By Lauren Broussal A well-attended long-term planning follow-up meeting moderated by Town Administrator Matt Kerwood was held at the Richmond Consolidated School on November 14. Under discussion were options developed by the Berk- shire Regional Planning Commission to conclude their long-range sustainability study of Richmond. Gwen Miller and Tom Matuszko of the BRPC began by summarizing key demographic findings, as discussed in the previous meeting of October 3. Next they presented three topic areas describing specific observations about Richmond, followed by a choice of op- tions with associated potential decisions in an organized matrix. (The full “deci- sions matrix” is available in the Novem- ber 16 town newsletter.) Citizen discussion was encouraged during the BRPC presentation. The first topic, Community Sustain- ability, describes the declining number of full-time residents in Richmond and the rapidly aging population. The op- tions propose ways to diversify Rich- mond’s age groups, prioritize multigenerational services, expand services for the elderly, actively market Richmond to new residents, enhance housing opportunities, or alternatively, to embrace the trend toward becoming a community of primarily second-home owners. RICHMOND RECORD Adult Low Literacy Addressed Success Abounds at LitNet Continued on page 9 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Chat with Senator Ben Downing Coffee Talk Held at Town Hall ...........Page 2 35 Tons of Trash Plus Recyclables Allied Waste Services Earn A+ ........Page 3 Little of This, Little of That Goings on Around Richmond ........Page 5 New School Principal C.A.R.E.S. Meet Monica Zanin ..............................Page 6 Books Picks ..............................................Page 7 On The Wing ..........................................Page 10 Community Calendar .......................Page 11 Options Presented Second Long-Term Planning Meeting V olume X, No. 8 Richmond, Massachusetts December 2012 By Jo Anne Magee They meet in pairs as often as weekly over months and sometimes years. Usu- ally from different backgrounds, they share a common interest – literacy - one to teach, the other to learn. The scene is repeated over and over across south Berkshire County every week. All of this is thanks to the efforts of the Liter- acy Network of South Berkshire, or Lit- Net as it is known. LitNet’s website defines literacy as the ability to read, write, compute and use technology at a level that enables an individual to reach his or her full poten- tial as a parent, employee and commu- nity member. About 5,000 adults in south Berkshire County do not have a high school diploma. Another 3,000 are functionally illiterate, as are 20 percent of adults in Massachusetts, the same rate as for the U.S. as a whole. Low literacy rates have large costs. Low literacy in health costs between $106 and $236 billion each year in the U.S. Low literacy economic impacts - crime, lost work place productivity and lost tax revenues from unemployment - cost the U.S. another $225 billion or more each year. Seventy-five percent of state prison inmates do not complete high school or can be classified as “low literate” according to the ProLiteracy website. Photo by Dorothea Greene Executive Director Laura Qualliotine, Literacy Network of South Berkshire. Continued on page 4
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Transcript
By Lauren Broussal
A well-attended long-term planningfollow-up meeting moderated by TownAdministrator Matt Kerwood was heldat the Richmond Consolidated Schoolon November 14. Under discussionwere options developed by the Berk-shire Regional Planning Commission toconclude their long-range sustainabilitystudy of Richmond.
Gwen Miller and Tom Matuszko ofthe BRPC began by summarizing keydemographic findings, as discussed inthe previous meeting of October 3.Next they presented three topic areasdescribing specific observations aboutRichmond, followed by a choice of op-tions with associated potential decisions
in an organized matrix. (The full “deci-sions matrix” is available in the Novem-ber 16 town newsletter.) Citizendiscussion was encouraged during theBRPC presentation.
The first topic, Community Sustain-ability, describes the declining numberof full-time residents in Richmond andthe rapidly aging population. The op-tions propose ways to diversify Rich-mond’s age groups, prioritizemultigenerational services, expandservices for the elderly, actively marketRichmond to new residents, enhancehousing opportunities, or alternatively,to embrace the trend toward becoming acommunity of primarily second-homeowners.
RRIICCHHMMOONNDD RREECCOORRDD
Adult Low Literacy Addressed
Success Abounds at LitNet
Continued on page 9
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Chat with Senator Ben DowningCoffee Talk Held at Town Hall ...........Page 2
35 Tons of Trash Plus RecyclablesAllied Waste Services Earn A+ ........Page 3
Little of This, Little of ThatGoings on Around Richmond ........Page 5
New School Principal C.A.R.E.S.Meet Monica Zanin ..............................Page 6
Volume X, No 8 Richmond Record, December 2012 Pg 6
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Books PicksBy Holly Freadman
By Pam Glass
It was the day after the election, a
week after Hurricane Sandy and a
nor’easter loomed in the forecast. Mon-
ica Zanin, the new, interim Richmond
School principal was busily checking
on student departures, as school had just
let out. The atmosphere, charged with
more than its usual energy, was vibrant
and dynamic. The external forces of
weather and politics were having their
effect on the students giving them more
to think and talk about. Their highly an-
imated chatter gushed like a stream,
flowing through the halls sweeping any-
one in the way. They skittered in all di-
rections, clutching backpacks, coats and
hopes of having the next day off.
