Thunderbolt Ski Race Delayed Because of Weather

Staff ReportsiBerkshires
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ADAMS, Mass. — This winter's funky weather is forcing the Thunderbolt Ski Race to be postponed to Saturday, March 3.

The race, and an accompanying Thunderfest, were scheduled for Feb. 11, but rain and mild temperatures are forcing the historic race to wait for snow. It's a replay of the race's 75th anniversary — and its first run since 1948 — in 2010 when it was nearly canceled because of unseasonable temperatures. A couple of providential storms had skiers slushing down the side of Mount Greylock in March.

David Bissaillon of ProAdams, a local group spearheading Thunderfest, said the decision to postpone the race was made Wednesday night by the ski club.

"We were simply following their lead in terms of when their event is held," he said. "It gives us four more weeks and maybe we can get some snow but we will have the [festival] anyways."

Bissaillon said Thunderfest organizers are contacting vendors to let them know the change. But rain or snow, race or not, Thunderfest will be held on March 3. "It's coming together nicely," he said. "We're really excited about it."


The Thunderbolt Ski Race has been resurrected by the Thunderbolt Ski Runners club, which groomed and widened the old trail and sparked interest from skiers around the region. ProAdams joined with the ski club and the town Events Planning Committee to create a downtown event with a cook off, beer garden, music, activities and more.

The mild weather has also forced the Adams Outdoorsmen to cancel its annual fishing derby scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 4, because of thin ice.

Update 1:29 p.m.: Rewritten throughout and updated with quotes.
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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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