Reminder: The Village needs 3-5 residents to fill vacancies on the Board. If you would like to be considered, please submit a brief bio to the Clerk (wfrazier413@gmail.com) by May 1, 2024.
From the HOA President
I hope this newsletter finds you well. As spring is upon us, I am cautious to celebrate a warm day because I know that we still have the potential for snow in the weeks ahead. Yet, I do appreciate the longer daylight hours and await with anticipation when we can say goodbye to Peter’s tractors in the village for a while. That is when I know warmer weather is coming and Walden Village will come alive with our spring colors.
The Board has been busy this past fall and winter doing the business of the Village. Our focus has been on making sure our finances are in order, that dues are collected, and that we have an operating budget addressing the needs of the Village while providing more funds for the reserves.
Village Clean-Up
Tom Kelley has worked with Peter to further clean out the area around our main catch basin pond and the adjacent wetland drains. That area is looking really good as we begin this spring. You may not be aware that there is another catch basin drain on the south side of the Village behind the homes between 38 and 42 Walden Lane. We have plans to clean out the catch basin this spring and we are looking for volunteers to help.
Lorraine Deyo is leading our Environmental Committee and they have been handling various requests from residents.
Annual Meeting
We are making plans for the annual meeting that will be held at 9:00 am on June 22. We intend to host it in the area leading up to the pool (something new to provide more shade). Please look for more communication this spring about the annual meeting.
Board Members Needed
We need more residents to consider becoming a Board member and welcome those who have served in the past to join the Board again. If you are interested in being a candidate, the Board requests that you write a brief biography, including your reason for seeking a seat on the Board. The biography should be submitted to the Clerk (wfrazier413@gmail.com) by May 1, 2024). Only two of the existing Board members have terms beyond June 2024. We will need at least 3 new Board members this year to reach the 5 Board member minimum that is required in Article IV, Section 1 of our Bylaws.
Pool News
Plans are underway to open our pool around Memorial Day weekend. Stay tuned for more information on the opening date. We will also be sending a request for volunteers to do chemical testing throughout the summer.
Tennis Court News
The Board remains committed to opening one of the tennis courts this spring for play. We will also be soliciting bids this spring to resurface the tennis courts.
New Website
We implemented a new Walden Village website this year. Residents are beginning to log in to the site. Please note that while we want to use the website effectively for various forms of communication, electronic ECC requests, and document storage we still will leverage existing forms of communication like email and the bulletin board.
Environmental Committee:
As the nicer weather is approaching, I am anticipating more ECC requests. This is just a friendly reminder that most outside projects need an approved request. If you are unsure, just reach out to me anytime, at tnldeyo@gmail.com or 518 291 0263.
You should go onto our new website and submit the request directly from there. We have been experiencing a positive result streamlining the request process through the website. If you need assistance with this, or are unable to proceed this way, please contact me and I will be glad to help.
Thank you all in advance for your cooperation in this matter. Lorraine Deyo, ECC Chair
Social Committee:
The Social Committee is looking forward to the return of our spring and summer residents and the return of warm weather with plenty of sunshine ! And of course the Pool opening in May.
Our Walden Village Social events will kick off with the Annual Hot Dog Cookout at the pool on the afternoon of the Annual Meeting, June 22, 2024. We will all gather poolside for grilled hot dogs with all the fixings. Everyone will bring a dishThe traditional summer and fall events we are planning include our poolside Pizza Party in the month of July, our Saturday of Labor Day weekend Brunch, an afternoon gathering at Balderdash Winery, and a dinner get together at Crust Pizza.
More information on these and other social happenings will follow with postings on the website and emails.
We are looking for suggestions for other events so please reach out to any member of our committee with your ideas or requests. Safe travels for those of you returning to the Berkshires and we look forward to getting together with everyone soon.
Glenna Gerard 336-918-1956
Cheryl Meunier 413-442-6118
Ann Callahan 413-441-0057
Shirley Bresnahan 413-464-1692
New Residents: In October, 2023, Catherine (Candy) and David Pursell purchased 3
Alcott Lane. Candy’s cell number is 706-491-3090. Her email is pursellcm@gmail.com. David’s email is dlkpursell@gmail.com. Please add their contact info to your directory. Candy shared the following: I was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Dave was born in Buffalo, New York. We met after college and he was recruited by Westinghouse, where I worked with the recruiters. We were married the next year and moved to Laurel,MD. After a year Dave decided to interview with GE here in Pittsfield and we lived in Dalton for 30 years where we raised our three sons. We decided to retire early and move to Georgia and built a home on Lake Hartwell, which was about an hour from my parents and siblings. We lived there 25 years! While there we made a lot of wonderful memories and friends. We sold our home in September and moved in here on October 21. We have re-connected with so many old friends and look forward to meeting all our new friends here in Walden Village.
