Taconic graduate Mark Rabasco won the inaugural Steel Rail Half Marathon on Sunday morning. For more photos, see the slideshow.
ADAMS, Mass. — Taconic High School graduate Mark Rabasco crossed the finish line at at 1:14.21 to win the first Steel Rail Half Marathon on Sunday morning.
"It was great, it's nice to have everyone out here supporting us," said the 18-year-old Rabasco, who currently attends and runs for the track team at Keene (N.H.) State.
The race began at the Berkshire Mall in Lanesborough and followed the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail to loop around the Adams Visitors Center grounds, where a couple thousand friends and family of the racers celebrated on the runner-friendly drizzly day.
People of all ages ran the race, including 71-year-old Ann Rennie who participated in her first, and what she plans to be last, marathon.
"I just wanted to do one before I'm too old," Rennie said, who ran with her grandchildren.
At the end of the race, the celebration featured kegs of Berkshire Brewing Company's beer, including the popular Steel Rail that every of-age runner received for free afterwards.
"Steel Rail Half Marathon running on the Rail Trail, you can't beat it," said Noah Bogoff, a sales consultant at BBC. "In terms of doing the races, I think it's a great idea to always be involved in athletic events like that... It's great for the town of Adams and hopefully we can do this every year."
Smithsonian Cafe and Chowder House, Desporados and Bounti-Fare were among the vendors. Tom Corrigan and Friends provided the entertainment before and after the award ceremony.
Berkshire Running Center owner Kent Lemme, who spearheaded the effort, hopes to double the size of the event next year. Although Lemme will need to reapply for all the necessary permits, he doesn't expect there to be any issue.
"The community support has been terrific," Lemme said. "You don't do an event like this without the volunteers and support of the community."
Both Selectman Richard Blanchard and Town Administrator Jonathan Butler agreed the marathon was a great event for the community, which Butler said represented "recreational Adams."
"They're trying to help the town bring more people in, show them what we got," Blanchard said.
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DALTON, Mass. — Voters approved all but one of the 22 articles on the warrant at the annual town meeting on Monday night at Wahconah Regional High School.
More than one hundred registered voters attended the meeting, which lasted more than three hours, to vote on the budget, school district regional agreement, a proposed bylaw change, and various spending items for town equipment, repairs, projects, and initiatives.
The town budget of $22,951,092 is an increase of $1,449,376, or approximately 6.74 percent, over this year. Of that, the Central Berkshire Regional School District assessment of $10,537,044 and the town operating budget of $10,147,991 are included.
Article 1, which proposed amending the town bylaw to make concrete sidewalks the standard, was tabled after a 20-minute discussion that included questions and concerns about its language. More on sidewalks here.
This has recently been a hot topic, making its way through town government boards and committees will continue with a Planning Board public hearing.
Planning Board member Zack McCain motioned to table the article until a public hearing, where the details could be discussed further. He said this is common practice for bylaw amendments.
During the discussion, voters also urged the need for sidewalks on Orchard Road. The Department of Public Works budget only has $12,000 to cover the cost of maintaining town sidewalks.
Voters approved all but one of the 22 articles on the warrant at the annual town meeting on Monday night at Wahconah Regional High School. click for more
The seasonal road closed because of flooding caused by what was initially thought to be from a beaver dam that was located on the Pittsfield stretch.
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The Traffic Commission OK'd additional bus stops and multiple items in the former General Electric neighborhood at its first meeting of the year. click for more
Voters at the annual town meeting on Monday, May 6, will decide 22 articles, including articles on sidewalks and the authorization of a number of spending articles, including an approximate $22 million budget. click for more
Ken Sagendorph, a former firefighter and emergency technician, says his goal is to improve communication between the Fire District, residents, town, and department if elected to the Board of Water Commissioners. click for more