The clock ticked past three and with
the wave of excitement descending,
Zanin was free to talk. Her door stayed
open leaving her accessible to anyone
who needed her. She was cheerful,
composed and unruffled from her day.
Her smile was warm and gracious, a
feature she is rarely without.
Zanin comes to the Richmond Con-
solidated School from Reid Middle
School in Pittsfield where she held the
position of head of guidance and in-
struction for the past four years. Her
14-year tenure at Reid also included
teaching sixth grade Math and English
Language Arts along with years as a
guidance counselor. She is proud to note
that Reid Middle School is now at Level
One status, commended by the state for
meeting requirements. “It was seven
hard years of a diligent effort in creating
a positive environment and implement-
ing processes to increase achievement
to bring the school up,” she said, speak-
ing of her former colleagues and her-
self. The details of this achievement
reveal her tenacity and capability, and
her skill with dismantling the big pic-
ture into attainable, smaller steps.
She began her interim principal term
at RCS on October 1, 2012. Asked if
the job was overwhelming after five
short weeks, she replied “My experi-
ence of collaborating with teachers over
the years and being in many different
leadership roles, especially the last two
years, has helped me deal with the day
to day issues that come at you which are
just as important as the big picture.
This school has so much to offer. RCS
is unique in that you don’t see Pre-K
thru eighth often, and this mix of ages
provides another layer of learning for
these kids. We have eighth graders tak-
ing ownership in the science lab by as-
sisting third graders. By giving the
older kids a chance to collaborate with
each other and work with younger ones,
they feel the sense of responsibility. I
always remind them that the younger
ones are looking up to them and they
are the role models.” Zanin went on en-
thusiastically: “Our professional devel-
opment day in October was a fantastic
day of working together as a team. RCS
did not have a set of universal expecta-
tions that was highly communicated
throughout the school. On that day,
teachers and staff created and voted on
a set of beliefs that make up the
acronym C.A.R.E.S. which stands for
Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility,
Empathy and Self-Control. C.A.R.E.S.
will apply to every aspect of school and
Volume X, No 8 Richmond Record, December 2012 Pg 7
Continued on page 8
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New School Principal C.A.R.E.S.
Meet Monica Zanin
Photo by Dorothea Greene
Principal Monica Zanin
will be visible throughout in the form of
banners, posters and other means.”
When asked about juggling the multiple
needs and requests of staff and students,
she did not flinch and repeated again
her favorite tool of the trade - collabora-
tion. “We can disagree respectfully and
move forward. What I love about what
I do is that while everyone has different
roles and different views and different
needs, we all have the same end goal.
And that is, we want the children to
have a safe, happy, positive and learn-
ing enriched school experience.” Zanin,
a parent of a four year old and an eight
year old continued, “I am all about com-
munication and working together.” (The
discussion paused several times as chil-
dren, parents and even the fire chief
sauntered in to ask her questions.)
Zanin does not dwell on the recent,
revolving door of principals at RCS.
She emphatically spoke of moving RCS
forward and her desire to be at the
school for the long run. The school day
came to a close and the Nor’easter still
loomed in the forecast; outside the win-
dows of RCS though, sunny skies
seemed to be ahead.
Volume X, No 8 Richmond Record, December 2012 Pg 8
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Meet Monica Zanin from page 7
Each option generates a column ofdecisions. For instance, if Richmondmarkets itself to attract new families orenhances housing opportunities foryounger residents, that might trigger in-vesting in the school, billing itself as adestination residential community usingthe school as a draw, and reassessing thezoning bylaws to allow for more rentalsand low-to-moderate income housing.
Selectman Roger Manzolini notedthat as a town, Richmond should evolvein the direction desired by the towns-people, providing services only asneeded, “not the other way around.” Healso urged residents to think in terms ofplanning for 25 years or more. How-ever others disagreed, noting thatsweeping changes may occur over thecourse of decades that can impact de-mographics, with the recent recessionand expected recovery cited as exam-ples. In discussing new families, it wasalso noted that the amount of StateChapter 70 funds associated with newstudents is not “a game-changer,” butthat an influx of young adults wouldprovide potential volunteers for townboards and emergency services.
