energy Consumers Alliance (https://green energyconsumers.org/ heatingoil) is a statewide heating oil co-op. Member’s prices are lower than the typical consumer cost for a gallon of home heating oil. The program offers a consistent discount on heating oil from a credible fullservice oil dealer. Join on-line at greenenergyconsumers.org/ heatingoil. The basic membership fee is $25 for 1 year, $15 for seniors, free for fuel assistance
recipients. Serves all of Berkshire County except Florida and North Egremont. For Member Services & general inquiries: 617-397-5199.
Eversource (www.ever source.com) offers a discount rate for income-eligible residential customers who participate in certain state and federal assistance programs and whose income does not exceed 60% of the state median income (1 person household $49,196; $64,333 for 2 persons). Eligible Programs include: Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC); Supplemental Security Income (SSI); MassHealth (Medicaid); Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Public/Subsidized Housing, and some VA benefit programs. Applications are available online or call Eversource to request one. If you have a verified financial hardship in which your income is within 60% of the state median income as listed above, Eversource offers New Start, an arrearage management program. New Start allows income eligible residential customers to earn past due balance forgiveness. In addition, payment plans can help
prevent service disconnections and are open to most customers. For more information call 1-877963-2632. Translation services are available.
Berkshire Gas Company (BGC, www.berkshiregas. com) offers budget payment plans allowing customers more affordable payments by averaging higher winter bills with lower summer bills. Customers with overdue charges can possibly enter into an installment payment plan. BGC also offers discounted delivery charges to low-income customers who receive public assistance benefits and meet income limits. Utility companies enroll eligible customers automatically, or customers can apply directly. For more information and to find out if you are eligible for these programs, call the Customer Care Center: 1-800-292-5012 (Live support Mon – Fri 8am – 5pm) or online www. berkshiregas.com/account/ waystopay/help-with-bill.
The Salvation Army (https://massachusetts.salvationarmy.org/) administers the Good Neighbor Energy Fund (www.magoodneighbor.org). The GNEF helps qualified Massa -
chusetts residents pay electric, gas, and oil bills when, due to temporary financial difficulty, they can’t meet their energy expenses and they aren’t eligible for state or federal assistance. It is available from January 2nd until funds run out. Income for either the prior twelve months or the past month (times 12 months for a total annual figure) must fall between 60 – 80% of the state’s median income levels. The income guidelines for the 2024-2025 season are: 1 person household $49,197 - $65,594; 2 person $64,334 - $85,777) For more information about eligibility criteria and to apply, call Pittsfield Corps 413442-0624 (298 West St) or North Adams Corps 663-7987 (393 River St). Those who qualify may receive up to $500 per household per heating season.
MassSave (www.masssave. com) is an energy savings program for Massachusetts’
homeowners and renters. It offers no-cost home energy assessments to help homeowners make home improvements that save money, electricity and heating fuel. To see which rebates, loans, home energy assessments, or other energy programs are available visit the website or call 1-866-527-7283.
Veterans’ Services has a state program known as Chapter 115 benefits that provides cash and medical assistance to lowincome Massachusetts wartime veterans and their families who are in need of immediate help, including help with fuel. To determine eligibility visit the Massachusetts Veteran Benefit Calculator (https://massvetben. org). It helps residents who have served in the military quickly and easily determine if they may be eligible for financial assistance. You can also call the Veterans Services Officer (VSO) in your area: 528-1580 (South County),
662-3040 (North County), and 499-9433 (Pittsfield area). There is a VSO finder online at https:// massvetben.org/find-your-vso.
The Heating System Repair and Replacement Program (HEARTWAP) provides emergency heating system repair and replacement services to low-income households. The program is administered by a network of local agencies, in most areas the same agency that administers the Fuel Assistance Program. For more information, call BCAC: 445-4503 or visit their website bcacinc.org/heatingrepair. The first priority of the program is to address heating emergencies during the heating season (November-April). Eligible applicants are those that are eligible for LiHeap (Fuel Assistance) with a gross annual income that does not exceed 60% of the estimated state median income. The program is designed
to primarily serve homeowners as landlords are required to maintain the heating system for their tenants.
Just a reminder...Massachusetts laws prevent utility companies from shutting off service to people in special situations. Senior households (65 yo or older), low-income families with infants, people with serious illnesses who cannot afford to pay their utility bills, tenants whose landlords are responsible for utility bills and low-income people who would be without heat during the winter are eligible for shutoff protection. Beware of scammers who threaten immediate termination - this is not the usual procedure for regulated utility companies (electric, gas, water). Call ESBC’s Information & Referral Department for more information or go to www.mass.gov/keeping-yourutilities-on.
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. NUTRITION PROGRAM
SENIOR
COMMUNITY DINING CENTERS
The status and offerings of the Senior Community Dining Centers are likely to evolve. Please call for the latest update.
