The Bay State Games created a special honor called the Berkshire Hero’s Award in 2008. This award was formed to recognize Berkshire County citizens who have made significant contributions to the success of the Bay State Winter Games during its quarter century in the area.
One of the primary reasons why the Bay State Games have returned to the Berkshires each year is the outstanding volunteer support from county residents who go above and beyond, year after year, to make sure that the Games are successful and memorable. The Bay State Games thought it quite appropriate to create this award and begin to publicly recognize individuals who have played a critical role in the success of the Winter Games.
The Awards Committee reviewed many worthwhile candidates, many of whom will be recognized in future years.

2011 Berkshire Hero’s Award Winners

Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans Memorial Skating Rink
The Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans Memorial Skating Rink has hosted events in each of the 26 years that the Bay State Winter Games has been held in the Berkshires. While best known as the long time home of the Masters Ice Hockey tournament, the rink has also hosted a variety of Bay State Winter Games events including youth hockey in the mid 1990’s and speed skating at the first Winter Games in 1985. The City of North Adams has been extremely supportive of the Bay State Winter Games since taking control of the rink from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management.  Special thanks go out to current Mayor Richard Alcombright, former Mayor John Barrett and Laura Wood for their longtime support of the Bay State Games. Over the last 25 years, the staff of the rink including current manager Kate Wilk, as well as former managers Judy Giamborino and Dave Casey has continually provided outstanding support to ensure that all Bay State Games events held at the rink is successful.

Bruce Hayden
Bruce Hayden has been a long time supporter of the Bay State Games for over 20 years. Bruce makes significant contributions toward decorating the figure skating venue and creating a special atmosphere for all participants. Bruce first became involved with the Bay State Games in the late 1980’s when his children were skating as members of the Christmas Brook Figure Skating Club. Despite the fact that his children are grown and left skating long ago, Bruce remains committed to volunteering his time each year which includes building the award backdrops and welcome signs for the rink. Aside from his involvement with the Bay state Games, Bruce, a resident of North Adams, is very committed to supporting the local community. He is very active with the North Adams Fall Foliage Festival Parade building floats and he works on floats for several other parades, as well.

2010 Berkshire Hero’s Award Winners

The Cece Family

Barbara Cece, her husband, Al, daughters, Laura and Jenna, and son, Derek have been fixtures at the Winter Games since its inception in 1985. Barbara, a Bay State Games Hall of Famer, has been an irreplaceable part of the Games’ success. She has served as the figure skating commissioner, member of the organizing committee and has been on the Future Leaders Scholarship committee. Al has served as a general volunteer at events, is a former Bay State Skate emcee and has helped out as a soccer official in the Summer Games. Laura and Jenna started out as runners and flower presenters when they were still too young to participate. Once they were old enough, they both competed in figure skating and presently serve as coaches with Christmas Brook FSC. They both coach several athletes who will be skating in the Games this year, and in fact, Laura heads the production team that performs annually in the Bay State Skate. From age 5 until he left for college, Derek was a jack-of-all trades for the Games, assisting in various ways. The family has even housed BSG staff members during the Winter Games weekend at their home in Williamstown.

Judy Giamborino

Judy has been involved with the Winter Games since it first began 25 years ago. For over a decade, she managed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Rink in North Adams that has been home to speed skating and masters ice hockey. Judy is a lifelong resident of the northern Berkshires who currently serves as executive director of the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce. In that role, she continues to show great support for the Winter Games through her efforts with the community’s hotels, shops and restaurants. Judy also has over two decades experience as a licensed realtor.

Williams College

Williams College has played host to the Bay State Winter Games Figure Skating competition and Bay State Skate Figure Skating show for the 25 year history of both events.The Williams College Athletic Department under the direction of Harry Sheehy and operations director Gary Guerin have always provided the best facilities with the support of the Lansing Chapman Rink staff including former rink manger Bill Bryce and current manger Stephen Rondeau, as well as Bea Miles. The Security Department under Jean Thorndike and Mike Batory have provided a strong presence at events, while Bruce Wheat has lent audio support. Countless other staff members have contributed to the Games’ success, as well.

