Cheshire Wants to Change Spelling of Hoosic River

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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CHESHIRE, Mass. — Cheshire Historical Society member Barry Emery wants to correct the spelling of the Hoosic River. 

Emery told the Selectmen on Tuesday night that the town should think about changing the name of the river.

"We can either try to change it and have it be right for the next 500 years or we do nothing," Emery said. "May as well change it now and be done with it."

He said the river was known as the Hoosuck River in 1776 and was changed to Hoosac in 1794. It remained the Hoosac River until 1876, when for some reason it was changed to Hoosick.

According to an 1898 geodetic survey map, the river's name was wrongly changed to the Hoosic River, he said.

"That's the first time I can find the river spelled 'sic' and someone screwed it up because it was never called that before," he said. "I doubt if there was any legislation or anything that changed the name."

He said the river was changed back to Hoosac in 1883, back to Hoosic again in 1947 and has remained that since.

He added that although the original name of the river was Hoosuck (a name also shared by the early towns), the town may want to stick with Hoosac. Cheshire already hosts Hoosac Valley High School and Hoosac Lake and sits in a valley of the Hoosac Range.

After receiving the Selectmen's blessings, Emery said the Historical Society could write a letter to the state asking if changing the name was possible.

In other business, Town Administrator Mark Webber said he met with Adams Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco recently about holding collaborative Adams-Cheshire Regional School District budget sessions starting in November. He said town administrators, finance committee members, and selectmen from both town as well as the School Committee and administration would be involved.

"This time we would meet as a group and not each town individually," he said. "We wanted to avoid what happened this year where we see them coming out of a meeting and then we go in and have two different discussions."

The Selectmen agreed.

"I think it is a good make up for a committee," Chairwoman Carol Francesconi said. "You certifiably have enough people on it."

Fracesconi said she wanted to make clear how much more Cheshire pays toward the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District after comments accusing Cheshire of not paying its fair share.

She said currently there are 337 Cheshire students in the district and Adams has 954 students. She added that Cheshire's assessment per student is 1,888.79 more than Adams' assessment.

"I think Cheshire is giving their fair share as far as the district is concerned," Francesconi said.

She also responded to the comment that the Selectmen were trying to micromanage the School Committee.

"The only thing we would require as a board is when there are things that are going to affect us a board of selectmen that we be informed of them ahead of time ... and not right before we are required to take action on something," she said.

Public Works Director Peter LeFebvre said one of the town's one-ton trucks has died. He said it has been sent out for repairs but the DPW has yet to hear what the repair will cost.

He said the truck is near the end of its life and he would like to replace it soon. He said after five years the trucks become less reliable.

"It's a 2008, and we have seven or eight years on it already," he said. "It's had its course but we are trying to struggle around with it."

He added that patching on Route 116 should be complete in the next few days.

The board agreed to rerun an advertisement after receiving no bids last week for the Depot Street property the town took for taxes. Webber said the town may want to see if it is legal to sign the property with a realtor.

He also said the town received a final judgment from Superior Court upholding the Rent Control Board's decision to deny a rent increase at Pine Valley Mobile Home Park.

Police Chief Tim Garner said the department has retrieved some of the stolen property from the recent series of break-ins, however, the case is still open.

Garner also requested that "no parking" signs be placed in between the crosswalk and the school parking lot on School Street.

Webber said helicopters will be flying over the town on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 8 and 9, checking utility lines.


Tags: ACRSD,   Hoosic River,   school budget,   

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Hoosac Valley High School to Stage 'Suessical'

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Hoosac Valley High School will showcase their rendition of "Suessical," a musical based on the tales of Dr. Seuss by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.
 
The performances are scheduled for Friday, March 15 at 7 pm, and Saturday, March 16 at 2 pm and 7 pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online via the provided link. Prices are $8 for students and $10 for adults.
 
Directed by Rebecca Koczela and Amanda Watroba, the production features around 50 students participating as actors, pit band musicians, and backstage and tech crews. Notably, this year's cast includes several middle school students who have joined the high school production, marking their first experience performing on stage.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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