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Hoosac Valley Grad Richardson Earns MASCAC Annual Honor

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- MCLA's Megan Richardson was named the MASCAC Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday following a vote of the league's coaches. 
 
Richardson (first team) joins teammates Kayla Baker (first team) and Cetera Moore (second team) as All Conference players.
 
Worcester State's Ali Maldonado was tabbed as the Offensive Player of the Year while Bridgewater State's Delaney Langton was selected as the rookie of the year.  Yasmina Carvalho of BSU was the Champion's Choice coach of the year.
 
Richardson, a graduate of Hoosac Valley, is no stranger to the All Conference team as she's been selected for the third straight season. This year, Richardson led a defense that yielded just 28 goals, the third fewest in the league and was responsible for all six Trailblazer wins. Her name was all over the conference leaders as Richardson ranked near the top of most statistical categories. Here are some of those statistics:
 
MASCAC Ranks
Saves: First with 149
Save percentage: Second with .851
Goals Against Average: Third with 1.53
Shutouts: Tied Second with four
 
On six different occasions, Richardson collected double digit save totals. She saved her best performance for her final game as the senior recorded 20 saves, many highlight variety, in a tough 1-0 double overtime loss to Bridgewater State.  
 
Richardson saw an astounding 351 shots against her throughout the season, including 186 of those on goal. She stood out in conference play as Richardson saw 195 shots (28 per game) but kept the Trailblazers in games with her stellar play.
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Special Minerals Agrees to Pay Adams, River Groups Over River Discharge

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Adams plans to use the $50,000 it will get in the consent decree toward the removal of the Peck's Road Dam. 
BOSTON — Specialty Minerals is expected to pay $299,000 for a discharge of calcium carbonate into the Hoosic River nearly three years ago in a consent decree with the Attorney General's Office. 
 
The river turned visibly white from Adams to the Vermont state line from the mineral that leaked out from the plant's settling ponds on Howland Avenue in November 2021. 
 
Calcium carbonate, also known as chalk or limestone, is not toxic to humans or animals. However, the sudden discoloration of the water alarmed local officials and environmentalists and prompted an emergency session of the Northern Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning Committee. 
 
"We allege that this company violated its permits, disregarded federal and state law, and put the Hoosic River — a resource cherished by the Adams community — at risk," said AG Andrea Campbell in a statement. "I am grateful for this collaboration with our state agency partners and committed to holding polluters accountable and working to bring resources back to communities disproportionately impacted by environmental harms."   
 
If approved by the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, the consent decree will require Specialty Minerals to pay a total of $299,000, which includes payments to the town of Adams and three community groups in Northern Berkshire County that will be used to benefit water quality and prevent stormwater impacts. 
 
Once approved, most of the settlement would fund multiple projects to benefit water quality, including infrastructure improvements and native plantings to mitigate stormwater impacts in the Hoosic River Watershed. Specifically, the proposed settlement provides for: 
  • $50,000 to the town of Adams for infrastructure improvements in a tributary of the Hoosic River
  • $50,000 to Hoosic River Revival for stormwater mitigation projects  
  • $50,000 to Hoosic River Watershed Association for a native plant garden and other projects to mitigate stormwater impacts and benefit water quality 
  • $50,000 to Sonrisas to fund invasive plant removal and native plant habitat establishment at Finca Luna Búho, a community land project that centers the voices and prioritizes the decision-making of those living in marginalization. 
It will also provide $30,000 in civil assessments to the state's Natural Heritage Endangered Species Fund and $20,000 in civil penalties for violation of state law, as well as $49,000 to offset the costs of the AG's enforcement efforts. 
 
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