Eligible seniors 60 years or older are welcome to attend any Senior Meal Site. Reservations are requested 24 hours in advance. The suggested donation is $3.00 per meal. All contributions are returned to the community toward the cost of the Senior Nutrition Program. Those 59 or under are welcome at the required fee of $8.00 per meal.
MEDICALLY TAILORED MEALS
Elder Services now provides medically tailored meals (MTMs). MTMs help meet the nutritional needs of seniors with health conditions that require specific diets such as diabetes and heart or kidney disease.
MTMs can be delivered to individuals at their home five days a week. Menus are developed by our registered dietician and trained staff.
Call Elder Services (413) 499-0524 to request a special meal such as pureed, cardiac, diabetic, renal and vegetarian.
Elder Services’ staff and volunteers marched in Pittsfield’s 4th of July Parade celebrating the Agency’s 50 year anniversary
E st. 1931
Complete Ser vice of Monu ment s & Ma rkers
10 0 Wa hcona h St. Pit t sfield, M A 01201 (413) 4 42- 4149
Donna Bre wer, O w ner Ste ven J Bre wer, Director
City of Pittsfield’s NEW Trash Collection System
by Laura Feakes, taken from City of Pittsfield website
Pittsfield contracts with Casella Waste Management for trash and recycling pickup and disposal. A new agreement
introduces a transition from manual to automated waste and recyclables collection. This collection method involves the use of specialized trucks designed for fully automated curbside collection with compatible 48-gallon “toters”. The automated truck picks up and dumps the toters using mechanical arms.
Casella will be distributing 2 standardized toters to each household at no cost, one for trash and one for recycling. Deployment of the toters will ensure all households are equipped with the necessary bins ahead of the service. If a resident feels they need an additional trash toter for their household they will need to pay a $40 quarterly fee. Additional recycling toters will be provided free upon request. The city will be working with Casella to identify the best way for disposing/ recycling of the old containers.
Residents who are disabled or have a health condition that prevents them from getting the toters to the curb should contact the Dept of Public Utilities at 413-4999330 to obtain a Backyard Pickup Form or visit the city’s website at cityofpittsfield.org. The completed form has to include a note from the resident’s physician or social service agency representative.
It is anticipated that the new system will begin in September on a staggered street by street basis over the course of two
months. Rollout will start with the recycling collection and be based on resident’s collection day. Once the recycling collection is under control, automated trash collection will begin. The switch should be complete by Thanksgiving. By late fall, Casella plans to reopen the transfer station at 500 Hubbard Ave to receive yard waste, bulky items and recycling. However, under the new system residents will be required to show either a residency sticker or a punch card to gain entrance. The residency sticker will be available for purchase at an annual rate of $120 for residents under 65 years old, and $80 for seniors, per household. If residents need an additional sticker for another car in their household, that can be purchased for another $20. The punch card, which only grants access to drop off yard waste, can be purchased for $20. That card, which can be recharged, gives residents two visits to the transfer station and the ability to drop off a total of 20 bags of yard waste. The yard waste either has to be contained in a recyclable brown bag or dumped from a regular plastic bag at the site at the time of drop off. For more information go to the City of Pittsfield website, www. cityofpittsfield.org and the first item under “Hot Topics” is “Toter Proposal”
Medicare Open Enrollment Time to Review Your Coverage
by Lisa Jamros
Everything changes, and your Medicare coverage is no exception. Health benefits and drug coverage can change. Health or drug plans change their costs. Providers change contracts. Pharmacy networks change. Even your health needs may change from year to year. This is why Medicare beneficiaries should review their coverage annually during the Open Enrollment Period, October 15th – December 7th.
Open Enrollment is the ONE TIME OF YEAR when beneficiaries can review these changes, compare plans, and enroll or dis-enroll in Part C (Medicare Advantage) and Part D (Prescription Drug Plans). By reviewing plan costs and benefits, and comparing them with other options available for the
upcoming year, there is potential to ensure appropriate coverage and save money. To prepare for Open Enrollment, Medicare beneficiaries should:
• Review the Annual Notice of Change letter from their current plans in September and note any changes.
• Reflect on their health and medical needs over the past year and try to anticipate needs for the coming year.
• Research TOTAL costs involved when comparing plans. This should include the premiums, copays, and deductibles. For example, a plan with a low cost premium may also have large deductibles for certain services.
• Contact their providers and confirm that they are in network (when applicable)
before making changes to their coverage.
The SHINE Program (413-4990524) is available year round to assist Medicare beneficiaries with enrolling in Medicare, evaluating coverage for existing beneficiaries, making changes, and screening for insurance related public benefits. There is no cost or eligibility criteria to speak with a SHINE Counselor.
Kimball Farms offers all this and more:
• Financial security and long-term predictability
• Estate preservation
• Quality care no matter what your health care needs are
