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Daily DigestYuck!
 There's a winter storm warning in effect until 7 a.m. on Thursday with another 1 to 3 inches of snow expected. Could be another messy commute. |
Duff'em If You've Got'em
 North Adams Regional Hospital went smoke-free Monday — so did all its sister sites, from Sweet Brook to Northern Berkshire Family Practice to the Women's Exchange. No ashtrays, no smoking: No butts about it. |
Wanted: Eagle Eyes
MassWildlife's annual eagle count runs Dec. 31 to Jan. 14. Anyone sighting one of the regal birds in Massachusetts is asked to participate.
Send date, time, location and town of eagle sightings, number of birds, whether juvenile or adult and observer's contact information to Mass.wildlife@state.ma.us. |
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 iBerkshires accepts submissions about local events, news and opinion pieces. There are openings for freelance work, too, for qualified candidates. E-mail tdaniels@iberkshires.com to find out more. |
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Other StuffMars Rovers Mark 5 Years
 Spirit and Opportunity have been trekking the red planet for half a decade. Spirit hit the 5-year mark on Sunday; Opportunity will on Jan. 24. |
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Snow Troubles Plague TownBy Jen Thomas - December 20, 2007
ADAMS - While the snow began to fall in the Berkshires late Wednesday evening, the Board of Selectmen was forced to consider how to keep the town's streets clear in future winter storms.
Howland Avenue resident Shanda Lafave-Modena presented the Selectmen with 71 petition signatures urging the town to help keep the streets clear for the safety of the area's children. Joined by neighbors Laurie Skorupski and Diane Moran, Lafave-Modena voiced concern about schoolchildren who are forced to walk in the street when the snow is piled too high on the sidewalks.
"My kid, she's 8 [years old], and when she got off the school bus yesterday, she couldn't get onto the sidewalk, so she walked in the street. With cars whipping past at 50 miles an hour, it's not safe," said Lafave-Modena.
While state is responsible for Howland Avenue's plowing, both Chairman Joseph R. Dean Jr. and Edward Macdonald said they had received numerous complaints from residents who had large amounts of snow piled in front of their houses.
"We're doing what we can with what we've got," said Dean. "If we have the money, if we have the manpower, then we get it done."
With a short staff and the loss of a mechanic and one position in the Highway Department, fewer men are working longer hours to clear 58 miles of road, added Dean.
According to Town Administrator William Ketcham, the Howland Avenue area is an especially difficult area to plow because of its unique characteristics.
"At the root of the problem is the design of that section of roads. There's just no place for the snow to go," Ketcham said, noting that Howland Avenue has no median and the sidewalk only runs along one side of the road.
Lafave-Modena questioned why Park Street was always cleared of snow while other neighborhoods are so buried in snow, it is nearly impossible to remove it.
"I don't get it. Snow comes. Take care of it," she said.
Saying Lafave-Modena was "preaching to the choir," Dean asked that irked townspeople have patience and allow the Selectmen time to find a solution.
"We're working on it. Let us handle it," he said.
Macdonald said he would arrange for a police cruiser to help control traffic on the state highway during pickup and drop-off hours for the school bus, even suggesting that the town explore the possibility of using state police patrols when the local force is shorthanded.
Macdonald also said he would ask officials to consider moving the school bus stop to another street, so children would not be forced to wait at dangerous corners. Further, the Selectmen agreed to send a letter to the state, informing them of the complaints the town had received.
"Everybody's passing the buck and I'm the one paying the buck," Lafave-Modena said.
In other business:
David Nuvallie was unanimously appointed to the Safety Commission after Marilyn P. Kolis resigned as a member.
The Selectmen approved the Western Massachusetts Intergovernmental Emergency Mutual Aid Agreement.
Ketcham announced that he and Adams-Cheshire School Superintendent Alfred Skrocki, School Committee Chairman John Duval and School Business Manager David Hinkel met with representatives from the Massachusetts School Building Authority last week. Up next for the school project is a feasibility study, said Ketcham.
Director of Public Works Thomas Satko estimated that an additional $15,210 would be needed this season to rent trucks to help remove snow.
The winners of the house-decorating contest were announced. They are:
- The Cadrett family of 9-11 Beech St.
- The Delmolino family at 1 Alger St.
- The DiGennaro family at 34 Summer St.
- The Krol family at 7 Summer St.
- The Paree family at 169 North Summer St.
- The Samson family at 52 Howland Ave.
- The Wyman family at 37 Spring Road
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| adams did do a good job but safty of children on howland ave should come first. who will pick replace a child if lost by a car not stopping or slidding off their feet going under a bus. Shanda Modena stopped 3 cars on howland ave the day after the meeting 900.00 in fines and the police came a few min to late. when compared to orchard sy. they do not havw 4 lanes of highway or the traffic of howland ave, | | from: | on: 12-21-2007 |
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As far as I am concerned the town does a great job of snow removal, that’s not the problem. The real problem is home owners who do not clear the sidewalk in front of their properties. If I am remembering correctly, isn’t there a town bylaw mandating that property owners must keep sidewalks clear of snow or face fines.
| | from: Adams Native | on: 12-20-2007 |
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