MountainOne to Launch Second Children’s Book, 'Something to Save'

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— MountainOne, a community-based financial institution, announced it has partnered once again with storybook author Doug Murphy and illustrator Laura Salafia for "Something to Save," the follow-up to MountainOne's debut book, "How to Climb a Mountain." 

MountainOne's second children's book, "Something to Save," featuring Mo, the MountainOne Spokesgoat, was released at the MountainOne Annual Meeting on April 7, 2025.

In this new adventure, Mo and his trusted friend Penny the Chipmunk set out on a journey to understand the value of saving and planning for the future. The book encourages children to understand that starting small—whether by gathering, planning, or setting aside resources—can lead to meaningful and positive outcomes in the future. The story celebrates financial education at an early age, all while remaining fun and relatable for young readers.

"The response to 'How to Climb a Mountain' was fantastic, and we're excited to continue Mo's journey with 'Something to Save,'" said Jill Amato, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Community Banking at MountainOne. "These books promote reading literacy and financial responsibility in a fun and memorable way. We look forward to bringing the storybook experience—with book readings, activities, and even some special appearances—to each of our communities this spring!"

Robert Fraser, President and CEO of MountainOne, emphasized the book's broader impact.

"'Something to Save' is more than just a story—it's a tool to help families start conversations about smart financial habits. We hope it encourages families to think about saving and goal setting from an early age," he said.

MountainOne invites local elementary schools, after-school programs, libraries, and community partners to request free reading events featuring a storytelling experience with Mo the Spokesgoat. Children who attend receive a copy of the book, and activity packets designed to reinforce key financial literacy concepts. Upcoming readings will be announced on MountainOne's social media pages. To learn more, request an event, or explore Mo's storybook adventures, visit mountainone.com/mo-storybook.


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Clarksburg School Officials Cut Fiscal 2026 Budget by $90K

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — School officials have shaved $90,000 out their $3 million budget for fiscal 2026. 
 
The reductions bring the total budget to $3,093,756, a 4.26 percent, or $126,346, increase over this year. 
 
The cuts include a reduction in hours in the school for the dean of students, cutting the tuition to Drury High by a third, imposing tuition for 4-year-olds in prekindergarten and trimming supplies and training. 
 
Town officials had pushed for the school to cut back from an anticipated 7 percent increase. That's frustrated school officials who point out the operating budget is only going up by 0.67 percent but covering nearly $200,000 for retirees' insurance and FICA is responsible for the hike.  
 
The Select Board was nominally supportive of the amended budget presented at Monday's joint meeting of the School Committee, Select Board and Finance Committee but held off on endorsing it until the town budget is presented next week. 
 
"I appreciate your hard work going down. We don't have the town budget ready yet, so I'm not sure if we're in trouble," said Select Board Chair Robert Norcross. "I'm not sure if I can be in favor of this if we have to cut some more. So we are going to work on that."
 
Assistant Superintendent Tara Barnes had outlined two possible options in mid-April how to get the spending plan down to 2 percent or 4 percent; the latter called for about $90,000 in cuts and reduction in positions.
 
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