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The new $3 million trail system at the Greylock Glen is already seeing damage from dirt bikes and ATVs.

Adams Conservation Commission Wants Vehicles Off Glen Trails

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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The Conservation Commission is hoping more pedestrians on the hiking trails will deter people from riding ATVs. 
ADAMS, Mass. — The Conservation Commissioned is concerned with motorized vehicles on the developing Greylock Glen trail network.
 
The commission had only good things to say about the new $3 million trail system currently under development by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, however, it noted that all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes have been damaging the trails.
 
"I have been on the board just about 20 years and for those 20 years, we have gone through many different glen proposals," Commissioner Thomas Robinson said. "Now we settle on something that benefits the town and the environment and we have some people intent on destroying it."
 
The biggest concern is the recently completed 1.7-mile stone covered Meadow Loop that was created for foot traffic and cross-country skiing.
 
Robinson said the Conservation Commission worked with local snowmobile riders to design trails that were both people and snowmobile friendly. He said they even offered to help pack down the snow on the trails for cross country skiers.
 
However, the stone pathway specifically was not intended for wheels.
 
Commissioner Zachary Bantle agreed off-road vehicles should stay off the trails, especially the Meadow Loop trail, but noted there is no place in town to legally ride.
 
"It is going to happen and you will never be able to stop it because there is no legal place to do it here," he said. "Unfortunately, it is one of those things where you have one hotshot on a dirt bike who is peeling out everywhere. That ruins it for everybody."
 
Commissioner Corey Bishop felt the problem could solve itself: more people on the trails, less room for vehicles.
 
"If you get a lot of people up there getting in their way they will stop," he said. "The more people using the trail system the less problems they will have up there."
 
In other business, the commission voted to issue Stanley's Lumber's riverfront violation as a reclamation instead of a Notice of Intent.
 
"We felt as though that was a reached a compromise in that a lot of that property has been degraded and we felt that it was a good way to resolve the problem so that it was a win-win for everyone," Robinson said. "We protect the riverfront he, in turn, has use of his property." 
 
Owner John Duquette has been operating his business too close to the waterfront. The commission suggested planting a green 30-foot buffer and removing cinder blocks from the riverfront area. 
 
Duquette will have a plan for the Conservation Commission in early August. 

Tags: Greylock Glen,   trails,   

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Hoosac Valley High School is Moving and Shaking

There have been some major shifts within the Hoosac Valley Regional School District recently, all of which have focused on enhancing the student experience to make it a place where ALL students can find their path.
 
In 2023, Hoosac Valley High School was designated an Innovation Pathway School by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and has since restructured the Program of Studies, utilized creative scheduling, and expanded internship opportunities. Part of this transformation includes participating in a "Portrait of a Graduate" cohort alongside four other Berkshire County schools to determine a collective vision for student success, in partnership with the BARR Foundation.
 
The Innovation Pathways at HVHS are designed to give students coursework and experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as technology, engineering, healthcare, or life sciences. Currently, Biomedical Science & Healthcare and Environmental Studies have received official state IP designation. In addition to the IP designated pathways, HVHS offers programs in Engineering & Technology, Business & Entrepreneurship, Arts & Entertainment, Education, and Sports Medicine. The result is that students have an opportunity for a transformative experience – enabling them to build essential skills, gain awareness of future career opportunities, and make informed choices about post-secondary education in promising fields.
 
Principal Colleen Byrd notes, "What makes our program special is that entry into the Pathway of your choice allows a student to access Advanced Placement and dual enrollment college courses, as well as internships in the community to set them up for success after high school."
 
The Portrait of a Graduate initiative consists of a team of Hoosac educators and students who exemplify the essential skills, practices, and beliefs that define learning experiences across the district. They work to outline the competencies, values, skills, and knowledge that define our vision for student success – keeping in mind that not every student's pathway will look the same. The District's goal is to ensure that all students graduate as responsible people, prepared individuals, lifelong learners, global citizens, critical thinkers, and thoughtful communicators.
 
Another recent change district-wide in grades K-12 is the "Crew" culture. Teachers and students now have time each day to create positive connections and build authentic relationships with one another. Through Responsive Classroom at the elementary school and Crew at the middle and high schools, students and staff gather for 30 minutes each day to engage in meaningful experiences rooted in mutual and shared interests. 
The Crew block is a prioritized structure that allows staff to support all students socially, emotionally, and academically – anchoring them and promoting the Portrait of a Graduate competencies. Crew takes many forms at the high school, such as gardening, bird watching, yoga, and sports talk with visits to college games.
 
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