For this issue, Lorraine Deyo and I asked you to submit an article on your pet. We are pleased to offer you the following submissions for your reading pleasure.
Edna Dugas:
Sitting on my son’s porch, many years ago, I see a little grey cat walking up the street. She crosses to the other side hoping for companionship. Two very large felines immediately reject this overture, and she is on her own again. Boy, is she in the need of some love!
Months pass, and this little forlorn creature often accepts my encouragement to join us on the porch, but only for a few minutes each time. Then off she goes.
Halloween arrives, cold and very wet. A shivering Grey Cat is sheltering under the bush next to the porch. Not a good situation. So, in she comes very willingly, and she has a home!
Time passes: life changes. That forlorn day I just picked her up and brought her home with me.
Most of you might know my dog, Cooper. If we see you while walking around he definitely wants to say hi, he can be very vocal. Cooper came to me at six months old
after his previous owner wanted to re-home him. He is a Havanese who is now 2 -1/2. He loves seeing his dog friends Charley, Bailey, Molly, and Bandit. Not sure the feeling is always mutual. Cooper also loves spending time with Cheryl and the boys. We are very fortunate to have found such a welcoming community within Walden Village.
Shirlee Bresnahan:
Hi my name is Bailey! You’ve probably seen me making the rounds here in the neighborhood with Shirlee. I just love meeting the neighbors during our walks. I get so excited I can’t contain myself!
My favorite thing is greeting people and getting belly rubs. Sometimes I may jump on you but I’m working on it. I’m almost 3 years old now so I should know better. Shirlee says I’m a great watch dog and that I make her laugh. We’ve been together since I was just a little pup. We moved here last year and I like it a lot. I love running in the tennis court, off season! Thanks for letting me do that.If you’re out for a walk or see me out in the yard stop by and say hello
(and don’t forget the belly rub).
Barbara and Rob Lagergren:
Molly’s World
The right pet is a very personal addition to any family, whether you have a home full of family members or are a single resident. The comfort and companionship they provided is both heartwarming and inspirational.
When Barbara and I were looking to downsize and relocate to Pittsfield, one of the criteria was that dogs were allowed. When we reviewed the covenants and found that Walden Village was dog friendly, that sealed the deal for us. Why? A dog friendly community, or a business for that matter, means that the human components are caring, friendly, patient and most importantly, they share a common social bond. Pets can also share that bond with their human family.
When I was first diagnosed with cancer, Molly sensed that something was wrong. When I would get home from a treatment, she would sniff my breath for telltale signs of the disease or medications. She somehow knew that our bond required that she stay by my side providing both warmth and companionship. As my health improved, Molly would nudge me to take her outside as if to say, you need to get up and get moving.
Socially, dogs are magnetic. How many times have you seen the afternoon dog walking group parade up and down Walden Lane. Sometimes one or two, but often many more join in or drop off during the walk with or without a dog. And they all get along. It’s a comforting few minutes, provided by a canine, to get their owners some exercise and catch up with neighbors while the dogs do their thing.
Molly knows all the friendly homes and vehicles where she may score a treat or a belly rub if she is patient enough. Now she and Bandit carpool to the groomer’s every few weeks for a different social experience. They return exhausted but clean.
And don’t think that Molly doesn’t have Barbara and I figured out. We each have been assigned our responsibilities concerning her daily activities; what time she gets up, fed and out for a walk. And when she naps, has her treats, her evening meal and when it’s time to retire for the evening. After all, it is a dog’s life!
In short, any pet, but especially a dog, adds dimension, companionship and comfort to any home.
Barbara and Rob
Ellyn Zarek:
“Daisy, the Miniature Schnauzer”
What can I say about our Daisy? I guess I’ll start from the beginning. In 2007, after some negotiation with Jeff, we decided to get a puppy. We’d had a cat when my older children were growing up. She was an adopted black Maine Coon Cat, who lived for 15 years. Our youngest child, a son named Bradley, was nearing his ninth birthday. He should have a dog growing up, we reasoned, and so began the search.
