Letter: Jennifer Macksey for Mayor

To the Editor:

I am writing to encourage you to cast your vote for Jennifer Macksey as the next mayor of North Adams. I have worked very closely with Jennifer in matters of the Northern Berkshire School Union. Jennifer's success rate for improving our schools has been 100 percent.

I am the chairperson for the Northern Berkshire School Union's joint school committees. Jennifer was hired as business manager for NBSU with her main goal to write grants for the five town school districts. Jennifer went way above and beyond finding grant money for all of the schools. To Jennifer's position as business manager, assistant superintendent was added to her job description as she was able to receive building grants and then proceeded to oversee the projects from bids to final completion. Jennifer has done an amazing job working with all five towns in the NBSU. Jennifer is always there with answers and suggestions to improve all of the school communities.

On the business manager side of her job, Jennifer has been able to organize all of the individual budgets for each school and was able to set up an account so each of the shared employees did not have to receive five different checks from five different towns that belong to the NBSU. Jennifer's accounting skills have enabled the towns to file end of year reports for their schools. Jennifer has always met all grant deadlines and has made sure that all NBSU bills are paid in a timely fashion.

Leadership and compassion are two words that I would use to describe Jennifer. Jennifer has the ability to evaluate situations and she has incredible skills with which to make professional decisions. Jennifer has strong, effective, decision making skills. Jennifer has a passion for service.

Jennifer has been personally connected to North Adams her entire life. She has been a resident of North Adams, an employee in the City of North Adams, an employee in MCLA, vice president of Southern Vermont College and is currently the assistant superintendent/business manager of the Northern Berkshire School Union, which serves five towns and four schools. Jennifer has the best interests for the City of North Adams in her decision to be mayor of North Adams.

Judith Oleson
Florida, Mass. 

Judith Oleson is chair of the Abbott Memorial School Committee and the Northern Berkshire School Union Committee. 

Healey, Driscoll Outline Municipal Funding Plans at MMA Conference

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
06:38AM / Saturday, January 24, 2026

The conference ran 'The Tonight Show' skit that had three Boston stars reading off the names of all 351 cities and towns. 

BOSTON — The Healey administration's 2027 budget will include boosts a 4.4 percent boost to local aid of more than $10.4 billion. 

 

Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll have the Massachusetts Municipal Association's annual conference a small preview of the upcoming budget and other initiatives at Friday morning's opening session.

 

Healey expounded on her State of the Commonwealth address given Thursday night, and the state's efforts to maintain its even keel despite a less than helpful federal government.

 

"They're driving prices up and they're making things more difficult for all of us, whether that's freezing food and health benefits or cutting off services with for veterans," said the governor. on Friday. "Last month we're dealing with taking away health care. I mean, the hits just keep coming. But you know, we just have to stand strong together. 

 

"And I think now more than ever, we just need to double down on our partnership and our collaboration."

 

She reminded the gathering during her talk that America was founded because of Massachusetts, and that we still vote in town meetings, and play catch on town commons where the militia once drilled. 

 

"I think we can be a really positive response and a role model, frankly, for the country right now, people who are looking for stability, common sense, and a focus on their lives, what matters to them," the governor said.