The Berkshire Eagle from Pittsfield, Massachusetts • 17

The Almanac a a Smtme 1:11 ligk ft toiiil Low ai Mnlba April 8 Rap war ag. U- MMm MayC Preapjutin Tncc Ua stir Smm 17 Skw-KM Sit Danlm-M CB Eagle Stock, Averages (Noon) Oow Jone. (Sheonon. HoxmMI 4 Co.) 30 Industrials 85135 10.56 20 Transp 182.76 1.70 15 Utilities 87.17 07 Sales 7.200.000 Second Section Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Tuesday, April 16, 1974 Page 17 Plan board halts director search until Council restores cut salary power in the eventual selection of a replacement. The Planning Board was unanimous this morning in its decision to suspend the search for Stahm's successor The motion to halt the proceedings was made by John Fraser.

former Council president, who said last week any responsibility for inadequate city-planning while the director's job is vacant belongs on the Coun-, cil's shoulders The board pondered its actions in executive session, closed to the press and public on the grounds that the discussion would involve the city's finances and might have an adverse affect on the reputations of some figures involved in the dispute The letter outlining the board's reasons for its vote leaves the door open for communication on the dispute. It urges the Council to "make its intentions known" regarding the status of a new director. It goes on. however, to charge that the board is "unclear regarding the motives of the City Council" in cutting the salary Position adamant It says that while the Council considers citv ordinance changes to give it more power in choosing a new director, the search can go on if the salary is reinstated The board also told the Council its members are "adamant that the city must have a new director at the earliest possible time Subsequent to Stahm's dismissal in mid-February. Council members proposed various methods of including themselves in the selection process for a new director, held a public hearing on the firing and urged the Planning Board to reinstate Stahm The board refused The Planning Board voted this morning to stop looking for a new planning director until the City Council drops its idea of cutting the job $18,000 salary from the forthcoming city budget.

Planned deletion of the salary means the board "cannot proceed in good faith" with picking picking a replacement for Boris Stahm. whom the board discharged in February, according to a letter being sent to the Council: Stahms firing raised strong opposition in the Council, and last week at a budget hearing a preliminary move was made to delete the vacant job's salary in order to give the Council more PittsfieldV population up slightly Pittsfield's population has gone up slightly in the last year. According to the annual census of the Registrars of Voters, the city now has 56.430 people an increase of 44 over 1973. Pittsfield's population in the last decade has declined from a 1963 high of 58.561. Mrs.

Helen Stodulski. the Registrars' office manager, said hp tpncnc chitipd an inrrpawp Former Hillcrest secretary is charged with embezzling Joel Librizzi TODAY, the First United Methodist Church building, marking its 100th birthday, looks like this. Members celebrating centennial of 1st Methodist Church building also realized by purchasing XA tlw, steel girders from a demolished 5T ZnA jr, and decrease in those 16 building at the General Electric year a and younger Trip 17-anri-older cateeorv cently deposited, according to police The largest check she reportedly deposited was from Medicare for $8.830 23. on March 21 In this case, she took more than S3 600 in cash and left the rest in the account the detective said. Police said there was about $400 left in the account when Mrs Lewark was arrested, and a City Savings Bank cashier's check for $3,000 was recovered uncashed Bank joins police The bank, police said, eventually put a hold on her account and participated in the investigation after she came under suspicion Police reports on the case indicated Mrs Iewark had bought a new compact car since her employment at Hillcrest A Lebanon.

NY. real estate man. John McMahan. told a reporter that Mrs U'wark had recently put down $5,700 in cash with his firm for a house she had considered buying, but last week decided she did not want to purchase it and got her mon evback Co. By James E.

Overmyer A Canaan. N.Y.. woman who had been secretary to the head of Hillcrest Hospital was charged today with embezzling more than $29,000 in insurance and government health-plan payments to the hospital. Pittsfield police said this morning they have been able to account for only about $3,400 of the $29,712 11 that Mrs. Mary Lewark.

a 35-year-old mother of three, supposedly took during the four months she worked at Hillcrest. She was arrested by New York State Police at her Queechy Lake home in Canaan last Friday and held over the weekend in the Columbia County Jail in Hudson. Bail put at $1,000 She waived a rendition hearing yesterday in Columbia County Court and was returned to custody here by Pittsfield and state police detectives. Pittsfield District Court Judge Frank Cimini ordered her held on $1,000 bail and entered a not -guilty plea for her at arraignment here this morning. She is being formally charged with larceny of more than $100 Mrs tawark told the court she did not have sufficient funds to hire a lawyer, and the public defender office was appointed to represent her Mrs.

Lewark. according to police, took eight checks from the hospital between January and April, before she was fired as secretary to acting administrator Edmund Noetzel. and deposited them in an account she had opened at the City Say ings Bank. She then withdrew the money in lump sums of sometimes more than $1,000. according to a detective bureau spokesman.

