Paul Marino Named Grand Marshal Of Fall Foliage Parade

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Local historian Paul Marino is well known for giving various tours around the city.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The 58th annual Fall Foliage Parade will be themed, "Haunts, Legends, and Ghost Stories" with Paul Marino being named the Grand Marshal.

The Berkshire Chamber of Commerce and the city announced the theme and grand marshal Tuesday morning. The parade and festival is scheduled to be held on Sunday, October 6.

Marino. a local historian, is is known for providing local history tours of the city and cemetery walks. He has an extensive history of documenting the city's history and has produced several documentaries and written essays. He has been involved with other projects headed by the city's historical society, the Friends of the Mohawk Theater, the North Adams Public Library and cable access chanels.


"Embracing the rich history of ghosts, legends, and folk lore in the area is a fun way to celebrate North Berkshire, which we really wanted to do this year," Parade Director Danielle Thomas said in a prepared statement. "We're thrilled that Paul will be leading the celebration. His vast knowledge of the local history and haunts will allow us to get really creative while also providing an educational component for the community."

The parade steps off at 1 p.m. at the former Wal-Mart, continues down Curran Highway and ends downtown.

The annual parade is coordinated by the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce. Organizers are still looking for volunteers to help with the parade. For more information on the parade or to volunteer, call Danielle Thomas at 413-499-4000, ext. 126 or visit www.fallfoliageparade.com.

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Berkshire Health Group Sets 8.75% Premium Rise for FY27

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The towns and school districts in Berkshire Health Group will see an 8.75 percent increase in health insurance premiums in the fiscal year that begins on July 1.
 
Ten of the 12 voting members on the BHG board decided Wednesday morning at McCann Technical School on a vote of 8-2 to set the health plan rates for municipal employees in the member towns and districts.
 
The hike is a little more than half of the 16 percent increase the joint purchase group enacted for the current fiscal year.
 
Wednesday's decision will come as welcome news to town managers and administrators and school superintendents who may have been fearing a repeat of FY26, but the 8.75 percent hike still likely will constrain the spending decisions that officials will be making over the next few months as they prepare to send budgets to town meetings across the county this spring.
 
The main decision point for the BHG board on Wednesday morning: how to cover Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists or GLP-1 medications, commonly marketed under trade names like Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus.
 
The board decided that the weight-loss drugs no longer will be covered for all employees covered under BHG plans and will be covered only for those people who have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
 
Joseph Anderson of Gallagher Benefit Services told the Berkshire Health Group board members that demand for the GLP-1 medications has exploded in their member units in recent years.
 
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