Drivers, Babysitters, Party Helpers, and
Other Help
Babysitters
Shannon, daughter of Lori Bashour, 23, born and raised in GB/Egremont. She is home between college terms (this is summer, 2023) and has her own car. She started at Miss Becky's (in Egremont) and then attended the local Waldorf School through 8th grade. She loves caring for young ones and is a compassionate and empathetic soul. She prefers infant to toddler age. Text or call her at 413-784-5522. (7/23)
Stephanie Bergman's 15-year-old daughter. Email Stephanie for details. stephanierbergman@gmail.com. (5/23)
Another Idea
Hevreh of Southern Berkshires in GB, www.hevreh.org/ecc. Full day-care for infants up to kindergarten -- getting rave reviews. All are welcome. (3/23)
Downsizing or Moving Help
Caring Transitions of Berkshires & Hudson Valley, Pittsfield, 413-429-4288. Excellent reports. Couldn't have cleared out the house without them. (8/23)
Drivers
Tritown Connector: www.tritown.org. Egremont, Stockbridge, West Stockbridge, GB, Monterey. Call 413-591-3826 during hours of operation, to schedule a ride Mon-Fri, 8 AM to 4 PM. For shopping, doc appointment, events, etc. They are eager to take you where you want to go! From the website: "Senior Residents (over 60) may purchase a discounted book of tickets for 10 one-way rides, at the Claire Teague Senior Center transportation office, in GB, weekdays 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Ticket books may also be purchased (by seniors) on the vans. Books for within one town for $15.00 (25% discount) and for multi-town trips for $25.00 (an almost 29% discount). Rides are also available (seniors only) to Monterey and New Marlborough for $10.00 (round trip), but only from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Rides (seniors only) to medical appointments in Pittsfield are $15.00 (round trip) but only from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday." (8/24)
Egremont Council on Aging van for seniors. Contact Melanie Vicneire, Transportation Department Administrator, by phone at 413-528-0182 ext 25. Find info on our Town's website at https://www.egremont-ma.gov/194/Transportation-Department (scroll down to below the description of Tritown Connector. (8/24)
Marc Rathbun 413-441-1914 (cell) (10/13)
South County Transport 413-347-1646 (local and airports) (12/13)
Paul H. Eisner, now works for Marilyn at Dover Taxi and provides rides to and from Wassaic. paul_eisner@yahoo.com or 845-877-4747. Call and ask for price. (12/13, 12/15)
Ken Guartha of New Marlboro, has Lincoln town car and will drive you anywhere you need to go. 229-8167 (8/17)
Mike Fitzgerald 413-358-3450, fjoem@aol.com. Drives to airports and cities with his car or yours. (12/13 to 2020)
Alan Bukes, lives in GB. 528-9695. Drives to Wassaic, and most airports. (11/14)
Danielle Gaherty, 413-362-5587, Danieg26@gmail.com. I always call her to take me to the airport, and she's lovely! (5/18, 1/19)
Thomas E Dempsey Transportation, 528-9572 or 413-822-0227. (6/17, 7/18)
Paul Krom, New Marlborough, 413-347-0111, pauldavidkrom@gmail.com. Will drive your vehicle anywhere, outside regular working hours. Clean driver's record, great personality. Charges by the hour. (6/17)
Gayle Moskowitz, Allpoints Driving Service. 908-403-3446, www.allpointsdrivingservice.com. Or email: gjmosk@aol.com. Fully insured and a very careful driver. (1/14, 4/15, 5/18)
Jayne Stohr, jaynestohr@gmail.com, 413-822-3029. She's great! (1/19)
Tobi’s Limousine (Lenox), 413-637-1224, https://tobislimo.com/. (9/19)
Berkshire Taxi Company (Amanda), 528-0911, berktaxico@outlook.com. Covid safety is a priority. (www.facebook.com/Berkshire-Taxi-Company-106282274383843) (Posted on Egremont Forum 8/20)
Mike Biller, 413-717-0300. Happy to drive to Hudson, Wassaic, Albany. (6/21)
Frank Camacho, Hillsdale, 877-211-0833, Countrysidecarservice.com. Airports, weddings, etc. (9/21)
Nancy Crawford, nancybirch@yahoo.com, 413-229-9935. Bradley and Albany airports, Wassic, doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping. References available. Extremely reliable, professional, safe! (12/21)
Nicole Williams, 413-822-6737, shamroxx495@msn.com. Licensed, insured. Airports, car transports, southern states on east coast. Recommended. (1/22)
Poly Lanoue, Egremonter, 528-9304. Very reliable! (latest: 6/22)
Steve Agar, Egremonter, charleswagar@aol.com, 413-854-7269, www.agar-transport.com. All airports and most anywhere else. (latest: 6/22)
Jonathan Peck, 413-329-0666. First-class chauffeur. Will drive to JFK, Logan, and other airports. Highly recommended. (10/22)
Executive Livery, executivelivery@me.com. Dave picked me up at Bradley and was wonderful. (2/22)
Mike Brooks, 413-854-1328. Very reliable for local transportation and rides to train stations (Wassaic and Hudson) and local airports. (2/23)
Michael Mancini, Mimanc1953@gmail.com. He has been driving my sister from Riverdale to the Berks, and he is the kindest and most trustworthy person. (4/23)
Abbott’s Limousine, Lee, 413-243-1645. Family business, always reliable, very nice. Rates comparable to other services. All local airports including Logan. Cars comfortable and clean, and drivers punctual and terrific. Can handle a dozen people. (latest: 11/23) [NB: If your flight might be delayed till late, be aware that they don't drive after midnight. (8/24)]
John Lawrence, 413-229-3683. Wonderful driver to airports. (The same John Lawrence has a window-washing company.) (latest: 11/23)
Rob Fire, robertfire49@gmail.com, 202-498-6830. Airports, etc. (8/23, 3/24)
Richard Hall, 413-247-3839, contact@berkshireshuttle.com, www.berkshireshuttle.com. Very pleasant guy, runs a shuttle to/from Albany airport and is very punctual and professional. Also goes to JFK, Newark, and closer. (3/24)
Watson Livery, Millerton, www.watsonlivery.com. Quite a few cars, go to all the airports, NYC, Boston, all over. High rec. (8/24)
Tamarack (Tam) Garlow, 413-429-7005 (cell), 518-781-0446 (home), tamarackgarlow@gmail.com. Great guy! Very reliable. $125 one way to Bradley. Goes to all airports, including NYC. High rec. (latest: 8/24)
TO GET TO JFK:
There’s only one train from Wassaic.. It either goes direct to Grand Central, or you have to change at Southeast, depending on what time of day.