He said the alleged embezzling scheme was found by a newly hired accountant at the hospi-tal. who discovered some payments from the government Medicare plan. Blue Cross and insurance companies had apparently never been received The detective said Mrs. Ie-wark would take an incoming check, erase the hospital's name and substitute her own and then deposit it in her bank account She would sometimes take part of a check's amount in cash, but often returned to the bank a few days later to withdraw large amounts she had re The most recent renovations mo. hv in in rm whilp thp 1 iun 1 were made in 1969.

when the number of younger residents dropped by 248 to 16,409. The dog population was recorded as 4.978. and increase of 184. Truck sought after injury to pedestrian Pittsfield police are asking the public to notify the department if they have seen a pickup truck that reportedly struck and injured a girl on Harold Street By (linker Buck Five days of celebration activities, including an organ recital a youth night and a church outdoors day. will begin April 28 when the First United Methodist Chruch celebrates the 100th anniversary of its church building.

While the celbration this; month commemorates the completion of the present church building on Fenn and Pearl streets in 1874. the history of Methodism in Pittsfield dates back more than 180 years: The English founder of Methodism. John Wesley, sent the first two missionaries to the American colonies in 1769. As their numbers increased, these missionaries began to be known as circuit riders, because they were assigned to large regions which they traveled in regular circuits! ministering to several nascent congregations. First conversions In Pittsfield.

the first known conversions to the Methodist faith were in 1788 Four years later Bishop Francis Asbury. the most famous of the early American Methodists, sent the Rev. Robert Green of Baltimore to found a church here. Green, now buried in the Pittsfield Cemetery, conducted his services in a schoolhouse on Elm Street and retired from the pulpit before the first church was built in Saturday night The police traffic bureau said witnesses have described the truck, which failed to stop, as red. With a beacon-tvpe red light on top similar to that used chapel was rebuilt.

In 1972 two new sets of organ pipes and a new organ console were installed. Special observances Special centennial serivces and music performances have been scheduled during the celebration. On Sunday. April 28. the chancel choir will sing Randall Thompson's "The Peaceable Kingdom." a sequence of sacred choruses with texts inspired by the book of Isaiah.

A reception for former pastors of the church will follow. On Monday, April 29. Prof. Oswald Ragatz. chairman of the organ department at Indiana University's School of Music, will perform a recital on the new organ console at 8 p.m.

A reception will follow the recital. On Wednesday. May 1, the Rt. Rev. Edward G.

Caroll. Methodist Bishop of Boston, will speak at a banquet at the church at 6:30 p.m. On Friday. May 3. at 11 a.m.

Prof. Mary Barber of the School of Business at the University of Massachusetts will speak at the church at a May Fellowship Day sponsored by the Church Women United of Pittsfield Youth social On Saturday. May 4. various activities including a bike hike, jogging and weight-reducing exercises will be followed by a luncheon. A youth social will be by emergency vehicles.

The truck struck Debra Riv ard. 17. of 33 Harold about 11 p.m. near her home She suf fered a concussion, the police said Area Democrat unit to meet tomorrow IN 1882, before lightning and the passage of time forced the removal of three spires, the brick Gothic edifice at Fenn and Pearl streets looked like this. east side of the church built of $350,000.

Over the next six by Tiffany of New York years the church was able to which had been hidden by the raise approximately $160,000 The Berkshire County Demo cratic Committee will meet to morrow at 7:30 p.m. at the American Legion home in 1829. of the towards that goal, and a more Adams. John Barrett III of The present church was built arrangement North Adams, county chairman. pipes.

austere renovation program In the same year changes than originally planned contin-were also made to the roof, the ued as donations permitted. WEDNESDAY ONLY 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. announced today A Steak Dinner $3.95 Every Sunday from 12 noon at New work In 1965 the vestibule, again, the narthex and the sanctuary were redone. the Longhorn Steak Room.

Chil 30" CALORIC Continuous Cleaning Oven GAS RANGE dren's menu from $1 .50 Adv held in the church from 6 p.m. As in past improvements, an hum, to replace a wooden structure on the corner of Fenn and First streets that was partially burned in 1871. In March of that year land was purchased a block further north on Fenn Street, but the cornerstone was not laid until 1873. The previous experience of fire was not lost on the members, and when they commissioned architect C. Rathburn to design a new structure they were resolved to use brick.

J. H. Butler of Pittsfield built the church at a cost of $115,000. an inmiHniohf Great Luncheons attempt was made to match the Rev James Aut main entrance and the sanctuary. This renovation was continued in 1927 in the vestibule and the north section of the church, which was then still called the parish house The entire cost for remodelings in the 1925-28 period was some $165,000 A series of major renovations began in 1955 under the supervision of Pittsfield architect John H.

