Letter: Macksey Understands How to Manage City

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To the Editor:

As a former administrative officer for the city of North Adams (2001-2008), I write to urge the citizens of North Adams to elect Jennifer Macksey their next mayor. I can attest to Jen's sharp intellect, skilled financial management and good nature during the years we worked together when she was the city's top financial officer. Jen worked tirelessly on behalf of the residents of North Adams and has prepared herself, with her strong municipal background and experience in education administration, to be exceptionally qualified to do this remarkably difficult work.

There is no more difficult or important job than that of a mayor; I say this with confidence based on my own diverse and challenging work experience in both the private and public sectors. Jen Macksey has experienced firsthand the inherent difficulties in managing a city to meet the needs of its citizens while continually struggling to obtain and effectively use limited financial and other resources. She knows how to do this job and do it well.

It's been concerning to observe the current city government difficulties resulting in multiple resignations from incumbent city councilors. Now is not the time for on-the-job learning or training. Experience matters. Jen Macksey knows how to effectively position and utilize key resources on day one, which will be critical to the future success of North Adams. For these reasons, I urge the residents of North Adams to cast their vote for Jen Macksey on Nov. 2.
 

Mary Katherine Eade
North Adams, Mass. 

Mary Katherine Eade is a former administrative office for the city of North Adams.

 

 


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Companion Corner: Mimi and Herman at Second Chance

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

ARLINGTON, Vt. — There is a sweet bonded pair of felines looking for a new home together.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.

Mimi and Herman have been at the shelter since May and are 9 years old.

Feline program administrator Santana Snyder introduced us to them, noting this is their second time at Second Chance. 

"They are a bonded pair of nine year old kitties that came to the shelter because their previous owner had to go to a nursing home," she said. "They were adopted from the shelter as kittens, and things just changed. They've been together, like I said, their whole life, brother and sister, so they do need to go together."

The two have a bit of differing personalities as Mimi is more outgoing than Herman, who is quite shy and will hide at first.

"Herman's definitely gonna take time to warm up. He is a little bit of a scaredy cat. He hides a lot. It took a little while for him to come out and sit on the cat tree and be out in the open here. Mimi took pretty quickly to being out and about and interacting with everybody, so they just need somebody that's going to have some patience with them and kind of let them come out of their shell at their own pace," she said.

Mimi likes to play and be around you. Herman has mainly hid since being at the shelter. 

Herman does have one eye but it does not bother him.

"Mimi will get playful every now and then I don't think I've ever seen Herman play. Herman is missing an eye. He was, I guess, found like that as a kitten before he even came to the shelter originally," said Snyder. "Doesn't seem to bother him any. It's completely closed, but he sees perfectly fine out the other one."

But the two are healthy besides being on a diet, as Herman is pushing 20 pounds.

The two would do well in a quiet home without kids. They have not been with other animals previously.

"A quiet home, for sure. We would probably say no kids. They've never been around cats or dogs before, but potentially mellow, feline-friendly cats would be OK. They spend most of their time as senior kitties just lounging, napping, getting attention from the visitors at the shelter," she said. "I definitely think maybe an older couple would be really good for them. Someone who's home a lot, they're kind of used to that in their previous home." 

But the two are ready for their new home where they can give and receive love from a new family.

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