We tried shelters. Most had very large dogs who shed. Adopting one of those would mean my mother and one of my sisters could never visit because of allergies. I researched dogs that had hair not fur. In other words, hypoallergenic. We came up with two favorites, a Wirehaired Fox Terrier or a Miniature Schnauzer. Schnauzer Love Rescue, a non-profit rescue organization, had both breeds. I applied for one of the Fox Terriers. The dog checked all our boxes: female, small, young, hypoallergenic, and simply adorable. The rescue required the new owner to pay the dog’s veterinarian bill, this one a hefty $1,800. I gulped at the price for a “rescue” but forged ahead. To my surprise, we were turned down. First, our home was in a rural area and the rescue insisted we would have to install a 6’ stockade fence, not an inexpensive venture; otherwise, our dog could run away, or get eaten by a bobcat, coyote, or even a hawk. But the kicker was – no children under ten-years-old. Seriously? I had to wonder how many people were willing to do all that and had the means to pay an enormous vet bill. The mission was clearly futile. Our son wouldn’t turn ten for a little more than a year. Sigh…
I continued our search at other shelters and rescue organizations. Apparently, small, hypoallergenic dogs were scooped up in a nanosecond. No luck on that front. By chance, I saw an ad in the local newspaper: Schnauzer puppies. Parents on site.
$500.00. I really had wanted a rescue dog, but this offer was amazing, so I called the number. “Come on over,” the man invited. So we did. Bradley and I sat on the cement floor of their lanai to greet this little dog family. The parent dogs were beautiful, playful and loving. The puppies, five in all, were all over us. We were in heaven. The owners pushed us to pick one. I knew we wanted a female. One female was very large and clearly an alpha dog. The other female was the runt. She only weighed three pounds. She delicately licked my son’s hand and settled in his lap. This would be our girl, our Daisy. The pups were only five-weeks-old. I was surprised that we were allowed to take her home that day. The breeder explained that the puppies were fully eating on their own and weaned from their mom, so she was ready. Nowadays, 8 weeks is the recommended earliest to separate a puppy. Daisy was always willing to please. She took to housebreaking early and well. She knew basic obedience, several tricks and was a very good announcer. I could count on her to “alert” when anyone approached our door. That bark was sharp and hurt our ears. It was a bit difficult to get her to “shush.” She was also intuitive. For example, she knew not to jump up on older people and was equally gentle with children. She was active, loved playing with her toys and had an adorable “roo-roo-roo,” her playful bark. She loved people, other dogs and even cats! When we’d ask her to “Speak,” she would emit a burst of air and the softest of woofs.
Fast forward nearly seventeen years… Daisy is in her twilight years. Jeff says she’s our one hundred-year-old dog. She’s lost most of her hearing and some of her sight. She rarely barks. She still tries to be active, despite arthritis and a heart condition. She often bounces around, hopping, rather than running. She enjoys short walks and loves being outside in the cool Berkshire air. Her once reliable house training has regressed, so we bring her out every two hours during the day. She also has Canine Cognitive Disfunction, much like human Alzheimer’s Disease. Daisy wanders in circles and she gets “lost” in the house, such as getting stuck in a corner or behind a chair. We are grateful she sleeps all night.
I’ve found unique ways to enhance her happiness. I crush her pills and mix them with baby food, which she enthusiastically laps up twice a day. She was never a “foody” dog and keeping her weight up is a challenge. I feed her two soft dog food meals and one home cooked meal of chicken or beef with rice. She can freely graze on kibble all day. She appears to look forward to her dental chew, predictably jumping around until I offer it. I think she looks pretty good for an old girl. She used to get groomed with a typical Schnauzer cut, which she no longer tolerates. Now, we have her quickly trimmed every few months to keep her comfortable and free of matting hair.
I’m sure I’ll be sad when she passes but I know in my heart we’ve given her a good life. I can never replace her. She’s been a sweet and loyal companion. I’ll admit, however, that I increasingly have a case of “puppy fever.”
I hope you have enjoyed this newsletter. Remember, the Annual Meeting is Saturday, June 22, 2024. Details will be sent to you by a separate email soon. For our friend and neighbors who will be returning to the Berkshires after a winter away, we wish you safe travels and look forward to seeing you soon,
Bill Frazier, Editor