AMHERST — A senior at Amherst Regional High School is being recognized for his service to the community, including encouraging his fellow students to do more volunteering.
Ben Goldman, 18, will be honored with an annual service award from the Amherst Club and the Amherst Boys & Girls Club at a luncheon at Bistro 63 at the Monkey Bar and Grill, 63 North Pleasant St., Tuesday at 12:15 p.m.
Goldman has done work with AbilityPLUS at Mount Snow as a coach and mentor for Special Olympics adaptive ski and snowboard team, and has been able to encourage others from Amherst to volunteer, said Andrea Battle, president of the Amherst Club.
In fact, Goldman convinced 40 high school students to join in him in volunteering, Battle said.
“He has promoted communication with those that many people find difficult with which to communicate,” Battle added.
Goldman will receive $700, with an additional $50 that he can give to a local nonprofit organization of his choice.
Though a middle school student was eligible to receive $200 and to make a $50 donation to a nonprofit, the two organizations received no application from middle school students.
This marked the second year of the awards, which can be sought by any middle school or high school student who lives in any of the four towns that make up the regional district.
An Amherst design company that renovated the Old Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield was recently honored with a preservation award from the Massachusetts Historical Commission.
Gillen Collaborative Architects founder William Gillen and partner John Krifka were recognized for the restoration of the 1876 building, which included removing and replacing every stone on its front facade.
A solid concrete reinforced wall was constructed behind the stones, to replace a crumbling brick “backup” wall, Gillen said, and then every stone was connected to a new concrete wall using stainless steel attachments.
“The extensive rehabilitation and restoration of the Old Berkshire Athenaeum ensures that this prominent and beloved public building will continue to serve the community for years to come,” said William Galvin, secretary of the commonwealth, in a statement.
A project to convert a downtown home into two condominiums and to construct a 4,700-square-foot building with four additional townhouse-style condominiums behind it will come before the Zoning Board of Appeals July 21.
Linda Muerle is requesting a special permit for the property at 32 North Prospect St. to allow for the conversion and to build the second home on the back portion of the three-quarter acre property. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
Planning Director Christine Brestrup said the ZBA held its first public hearing session on the project on June 30.
Brestrup said the special permit is required for the use, including townhouses and converted dwelling.
The Planning Board and Conservation Commission are holding a joint presentation on preliminary mapping of floodplains.
The presentation by AEXCOM Technical Services, Inc. of New York City will be held Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m at Town Room at Town Hall.
MONDAY: Select Board, 6:30 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall.
TUESDAY: Jones Library Design Subcommittee, 2 p.m., Woodbury Room, Jones Library; Wildwood School Building Committee, 2 p.m., professional development center, middle school.
WEDNESDAY: Planning Board, 7 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall.
THURSDAY: Cable Advisory Committee, 9 a.m., First Floor Meeting, Room, Town Hall; Zoning Board of Appeals, 6:30 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall.
