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Running with the Law program returned to the streets of North Adams recently for the third time with some new faces.
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Running With The Law Returns For Third Year

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Running with the Law program returned to the streets of North Adams recently for the third time with some new faces.

There are only two rules to running with the local police officers: stay in line and wave to everyone you see.

"The kids seem to enjoy it and it is something to do," Police Officer David Sherman said. "It is kind of our weekend morning thing ... it keeps us in shape and we get to interact with a lot of kids that normally only see us on shift."

Former North Adams Police Officer David Lemieux started the weekend running program with now-retired Brayton Elementary school teacher James Holmes in 2015. Lemieux and Holmes, both avid runners, wanted to create a program that encouraged healthy habits and positive interactions with police officers.
 
"Other than teaching, running and riding my bike are my two favorite things," Holmes told a dozen young runners before group stretching. "The police wanted to make sure this program stayed alive and that you guys stayed fit." 

Holmes noted that most of the kids running that Saturday morning were new to the program and the officers gave a special welcome to fifth-grader Zach Hillard, who has cerebral palsy but was excited to run with the police officers.

"I came here to run, not stand," Hillard said as a Halloween-costumed Holmes went over the running route.

Hillard said he did some stretching before he came down to the police station and was glad to run with the officers – many who have become friends.

"I stretched a little bit before and I am excited to do this. I became good friends with a lot of these guys," Hillard said.

Sherman, who has taken over the program, said it is important to keep the program going. He said it’s not only good for the kids to interact with the police but for the police to interact with the kids.

"We are just running with what Dave started," he said. "It is a great program."

Tags: north adams police,   running,   youth programs,   

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Clarksburg Gets 3 Years of Free Cash Certified

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Town officials have heaved a sigh of relief with the state's certification of free cash for the first time in more than three years.
 
The town's parade of employees through its financial offices the past few years put it behind on closing out its fiscal years between 2021 and 2023. A new treasurer and two part-time accountants have been working the past year in closing the books and filing with the state.
 
The result is the town will have $571,000 in free cash on hand as it begins budget deliberations. However, town meeting last year voted that any free cash be used to replenish the stabilization account
 
Some $231,000 in stabilization was used last year to reduce the tax rate — draining the account. The town's had minimal reserves for the past nine months.
 
Chairman Robert Norcross said he didn't want residents to think the town was suddenly flush with cash. 
 
"We have to keep in mind that we have no money in the stabilization fund and we now have a free cash, so we have now got to replenish that account," he said. "So it's not like we have this money to spend ... most of it will go into the stabilization fund." 
 
The account's been hit several times over the past few fiscal years in place of free cash, which has normally been used for capital spending, to offset the budget and to refill stabilization. Free cash was last used in fiscal 2020.
 
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