Kyle Pierce, summer resident of Monterey throughout her life and former Chair of Monterey’s Council on Aging, is an active supporter of the Community Center as well. She was very excited about MCC from the time she knew it was in the works. These days, Kyle organizes twice-weekly card games and the COA frequently sponsors events and holds its meetings at the MCC.

Kyle’s family bought the Monterey house just before she was born, and she has been spending summers in it since then. The family lived in Pelham, New York, where Kyle grew up and went to high school.

She lived in New Hampshire for 40 years before moving to the Berkshires in 2005. The Monterey cabin is on Lake Buel, and the winds blow through in the winter.  Usually in late October, depending on the weather, she and her husband go to back to their "real" house.

In her early years, Kyle worked as a waitress. After her dad was diagnosed with cancer, she started nursing school, specializing in oncology. She worked as an oncology nurse providing home care with IVs for 23 years.

Twice a week at MCC, Kyle coordinates bridge games. Her parents played bridge, and her ex-husband. In New Hampshire she was part of a group that played once a month for 40 years.

The Monterey bridge group used to meet in people’s homes. They play standard American bridge, duplicate style and scoring, although they often don’t score. It’s a friendly group, and most are intermediate level players. Kyle texts everyone who’s interested, never knowing who’s going to be there. Newcomers are welcome, although recently the group tried teaching a beginner. They found it interrupted the game. Having an individual teacher could work, as was done at the Mahjong games at MCC.

During early Covid, the players used a computer program called Bridge Base Online. It just wasn’t the same without the social connections. During the summer, they played outside on computers spaced 7’-8’ apart. Often there are 1-3 or 4 tables set up with 4 at each table. When there are 5 players, one sits out a hand.

Her dreams for more interactions at MCC? Lots of concerts!

A few little known facts:

Growing up, Kyle’s family was in Monterey April through November, and she went to Corashire School with Mrs. Phillips part of the year for K through 4th grade. One year, she arrived to find Mrs. Phillips teaching long division! Kyle had never heard of it.

Kyle’s grandfather, Dwight Little, had a teacher training school in Flatbush, Brooklyn, in the 1920s through late 1930s. He bought the land here in 1916, and after the school closed, for 20 years ran an inn on Lake Buel called Littlecrest.

 Kyle’s Monterey volunteer work started with the town monthly potluck, traditionally held October through May. Kyle and Barbara Dahlman took over from Sally Pullen and Dianna Downing who had been asking for volunteers in 2008. None were available, and it looked like there would be no more potlucks. Kyle and Barbara lined up speakers and musicians, mostly for an adult group, although in the beginning there were kids coming, too.  She is hopeful that when the Delta variant is under control, we can start the potlucks up again.

 Kyle has been an energetic team player on the MCC Board since its inception, and a very active member of the Community Center Town Committee as well, generous with her time, talents, food and attention. If you haven’t already met her at the General Store (where she worked for three years), the Potluck or Bridge, be on the lookout for Kyle in her bright orange Teletubby outfit at Halloween.