Northern Berkshire Children's Parade Winners Announced

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More photos from the parade can be found here.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The annual Children's Parade marched down Main Street on Friday evening featuring costumes and floats recalling the Fall Foliage Parade's 60 years of history.

Monsters, superheroes, soldiers, fairies and nursery rhymes were among the many participants. Two groups even copied costumes that had been worn by parents and relatives in past parades.

The Drury High School band and SteepleCats' mascot Slider led the 89 children, accompanied by parents, to City Hall along with a North Adams Police escort.

Help with registration, organization and judging was provided by: Dale Waterman, Amanda Chilson, Fran Berasi, Mohawk Forest teen leader Gio Santelli, and MCLA volunteers Matt Costa and Kircys Cane. The gift certificates for all nine winners were provided by Persnickity Toys and Antionette Cariddi of the former Cariddi Sales, ensuring every child who participated also received a prize.

Winners in the following categories were:

Floats
1st: The Peanuts Gang (Snoopy and Friends): Avah DeBenedetto, Jack Tanner, Lennon Kirby, Kenley McConnell, Sophia Piantoni, James Lovett
2nd: North Adams Ambulance, the Meaney Family: Andrew Meaney, Abigail Meaney, Natalie Meaney


3rd: Ice Palace from Frozen with Elsa, Olaf and Knight ("Tribute to Walt Disney 1967): Carmela Reynolds, Wyatt Reynolds

Group
1st: Susan's Day Care, "Flashback to 1983" (when parents of some of the kids were in the parade): Katherine Richardson, Evelyn Richardson, Thomas Richardson, Madison Saunders, Cameron Saunders, Ava Griffith
2nd: The Family Center of Northern Berkshire, Community Helpers: Jaydon Dimitropolis, Chloe Dimitropolis, Leila Millard, Owen Poirer, Estelle Klein
3rd: "Toys on Parade 2012":  Race Chilson, Abby Moulton, Weston Moulton

Individual Costumes
1st: Civil Soldier with American Flag: Andrew Daniels
2nd: Hockey Player: Jack George
3rd: Owl of the Berkshires: Ayden Duncan


Tags: Fall Foliage,   parade,   

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North Adams Housing Authority Director Steps Down

Staff Reports

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Jennifer Hohn, the longtime executive director of the North Adams Housing Authority (NAHA), has stepped down after 24 years with the agency.

The Berkshire Eagle reported that Hohn resigned from her position on Thursday. The NAHA Board of Commissioners is currently developing a transition plan.

Her resignation follows rising tension between Hohn and the tenants association. Residents—particularly at the Spring and Ashland Park apartments—have raised specific concerns regarding building security, drug activity, and trespassers.

This summer, Tenants Association President Corey Fortin posted a video on social media demonstrating that door alarms in some of the buildings were not functioning.

Shortly after the video was posted, the tenants association's office was locked. Members alleged Hohn locked the space in retaliation, while Hohn maintained it was a matter of tenant safety. Hohn also stated that NAHA does not officially recognize the association because it has yet to go through official channels for certification—a claim the tenants association disputes.

The dispute culminated in plans for a formal grievance hearing between Hohn and the association. Both sides agreed to hold a meeting on Oct. 3, but the hearing had not yet been scheduled at the time of her resignation.
During her tenure as director, Hohn oversaw significant changes at NAHA, including expansion and the dissolution of Housing Opportunities Incorporated, a program founded over 30 years ago to assist first-time homebuyers. Most recently, she led efforts to transition NAHA properties from traditional public housing models to the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. She also directed the rebuilding of a Greylock Valley Apartments building after it was severely damaged by a fire.

The NAHA Board of Commissioners meets monthly, typically on Mondays.

 

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