COVID-19 Closes Two Grades at North Adams Elementary School

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Cases of COVID-19 among staff at Colegrove Park Elementary School is causing the closure of one grade for the week and remote learning for another. 
 
Kindergarten classes are closed this week with a reopening date of Tuesday, Jan. 18, and third grade will be remote also until next Tuesday. 
 
Parents and staff were notified of the closures on Monday afternoon. Superintendent Barbara Malkas in an update posted on the school district website reported that there were 31 positive cases reported in the schools. 
 
Colegrove had the most at 11, Brayton and Drury High had seven each, and Greylock reported six. 
 
"Every individual with a potential exposure has been contacted and given instructions on the course of action they need to take according to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidelines regarding quarantine, including self-isolating and testing," Malkas wrote. 
 
The school system has been participating in the state's "test and stay" program that allows those who have been in close contact with an infected individual but aren't showing symptoms to be rapid tested for seven consectuvie days. As long as the student remain asymptomatic and has negative results, they can stay in school. 
 
Only about half the city's children in the 5 to 11 age group are vaccinated.
 

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Driscoll Focuses on Outdoor Recreation for 413 Day

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

Brian Gilbert of Hilltown Anglers gives the lieutenant governor a lesson in casting at the Zoar Picnic Area on River Road. 
FLORIDA, Mass. — Last year, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll celebrated 413 Day with a tour of Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art
 
This year, it was in the middle of a river. 
 
Driscoll was getting a lesson in fly fishing from Brian Gilbert of Hilltown Anglers after a speaking to outdoor recreation stakeholders at Berkshire East in Charlemont. 
 
"We started our day in Gill, Massachusetts, where we talked about housing choice and really making sure our small and rural communities can participate in our housing programs and have priorities for more funding," she said. "And being at Berkshire [East] Mountain, it was just terrific to be able to hear from so many outdoor rec enthusiasts about what we have in Franklin County and Berkshire County to really celebrate eco-tourism and how we can partner with our local stakeholders." 
 
Gilbert gave the lieutenant governor a quick rundown on fly fishing gear and techniques and then had her do some dry land practice casts (and warning everyone to step back) before she got her waders on. 
 
"Outdoor recreation is really one of the important drivers of the economy and community out here, and it's also a heck of a lot of fun and and important for public health," said Paul Jahnige, director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation, while Driscoll was in the middle of the Deerfield River.
 
His office is working an Industry Pathways Project to find how the state can better support the outdoor recreation industry. It's held several virtual listening sessions in addition to that morning's with area businesses and state agencies in Franklin County. 
 
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