Once you get to Grand Central, you have several choices — and you do not have to go to Penn station! (Which is the wrong direction, although once there, yes, you can get the LIRR train to Jamaica in Queens. I suppose you can do that, but I never have —to me, it makes no sense.)
Instead, from Grand Central, you can take an airport shuttle bus, a taxi or an Uber. Taxi rates to the airport are fixed, about $55.
Or you can take two subways to the Air Train, which you pick up at Sutphin Blvd in Queens.
There are a couple of different subway route choices that will get you from JFK to the Air Train — I usually take the 6 (going uptown), and change to the E. It takes about an hour to get from Grand Central to JFK via subway and air train.
Sometimes on the weekends, some subway lines are closed for work/repair. There have been at least three I have had to either take a different subway route than I had planned, or pop up and get a taxi. So now I always check the MTA website to see about any line closures.
Looking for a Ride to Wassaic or NYC?
Try this Facebook page, called Berkshire-Wassaic-NYC Carpool: https://www.facebook.com/groups/265022166867936
Driving a car cross-country
Ask Emily (epaskus23@gmail.com). She might be able to drive herself, but if not, she can probably provide helpful info/advice. (9/17)
McNutt Auto Transport, 877-571-6235, www.metrogistics.com/. Expensive, but they accomplish it. (9/17)
For Seniors
Home Health Aids
See Medical, Health, and Beauty
House Caretakers
House and Pet Sitters
See Pets
Medical Equipment to Borrow
The Council on Aging (CoA) keeps some walkers, canes, etc. for people to borrow. Call Town Hall (528-0182).
The VFW on Main Street in GB has crutches, canes, walkers, etc. for anyone who asks. There is a shed full of equipment that you can borrow for as long as you need (529-9701).
Party Helpers
Kelly Johnson, 413-281-0256 kellyj@kripalu.org An excellent helper! (12/13)
Kathy O'Malley, 528-0982, 413-644-3140. Works with another person, great service. Helped us with wedding on our property (100+ people). Very experienced, a great worker. (7/14, 7/16)
Miles Chelsea, chelseamiles36@gmail.com. Has helped us at parties and is terrific. (10/13)
Oskar Hallig and Mike Zippel, Only In My Dreams Events, www.onlyinmydreamsevents.com. To contact, drop in at The Shop on Main St in SoEg. (most recent, 8/23)
Chris Manarchik, 413-281-5390, cmanarchik@berkshire.rr.com. This couple is available for parties and special events. They are mature professionals who do great work. (2/24)
Mary Shook, maryelizabethshook@gmail.com, 413-281-0658. We love her for help with parties. (3/22, 4/24)
Debbie Epstein, 415-341-7739. Perfect! (4/24)
Megan Lawrence, meganlawrencecooks@gmail.com, https://www.alignable.com/l/efanvwbpl. Recommended! (4/24)
Hair and Make-up for Wedding
Ericka Hanger, Pittsfield, 413-441-8936. Excellent hair and make-up. (8/24)
Maria Pizzaro Cleary, New Marlborough, 229-8448 or 413-429-6092. Excellent. (8/24)
Personal Shoppers
Carla Turner, 528-5710 (NeighborNet member)
Susan Wadsworth, (413) 717-5690 or susanwadsworth.inspired@gmail.com. Experienced, honest, and hard-working local resident with a host of skills: personal assistant, errands, grocery shopping; serving and organizing parties. (1/17)
Tisha Rothvoss, Copake, 518-610-0682, tcountryclean@gmail.com. Housekeeper, personal shopper, personal assistant. (5/17)
Travel Agents
Jean Gagnon of Plaza Travel, www.plazatravel.net. (11/23)