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One of the windows decorated by the Friends of the Adams Free Library on Park Street.
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The Friends and the Adams Arts Advisory Board have separately decorated vacant storefronts.
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The arts board is featuring products by area artists and artisans; all the items are for sale.
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The Friends have focused on holiday scenes and hopes to spark more interest in the library.
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Adams Civic Groups Bring Life to Park Street

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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ADAMS, Mass. — The Adams Arts Advisory Board, Downtown Adams, and the Friends of the Adams Free Library have spruced up Park Street's vacant store windows with artisan goods and holiday scenes.

Adams Arts Advisory Board member Francie Anne Riley said multiple civic groups have come together to brighten up the storefronts and to give local artists and artisans exposure.

"We want to bring the artisans out where they can share their work because they may not have the opportunity to have a store front on Park Street," Riley said.

Four windows have been filled by River Hill Pottery, Cheshire Glassworks, Kama Suutra Fiber Arts and Lapis and Lime Studio jewelry.

She added that all are welcome to share their creations.

"There are several more artists waiting in the wings for their art work to be set up, but we have more windows to fill so if anyone is interested in being involved please contact us," she said.

She added that the board wants to invite food artisans to place artificial food displays in the window to share their creations.

Riley said all items in the windows are for sale.

Friends of the Adams Free Library have also taken up three windows to display holiday scenes.

Member Pat Taylor said she hopes the windows will help get residents in the holiday spirits and bring more interest to the library.

"We are getting a little away from the library thing, but I hope not too much because our main purpose it is to raise interest and funds for the library," Taylor said. "We want people to visit the library and possibly get involved with the Friends."

Taylor said that because the Events Planning Committee has disbanded, the Friends plan to take on some more responsibilities. She said Pro Adams approached them with the project.

"A lot of us are retirees and … we did it last year and we had such a good time," she said. "I think they are getting more desperate now that the other committee fell apart and the Friends will probably get more involved now."

People have noticed the new window displays popping up in Adams. Selectman Joseph Nowak announced at the last Selectmen's meeting how festive Adams looks.

"I'd like to say how nice our community looks when you go up and down the street," Nowak said. "It looks really good and a lot has to do with the arts group and the friends. It really looks breathtaking." 


Tags: artisans & crafters,   arts commission,   Park Street,   storefronts,   

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Hoosac Valley High School is Moving and Shaking

There have been some major shifts within the Hoosac Valley Regional School District recently, all of which have focused on enhancing the student experience to make it a place where ALL students can find their path.
 
In 2023, Hoosac Valley High School was designated an Innovation Pathway School by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and has since restructured the Program of Studies, utilized creative scheduling, and expanded internship opportunities. Part of this transformation includes participating in a "Portrait of a Graduate" cohort alongside four other Berkshire County schools to determine a collective vision for student success, in partnership with the BARR Foundation.
 
The Innovation Pathways at HVHS are designed to give students coursework and experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as technology, engineering, healthcare, or life sciences. Currently, Biomedical Science & Healthcare and Environmental Studies have received official state IP designation. In addition to the IP designated pathways, HVHS offers programs in Engineering & Technology, Business & Entrepreneurship, Arts & Entertainment, Education, and Sports Medicine. The result is that students have an opportunity for a transformative experience – enabling them to build essential skills, gain awareness of future career opportunities, and make informed choices about post-secondary education in promising fields.
 
Principal Colleen Byrd notes, "What makes our program special is that entry into the Pathway of your choice allows a student to access Advanced Placement and dual enrollment college courses, as well as internships in the community to set them up for success after high school."
 
The Portrait of a Graduate initiative consists of a team of Hoosac educators and students who exemplify the essential skills, practices, and beliefs that define learning experiences across the district. They work to outline the competencies, values, skills, and knowledge that define our vision for student success – keeping in mind that not every student's pathway will look the same. The District's goal is to ensure that all students graduate as responsible people, prepared individuals, lifelong learners, global citizens, critical thinkers, and thoughtful communicators.
 
Another recent change district-wide in grades K-12 is the "Crew" culture. Teachers and students now have time each day to create positive connections and build authentic relationships with one another. Through Responsive Classroom at the elementary school and Crew at the middle and high schools, students and staff gather for 30 minutes each day to engage in meaningful experiences rooted in mutual and shared interests. 
The Crew block is a prioritized structure that allows staff to support all students socially, emotionally, and academically – anchoring them and promoting the Portrait of a Graduate competencies. Crew takes many forms at the high school, such as gardening, bird watching, yoga, and sports talk with visits to college games.
 
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