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. 

North Adams Label Shopper Reopens in New Location

Staff Reports11:36AM / Friday, April 10, 2026

A grand opening banner indicates the store's opening. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — In a matter of days, Label Shopper in the L-shaped mall moved across the parking lot into new quarters and hung out a grand opening sign. 

 

"Oh my, it's gorgeous!" said a customer walking into the bright, airy and expanded discount clothing store.

 

Label Shopper, a subsidiary of Peter Harris Clothes of Latham, N.Y., has been in downtown North Adams since 2009. It closed on Monday to move into the former Gordman's space in the former Kmart plaza. 

 

Gordmans briefly replaced Peebles until the parent company of the two brands declared bankruptcy and closed its stores in 2020. The space has been vacant until now.

 

Label Shopper's grand opening was on Thursday morning and district manager Angie Ciccone said the store had been busy, and "we're expecting the weekend to be busy."

 

The store carries name and designer brand clothing for women, children and men, women's shoes, accessories and some home decor. Ciccone noted the space was double the size of the former location. 

 

"We are are thrilled to be a part of the North Adams community. We will continue to offer the most popular designer brands at the best possible price," said Kathy Boedecker, director of operations, via email. "We had the opportunity to take over the old Gordman's space in Parkade Plaza and we seized it.