The second topic, Long-Term Finan-cial Sustainability, deals with both thefiscal challenges presented by the
school given the declining school-agedpopulation, and the lack of growth andhomogeneity of Richmond’s tax base.Options range from identifying theschool as a priority and enhancing it, toreducing school services or even clos-ing the school. Regarding the tax base,options are to increase and diversify thebase and/or to reduce costs.
Decisions prompted by identifyingthe school as a priority would includemarketing it aggressively as a reason torelocate, identifying it as a magnetschool, enhancing services, actively re-cruiting out-of-district students, and di-versifying housing opportunities toattract younger families. The option toclose the school precipitates differentchoices that include joining a nearby re-gional school district and giving uptown autonomy in educational decision-making. Choosing to diversify the taxbase triggers decisions about commer-cial development and the balance be-tween rural character and growth, whileattempting to reduce costs will in-evitably spark tough discussions aboutwhich town services can be eliminated.
One resident commented that even ifaffordable housing becomes available,families might not come if there are nonearby jobs. Another responded thatjobs are increasing and Richmond
should position itself to attract youngworkers as the economy brightens,which requires taking steps now. ARichmond fireman noted that there arefiremen who have been looking foryears for affordable housing in Rich-mond. Another resident requested acost-benefit analysis of closing theschool as opposed to keeping it open,which Kerwood stated is now beinggenerated by the State.
The final topic, Next Steps, containstwo options, to engage residents inlong-term planning or to pursue no fur-ther planning efforts. The first option,already the inherent choice, lists deci-sions that require residents to becomeinvolved in future planning steps. Ac-cording to Kerwood, 15 people from across-section of taxpayers, includingsecond-homeowners, will be appointedby the selectmen to an advisory com-mittee to begin work in early January,tasked with weeding through the op-tions and presenting suggested actionitems to the selectmen. Financial andzoning matters will require a town vote,while the select board can decide policymatters with the goal being to formulatea long-term sustainability plan for Rich-mond.
The BRPC plans to issue a final re-port that will be available online atTown Hall, incorporating the feedbackfrom this second meeting.
Volume X, No 8 Richmond Record, December 2012 Pg 9
Long Term Planning from page 1
Volume X, No 8 Richmond Record, December 2012 Pg 10
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Do you remember a recent article in
the Berkshire Eagle about a young man
from Pittsfield, who was leading a
group of FEMA volunteers in Long
Beach, N.Y. after Hurricane Sandy?
As I was reading it, I noticed that his
group had been training in West Vir-
ginia, and I thought, “I wonder if, by
any chance …”
Flashback to two summers ago, when
I volunteered to host an intern from
Berkshire Botanical Garden. She ar-
rived carrying a small, potted plant and
wearing a big smile. The chemistry was
right from the beginning, and we settled
in to a comfortable routine. During the
day, of course, she was busy at Berk-
shire Botanical and on the weekends
she usually went home to Boston. But
during the week we had dinner together
and watched old movies. The routine
varied only occasionally when she in-
sisted on commandeering the remote
and I suffered through something called
“Wipe Out,” where seemingly rational
adults tried to climb on rapidly moving
structures while being pummeled by
high velocity water hoses. There was a
lot of money involved, apparently.
Anyway, the summer moved pleas-
antly along, and we had a jolly time.
She introduced me to geo-caching and
disclosed that there is a site on East
Road. We did the movies at BIFF, pic-
nicked at Tanglewood and had a few
celebratory parties on the back porch.
At last, the day came when she had to
leave. She handed me a note which she
asked me to read after she left. The note
told me how much she had enjoyed the
summer and that she was now hooked
on old movies, but the surprise was on
the back. It was a miniature watercolor
of my backsteps, complete with dog,
cat, window box, flagstone walkway …
every detail. I was touched. It still lives
on my refrigerator door.
Naturally, we kept in touch and I
knew she was volunteering with FEMA
and that she was training in West Vir-
ginia. When I read the article I won-
dered if this was the very unit she was
in and I e-mailed her. Sure enough, it
was the same and she asked if I would
mail her the article. At the moment, she
is living on a navy ship at the Maritime
College in the Bronx with a group of
FEMA employees. She reports that
about 160 people a day come to the
Disaster Recovery Center. Most have
lost everything and are angry at FEMA.
Her job is to look up their applications
on the computer, answer their questions
and try to help them through the
process of FEMA assistance, which can
be frustrating and confusing. She was
looking forward to having a day off, her
first since super storm Sandy struck.
The work is exhausting but she feels a
sense of satisfaction when she can pro-
vide immediate help.
In the end, this is a story about two
people who decided to reach out to
make someone else’s life a bit easier,
and found themselves enriched in the
process.
On The Wing
By Ann Larkin
Volume X, No 8 Richmond Record, December 2012 Pg 11