2009 Berkshire Hero’s Award Winners

Ken and Michele Gietz

Ken and Michele, owners of Where’d You Get That!? in Williamstown, have worked with the Winter Games for more than 15 years. Michele, who was involved with the Christmas Brook Skating Club, has served as a volunteer during the skating competition, while Ken’s magnificent balloon creations have awed competitors and their families, year after year. Like they always have for the Winter Games, the Gietz donate balloons to local charity events, and have also put together game nights at local schools such as the Adventures in Learning program. The Florida, Mass., natives have also been involved with the Holiday Walk committee, and Ken serves on the board of the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce. Ken and Michele have owned Where’d You Get That!?, located on Spring Street, for 20 years.

Dale Waterman

Dale has been a part of the Bay State Winter Games since its inception in 1985. She has been involved in almost every aspect of the Winter Games from helping with registration to selling tickets, and from organizing the athlete party to recruiting volunteers. Dale originally became associated with the park while serving as park supervisor at the Western Gateway Heritage State Park – a position from which she just recently retired. The North Adams resident spends her spare time working on community activities and with local organizations including the Be Our Guest Christmas Dinner and Fall Foliage Festival Committee, and as a member of the board of Berkshire Serve.

Heidi Cornwell

Heidi, a lifelong resident of the Berkshires, has been involved in the Bay State Winter Games since the early 1990’s when she was an employee at the Swift River Inn which was the location of the cross country competition. As host, Heidi was instrumental in the organization and planning of the event. Since then, she has held the position of Director of Marketing and Sales at several hotels in the Northern Berkshire region including the Holiday Inn Berkshires in North Adams and the Orchards Hotel – both of which have been prime destinations for Winter Games athletes and their families thanks to Heidi’s support. She lives in Hinsdale with her 17-year-old son, Jonah, and also serves as secretary of the Mohawk Trail Association and is on the Berkshire Visitors Bureau Travel, Trade, Marketing Committee.

2008 Berkshire Hero’s Award Winners

Carl and Marilyn Faulkner

Carl and Marilyn Faulkner, of The Williams Inn, have been involved with the Bay State Winter Games since its inception in the Northern Berkshires 23 years ago. Winter Games participants, volunteers, officials and spectators have always had a comfortable stay in Berkshire County thanks to the hospitality and generosity of Carl and Marilyn. Both have been staunch supporters of the Games citing its large economic impact on the area in bringing guests to the region who otherwise would miss out on the beauty of the area. They have both been active in other community activities, as well, and in 1999 were awarded the Williamstown Community Chest Good Citizen Award. In 2002, they received a Governor’s Exemplary Employer Award and more recently a Citation from the Governor for outstanding commitment to the lodging industry.

Marcia Sarrouf

Marcia Sarrouf has been involved with the Bay State Winter Games for 22 of the 23 years that it has taken place in the Northern Berkshires. From the beginning, she has been one of the key volunteers at the figure skating venue, and has supported the Games in numerous other ways from providing food and vans for judges to helping coordinate air transportation for skating stars. Her involvement began as co-president and then co-treasurer of the Christmas Brook Figure Skating Club, and she has done a little bit of everything since that time. A resident of Williamstown for 40 years with George, her husband, Marcia has been a North Adams public school educator for 36 years and was the 1993 Marion B. Kelley Teacher of the Year. She currently serves as educational coordinator for North Adams historical society.

Bill Bryce

For 36 years, Bill Bryce has been facilities director at Williams College, which has been one of the most important supporters of the Winter Games. Since the beginning, he has worked on the college’s behalf with everyone at the Games to ensure that the event is a success. Always a pleasure to deal with, Bill has gone above and beyond countless times to ensure that the Games run smoothly. Sadly, the North Adams resident is planning to retire from Williams College sometime this year. He will be greatly missed by all those who have been involved in the Winter Games.