Fisher, a member of Gift certificates for all occa onginai rap vmng Fjrst Umted Methodist sions. Private party and meeting room available. Longhorn Church from 1958 to 1961, will Steak Room 637-3000 Adv. Deep Rest done by Gothic Crafts of North-boro on top of the carpentry work by M. Goodrich Son.

of Pittsfield. The church saved some mon preach at a special centennial Sunday service May 5 at 10 a.m. Now a resident of Philadelphia, Ault is bishop of the northeastern conference of the From a natural effortless tech church. The educational amount that has since been the ey on tne construction ot us nique! Free introductory lecture on transcendental meditation. Wed 7:30 p.m 181 Bartlett Ave 445-5415 -Adv' Porches wing, constructed by Peter youth room in 1966.

Space for united Metnodist Lnurcn. Francese. with several class- the vouth room was partially The Rev Ijemuel ix)T- rooms and offices, was added at excavated under the dining Western Massachusetts district a cost of $79,000. room by Peter Francese superintendent; the Rev. Robert In 1960 the church began the Teams of youth from the church W.

Hannum. pastor, and the most ambitious building fund carried away the remaining dirt Rev Edwin Taylor, associate drive in its history with a goal by wheelbarrow Savings were pastor, will also participate. Built and repaired. Ravin Con struction. 443-3428 Adv.

Savings Bank Life Ins. For low cost call Ed 3-5601 spent three times over in a succession of renovations in 1925. 1955 and 1965 Built of Philadelphia pressed brick, the Gothic church cut an imposing, cathedral-like profile during the remainder of the century while its original three spires one as tall as 76 feet were still intact. Lightning strikes The spires were struck by lightning several times, and in 1928 the two front steeples were removed, while the third had been removed earlier, on a date not recorded In 1925 the original organ and ONE DAY ONLY Wednesday, April 17 SAVE $84 Regularly $343N SALE $25900 Delivered CALORIC Clean Cooking Berkshire County Savings Bank. Adv.

Timex Gas dealers may be offered inducements to open Sundays Factory authorized sales ser vice. James Jewelers. Berkshire Common Adv. Why Wait? Renovate! and Cape Cod might become stranded if stations don't open. Ban lifted Berkshire County gasoline Sundays off.

dealers may get an extra allot- "However." he explained, ment of gasoline and a com- "we are also concerned about plimentarv "Sundav dinner for tourists cominc to the Berk- The longer you wait, the more it pipes were rearranged and a The Sunday closing of service will probably cost. Ask about new organ and cathedral two on Mondays" if they will shires and not finding a station chimes were installed. In the agree to open on Sundays tlur- open for the Sunday drive back stations was iitted last montn. packaged" bath and kitch- en plans easy on your budg et' Save money renovate now: same year additional stained mg the tounst season, home We will try to make up glass windows by Alfred M. Bell The Federal Energy Office in some of the Sunday leisure time lhe change Saussy said of Boston were placed These Boston said today it was consid- by offering some lucky station have 8tten 10 llke interior changes rescued from ering granting four extra days owner free dinners for two at Sundays off obscurity the towering and gasoline a month if the sta- anv Conference member estab- A few stations Berkshire towering Chi Ids Bishop Interiors.

Pitts field Adv. beautiful chancel window on the Enjoy Sunday breakfast at Kelly's Diner 1 to 12 Aslo our Wed. night special spaghetti Budget Terms Available tions wouia stay open sunoavs iishment during the ten-week in the Berkshires and on Cape season the majnty have re' Cod mamed closed because they can John Geary executive di- Geary and C0 sell their entire gasoline allot- rector of the Berkshire Hills Paul ments during the week. with meatballs $1 .35 Adv Births Berkshire Medical Center Haggar Knit Slacks. Jack's in finfprenrp sairi thP mnfprpnrp nave developed a plan mat Saussv said his office IS Energy System! Continuous Cleaning Oven Separate Broiler With Drop-Down Door Observador Window In Oven Oven Light Clock and Interval Timer as an added inducement would DU'1 have all area stations checking into the legality of the Lew.Barnngton.

aov. Joseph and Nancy Bettega throw in chances for free dinner opening on Sunday regisier wun extra aiioimem pian ana nopes indies Dav every Wed. $2.00 Woitkoski, 143 Brighton a for two to station owners who the Conference gasoline "hot- to have a decision within the for 8 lbs. Coin-op dry cleaning A drawing will be held next two weeks 2fFc discount on professional dry cleaning at Launderwell in Pittsfield and Lenox Adv. son yesterday stay open on Sundays Rodney and Eileen Reardon Gooceni for tourists North Adams a 80,1 Geary said Conference mem-yesteroay.

bers understand the new life- Robert and Betty Torrey style of gasoline-station owners' fIamm.Dalton.asonyestertlay. and how they've come to like each Monday morning and the Unless service stations adjust winner will be awarded'the free their hours, "tourists are going dinners. to have to change. their itiner- Hugh Saussy, regional head of aries and leave for home on the energy office, said he was Monday, otherwise, they'll run afraid tourists in the Berkshires out." Saussy said. 1.

Quality Boyswear. Farah. Sovth Pittsfield Levi, Jantzen. Donmoor. Besse-1 Clarke.Adv.