The Williams Record

(Ella Marx/The Williams Record)

Hogeland, Boyd win Williamstown Select Board election

Julia Goldberg and Lena Kerest May 10, 2023
Andrew Hogeland ’76 and Stephanie Boyd defeated Andi Bryant and Paul Harsch ’69 for two seats on the Select Board in yesterday’s Town election.
The Select Board acts as the executive branch of the Towns government. (Photo courtesy of Shirley Lin.)

Boyd, Harsch, Hogeland vie for two seats on Select Board

Max Billick and Lena Kerest May 3, 2023
Incumbent Andy Hogeland ’76 will seek reelection for his seat, while Stephanie Boyd, a current member of the Town’s Planning Board, and Paul Harsch ’69, a real estate agent, are running to serve on the Board for the first time. 
Hot tomatoes is closing after 29 years in business (Bellamy Richardson/The Williams Record.)

Hot Tomatoes closes after 29 years

Tali Natter May 3, 2023
The family-owned pizzeria Hot Tomatoes closed permanently on April 24 after nearly 30 years of service on Water Street. According to a Facebook post by the restaurant’s owner Angelina England, the former Hot Tomatoes building is currently for sale, and, if interested, the new owners of the building can continue the Hot Tomatoes brand. 
(Photo courtesy of Shirley Lin.)

Williamstown to vote on adopting ranked choice voting system

Ella Marx and Grady Yuthok Short April 19, 2023
At this year’s Town Meeting, Williamstown voters will determine whether the Town should move away from its current voting system. A warrant article backed by the nonprofit Voter Choice Massachusetts would implement ranked choice elections for Town offices.
The Select Board endorsed the warrant articles passage at its April 10 meeting (Noor Naseer/The Williams Record).

Town to test electronic voting at annual meeting

Max Billick April 19, 2023
At this year’s Town Meeting, voters will trial the use of electronic clickers to vote on warrant articles. They will also decide on an article that would allow the Town to use $27,000 to purchase clickers for use at future meetings. 
Sen. Paul Mark and Rep. John Barrett III engaged with the community in the Faculty House on Tuesday morning.

State Senator Paul Mark, State Representative John Barrett III lead town forum on campus

Quinn Casey and Dylan Mealey April 12, 2023
Massachusetts State Senator Paul Mark and State Representative John Barrett III hosted a town hall yesterday at the Faculty House. The event was one of many organized by Mark in an effort to reach all 57 towns within his district.
Town voters approve $22.5 million fire station

Town voters approve $22.5 million fire station

Julia Goldberg March 1, 2023
Williamstown residents passed a proposal to build a new fire station at 562-580 Main Street in a 509-32 vote during yesterday’s special Town Meeting at the Williamstown Elementary School. The building will replace the Town’s 73-year-old station, which falls short of numerous Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Fire Protection Association standards.
The Select Board endorsed the warrant articles passage at its April 10 meeting (Noor Naseer/The Williams Record).

Town Planning Board finalizes bylaw proposals to increase affordable housing supply

Max Billick February 22, 2023
The Williamstown Planning Board finalized four proposals for changes to the Town’s zoning bylaw at its Feb. 14 meeting, all of which aim to increase housing affordability. These changes are intended to increase housing supply by making it easier to subdivide lots, allowing more units to be built on each lot, and permitting cheaper kinds of structures.

College to contribute $5 million to construction of new fire station, pending proposal’s approval

Ella Marx and Julia Goldberg February 8, 2023
The College’s Board of Trustees voted on Jan. 20 to contribute $5 million, at a rate of $1 million per year for the next five years, to the construction of Williamstown’s new fire station — if Town voters approve the proposal to build the station.
First weeks of January bring milder weather to the Berkshires

First weeks of January bring milder weather to the Berkshires

Grady Yuthok Short January 25, 2023
Until a storm blanketed the College in nine inches of heavy snow Sunday night, Winter Study had lacked one of its most characteristic features. The first two weeks of January included just one day of measurable snowfall in Williamstown, totaling only 0.3 inches, according to data provided by the College’s Environmental Analysis Lab.
Williamstown police officers unanimously support the use of body cameras.

Williamstown appoints Michael Ziemba as its first permanent police chief in two years

Ella Marx December 28, 2022
Since December 2020, Michael Ziemba has served in several different roles within the Williamstown Police Department (WPD), including lieutenant, acting chief, interim chief, and — as of Dec. 20 — permanent chief.
Williamstown police officers unanimously support the use of body cameras.

WPD to implement body cameras

Julia Goldberg December 7, 2022
The Williamstown Police Department (WPD) will equip all of its officers with body-worn cameras after the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security awarded it an $18,941 grant.
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