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Eight Graduate From McCann Practical Nursing Program

Susan Watson is retiring after six years leading the program. See more photos from Monday's ceremony here.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Monday night was bittersweet for the McCann Technical School community with the celebration of the latest class of nursing graduates also saying goodbye to the woman who has led the program for six years.

"Throughout the year, all of you have reaffirmed why I love teaching, and I have thoroughly enjoyed watching your enthusiasm and have many memorable moments," Watson said. "On the first day of class, I called you all novices. Today, I can proudly call you nurses, and I will truly miss this class."

She went on to say she is proud of her students for letting McCann "lead the dance."

"I said to all of you that if you want to be a nurse then let McCann lead the dance and you stuck with it. You followed our lead and you stayed in step," she said. "Tonight, all eight of you have completed your education journey and you have a wonderful future in health care."

Nursing Advisory Council member Billie Allard, who had been chief nursing officer at the former North Adams Regional Hospital, also congratulated the students and wished Watson a farewell.

"It has been inspiring to watch her dedication, her caring, her compassion and her ability to rise above whatever challenge was in front of her," Allard said. "Sue has been a star here and everywhere she has ever been and I really want you to revel in the success of your career and think about all of the lives that you have touched."

Superintendent James Brosnan said Watson was critical in keeping the program running smoothly when the North Adams Regional Hospital closed four years ago.

He also congratulated the students for all their hard work.

"The individuals to my right have worked harder than any other eight individuals not only in Berkshire County but in the entire Commonwealth in a very condensed and very rigorous program to become in a few minutes practical nurses," he said.

Before handing out awards clinical instructor Diane O'Neil asked the graduates to remember the "personal touches" they have developed and to remember where they came from.

She asked them to continue to follow their dreams.

"Becoming a nurse is now a reality for all of you. You have been held to the highest standards in your field and you have made it," she said. "Continue with your goals and ambitions and please follow your dreams … I can’t be prouder of where you are and I can now call you my colleges … but now that you have made it, the words 'never' and 'I can't' have officially been removed from your vocabulary."

Nicole Bak of Cheshire, Cara Moulton of North Adams, Tim Badu of Pittsfield, and Brianna Hayden of Savoy each received the Faye Ellen Fosser Memorial Scholarship.

The Fosser Memorial Scholarship is given in memory of Fosser who graduated from the LPN program, went on to earn her registered nursing degree, and worked as a nurse locally. Fosser died in 1984, at the age of 29.

Badu and Hayden also received the Highest Academic Award and Bak received the Perfect Attendance Award.

Rebecca Adams, of Williamstown, also received the Perfect Attendance Award as well as the Clinical Excellence Award.

Tammie DeWeever of Springfield, Brookelynne Ruopp of Pittsfield, Khadeejah Hassan of Pittsfield also graduated.

Cost, Access to NBCTC High Among Concerns North Berkshire Residents

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
06:15PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Adams Select Chair Christine Hoyt, NBCTC Executive Director David Fabiano and William Solomon, the attorney representing the four communities, talk after the session. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Public access channels should be supported and made more available to the public — and not be subject to a charge.

 

More than three dozen community members in-person and online attended the public hearing  Wednesday on public access and service from Spectrum/Charter Communications. The session at City Hall was held for residents in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg and North Adams to express their concerns to Spectrum ahead of another 10-year contract that starts in October.

 

Listening via Zoom but not speaking was Jennifer Young, director state government affairs at Charter.

 

One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly. 

 

"I don't know if everybody else feels the same way but they have a monopoly," said Clarksburg resident David Emery. "They control everything we do because there's nobody else to go to. You're stuck with with them."

 

Public access television, like the 30-year-old Northern Berkshire Community Television, is funded by cable television companies through franchise fees, member fees, grants and contributions.

 

Spectrum is the only cable provider in the region and while residents can shift to satellite providers or streaming, Northern Berkshire Community Television is not available on those alternatives and they may not be easy for some to navigate. For instance, the Spectrum app is available on smart televisions but it doesn't include PEG, the public, educational and governmental channels provided by NBCTC.