At the first monthly meeting of the 2009 election year of WHEN!,  the members voted unanimously and enthusiastically to endorse Melissa Mazzeo in her bid to win the Ward 3 City Council seat.

      Judy Williamson, chair of the Endorsement Committee, gave an overview of the vetting process for endorsement.  Mazzeo first completed a detailed questionnaire stating among other things why the WHEN! endorsement was important to her and why diversity in the City Council is crucial to Pittsfield and what her major issues would be for Ward 3.

     Williamson told the WHEN!  members that Mazzeo is a strong advocate for the constituents in her ward, she is deeply committed to addressing issues that will improve the health and safety of all the citizens in Ward 3.  She is deeply committed to the support of small businesses in Ward 3.  One of Melissa's strong points is that she is a good listener and will work hard to advocate for solutions to the challenges that face Ward 3.

     Three of the issues that Mazzeo is passionate about are insuring that the interests of the abutters to the Pennell Building on East Street are protected, and insuring that the needs of her constituents, particularly the elderly,  are fully considered during the redevelopment of East Street.  The other issue that Melissa is passionate about is holding agency leaders accountable to report to the community on the status and development of the Win Stanley Business Park.

     In other business new officers on the WHEN! Board were elected as follows:  President, Judy Williamson, Vice President Kathy Barnes, Secretary Patricia Moynahan and Treasurer Carol Ramsey.

     Prior to the business meeting the members enjoyed a Red Hot Chili tasting of six very different  kinds of chili made by the board members.  By popular vote the Best Tasting Chili was made by Board President Judy Williamson.

LEE — Former Pittsfield City Councilor  Tricia  Farley-Bouvier has been appointed the executive director of the Literacy Network of South Berkshire, the nonprofit's board of directors announced yesterday.

     The 43-year-old Pittsfield resident had been the Literacy Network's education director for the past three years.

    "I'm extremely excited to be appointed executive director," said Farley-Bouvier, adding that she was eager to match her skills to the community's needs.

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PITTSFIELD — Former City Councilor Patricia "Pam" Malumphy has been appointed to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women by the state Caucus of Women Legislators.

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