Letter: Letter Writer Has Confidence in Restaurant Architect

To the Editor:

In your article, "Porches Inn Gets OK to Proceed With River Street Demolition, New Restaurant," I was pleased to see that the project will be designed by the firm MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple, a Canadian firm.

I have crossed paths with Brian MacKay-Lyons over a period of more than 40 years. His award-winning work has consistently been of the highest quality and especially responsive to its setting. I have complete confidence that the Porches is doing North Adams a great service.

Sincerely,

Howard Itzkowitz
North Adams, Mass.

Architect (retired), Professor Emeritus, Southern Polytechnic State University

Driscoll Focuses on Outdoor Recreation for 413 Day

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:50PM / Monday, April 13, 2026

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.