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Arthur "Skip" Harrington asks the board for permission to hold a grand opening for the rail trail extension.

Ashuwillticook Rail Trail Extension Opening Celebration In May

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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ADAMS, Mass. — The town will hold a ceremony on May 12 to mark the official opening of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail Extension. 
 
Although many have been using the 1.2 mile extension from Hoosac to Lime Street, former Selectman Arthur "Skip" Harrington came before the Board of Selectmen on Wednesday and asked permission to hold an opening ceremony Friday, May 12, at 2 p.m. at the Adams Station on Hoosac Street.
 
"This couldn't happen until the rail trial was actually finished and closed out by the contractor and that will be happening shortly," Harrington said. "These things don't happen overnight. This rail trail has been going on a long time. It cost a lot of money and we had help from both the state and the federal government and we had the help of a lot of agencies and politicians to help push it through."
 
Harrington said the event will coincide with the Massachusetts Bay State Bike Group bike week and is a collaborative effort between the state Department of Transportation, the Berkshire Bike Path Council and Bike North Berkshire.
 
There will be vendors and giveaways as well as presentations on bike safety, the history of the project and the economic benefits of the trail.
 
"The idea is to disseminate a lot of information about bike safety and how to properly use the recreational facilities involved with the path," he said. "But also, this trail is an economic development vehicle and we have a number of speakers to emphasize that."  
 
Harrington added that with the help of the Adams Arts Council, they will unveil a display of Adams in the station. The display is based on an old etching of the town. 
 
"It's quite old and you can hardly recognize the streets and the rivers are different. A lot the buildings that are here are not there now," he said. "The station is pretty dismal in there right now it hasn't been painted yet. The outside is new but the inside is the same. This will greatly enhance that." 
 
Construction on the extension has been delayed several years because of difficulties securing easements and plan changes to accommodate the Berkshire Scenic Railway that now runs alongside most of the bike trail. 
 
Construction began last year on the more than $2 million state-funded extension and it was largely complete by snowfall.
 
Chairman Jeffrey Snoonian said he was excited for the event and that the trail is a true asset to the community.
 
"I live right next to it and it is used every single day," he said. "Every time I look out the window there is someone on. Every single minute of every single day." 
 
Currently, the trail runs through Adams, Cheshire and Lanesborough but plans ultimately call for it to run through North Adams and into Williamstown as the Mohawk Bike Path.
 
Before voting to approve the event, the board asked Harington if he thought there was a community interest in helping maintain the trail. Although a state-funded the project, cleanup duty falls on the town's Department of Public Works.
 
Harrington thought it was a good idea.
 
In other business, the Selectmen opened the town warrant for the annual town meeting that will be held June 19. The warrant closes May 3.
 
The Selectmen did not approve a National Grid easement to bring power to the transfer station's compactor and the shed.
 
Town Counsel Edmund St. John III said although not a big deal, town meeting should approve the easement instead of the Selectmen.
 
The transfer station was anticipated to open this summer but if the town has to wait for town meeting, it could put it off until next year. St. John said he would see if there are any alternatives to speed the process along. 
 
• The board approved a reserve fund transfer of $5,000 to clean the air ducts at the police station that have not been cleaned since its renovation in 1997. Officers were complaining of bad air quality.
 
• Before closing, Snoonian who will not seek re-election, thanked the people of Adams for their support.
 
"It has been an incredible three years and sitting here has really been one of the great honors of my life," he said. "Sitting here as an outsider so to speak and to have support me the way they did was absolutely incredible ... thank you everybody in the town of Adams." 

Tags: Ashuwillticook Rail Trail,   ribbon cutting,   

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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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