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Don Graves of Grandview Terrace said there are sewer backups in his neighborhood.

Adams to Correct Grandview Terrace Sewer Issue

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Lee's Dynasty is expected to open this summer. It was awarded a beer and wine license by the Selectmen. 
ADAMS, Mass. — The town will take another look at sewer line issues on Grandview Terrace.
 
Resident Don Graves from Grandview Terrace approached the Board of Selectmen last week during the public comment period with concerns about the sewer line that has backed up into residents' homes a number of times and caused damage. 
 
"We have had at least maybe five incidents were town sewer has backed up into residents’ homes and caused $1,000 worth of damage," Graves said. "Yes there is insurance but it does not cover everything…so we are wondering what can be done with the line ... just last week one of our neighbors had sewage come up into their tubs."
 
Mazzucco said the problem was corrected shortly after that complaint in December and after sending a camera down the line to find a cracked 12-foot section pipe that was replaced.
 
Graves said there are still problems even after the repair.
 
Mazzucco said the Department of Public Works will look again. 
 
"The DPW added it to their regular maintenance list so it will be checked more frequently but we can camera the entire pipe again and the pipes feeding into it," he said. "That will give us some idea on prevention options we may have to install a back-flow preventer at one of the junctions or need to make more repairs." 
 
In other business, the Selectmen granted Asian-fusion restaurant Lee's Dynasty a malt and wine license and welcomed them to Adams.
 
"We are just very excited you are opening in town and want to invest here in Adams," Mazzucco said. 
 
Manager of the proposed Columbia Street restaurant Cindy Li was represented by attorney Jeff Lynch, who said the inside of the former stove store is being renovated and if all goes well, the new restaurant should be open by the end of July or early August.
 
Selectwoman Christine Hoyt thanked Lee for her interest in Adams and said the Columbia Street corridor is important to the revitalization of the downtown.
 
"Thank you and I think that is an important part of our town so thank you very much for picking that location," Hoyt said. 
 
Police Chief Richard Tarsa cleared up a rumor of widespread break-ins. He said there was one break-in in the East Road area but it was an isolated incident.  
 
Tarsa urged resident to lock their cars and keep windows closed because there have been a number of car break-ins.  
 
"An ounce a prevention is worth a pound of cure," he said. "That is something that I learned many years ago on this job." 
 
Mazzucco said there are still reusable bags at town hall but asked that the giant landscaping bag that housed the recycled bags be returned. 
 
"Someone actually took the big bag we think it was by accident because it actually did say free bag on it so it is probably our fault," he said. "But whoever has it please return it."
 
Mazzucco said the DPW has installed LED lights in two of the Park Street fixtures.
 
"The look of the street will change a little bit from the traditional purple pink glow to a more sanitary white glow," he said. "I have noticed the difference but I don’t find it blinding."    
 
The town may install the more efficient LED bulbs throughout town using a Green Communities Grant.

Tags: alcohol license,   break-ins,   sewer,   

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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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