Residents Welcomed To Honor Fallen Soldier

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Residents are encouraged to line the streets to welcome home Michael DeMarsico, who was killed by a roadside bomb while serving in Afghanistan.

The soldier's family released on Friday the itinerary for the funeral.

On Wednesday, Aug. 29, at approximately 12:30 p.m. a motorcade carrying DeMarsico will arrive via Route 2 and the stop briefly at Veterans Memorial Park on its way to Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals' West Chapels.

All are encouraged to line the streets to welcome him home. Parking at the funeral home will not be available to anybody except family and the motorcade.

On Friday, Aug. 31, there will be calling hours at the West Main Street funeral home from 2 until 7 p.m.


On Saturday, Sept. 1, the funeral service and celebration of his life will be held at the First Baptist Church on Main Street. The procession will go travel east on West Main Street to the church and then from the church north on Eagle Street to Route 2, to Holden Street, to American Legion Drive, to Ashland Street and end at Southview Cemetery.

There will be a reception immediately following the services at the St. Elizabeth's Parish Center on St. Anthony Drive.

The city will be detouring traffic along the procession routes and there may be heavy congestion along the alternative routes.

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North Adams Police Charge 7 After Drug Investigation

Staff Reports

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Police charged seven people after executing simultaneous search warrants on Eagle Street and Arnold Place.

On Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, members of the North Adams Police Department Detective Unit and Berkshire Law Enforcement Task Force executed search warrants at 212 Eagle Street Apartment 3 and 59 Arnold Place.

According to police, the search warrants were the result of a month-long investigation into a group of people from Springfield utilizing both residences as part of their heroin and cocaine distribution operation.

Police reported that during the search warrant execution at 212 Eagle Street Apartment 3, Giovanni Ramirez was taken into custody. Joanne Bentley and Chad Luczynski were also located in the apartment and will be charged as part of this investigation.

During the search warrant execution at 59 Arnold Place, Sandra Bunt, Raven Vanderburg, Jaiden Langford-Andrews and Angel Ortiz were all taken into custody.

Bunt's bail was revoked on a separate open case, and she is held without bail. Vanderburg is being held without bail for a probation violation on a separate case.

Langford-Andrews, Ortiz and Ramirez were all held without bail pending dangerousness hearings scheduled for later this week and early next week.

As a result of the investigation, the following evidence was seized:

  • Approximately 110 grams of cocaine
  • Approximately 2,323 bags of heroin (46 grams)
  • Approximately $6,817 U.S. Currency
  • Multiple functioning digital scales with residue

The following people were arrested and charged with the following:

Jaiden Langford-Andrews of Springfield:

  • Arrest Warrant
  • Trafficking Heroin 36-100 grams
  • Possessing with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
  • Conspiracy

Angel Ortiz, of Springfield:

  • Trafficking Heroin 36-100 grams
  • Possessing with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
  • Conspiracy
  • Giovanni Ramirez, of Springfield, Massachusetts:
  • Trafficking Cocaine 36-100 grams
  • Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin
  • Conspiracy

Sandra Bunt, of North Adams:

  • Trafficking Heroin 36-100 grams
  • Possessing with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
  • Conspiracy

Raven Vanderburg, of North Adams:

  • Trafficking Heroin 36-100 grams
  • Possessing with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
  • Conspiracy

The following people were charged but not taken into custody:

Joanne Bentley of North Adams:

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