Letter: Greylock Glen Camping Proposal Aligns with Town's Needs

Letter to the Editor02:00PM / Wednesday, January 18, 2023Print Story | Email Story

To the Editor:

For many years, we've maintained our community with little economic growth. It has not been for lack of effort. And now, smart people from many different backgrounds have uncovered what we all knew — Adams is special! The founders of the Project 13 1/2 Grove Gallery and Real Eyes Gallery know it, as does Yina Moore, who has breathed new life into the Adams Theater, a revitalization effort started by our Topia Arts friends.

Our Greylock Glen trail partners DCR and TSR contribute to Adams by maintaining and expanding our trails. The outdoor center is being built, after years of hard work from our Community Development Director Donna Cesan, our town administrator(s) and our state Rep. John Barrett, and [former] state Sen. Adam Hinds, to name a few. We never lost sight of the end game, and now the state has funded further investment in Adams.

The newest developers interested in Adams have proposed an EcoVillage at the Greylock Glen. Not only does the EcoVillage align with keeping the beauty of Adams intact, it is also innovative, attractive, and creates a revenue stream that we have not seen the likes of in Adams. We were impressed by the developer's presentation, and hope other community members will turn out for future outreach sessions.

It is our turn to embrace growth in innovative programs and projects. It is our turn to share in the creative economy and tourism. Shame on us if we are not one voice in that support. We have vetted all the details of the Greylock Glen projects together and will continue to do so with the same goal in mind: To grow our town in a thoughtful manner, while maintaining the quality of life that we all enjoy. This town belongs to all of us.

Thank you to our select board and Shared Estates for presenting us with an opportunity that is in lockstep with our goals. And, many thanks to the proud, forward-thinking people of Adams for embracing new growth.

In 2023, Adams is about rail trail expansion, mountain bike trails, scenic train rides, glamping, outdoor center, café on the mountain, education space, art galleries, revitalized theater, revitalized visitors center, new developers on Park and Summer Streets. We are catching up with the rest of Berkshire County.

Please join us in support of the Shared Estates plans for camping at the Greylock Glen. This really is our time.

Erin Mucci & David Bissaillon
co-chairs ProAdams
Carol Cushenette
Adams Finance Committee chair

Tags: Greylock Glen,

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North Adams Man Found Guilty of Rape, Sentenced to State Prison

Staff Reports09:22AM / Wednesday, November 11, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — On Monday, Nov. 9, Joseph Pini, 49 years old, formerly of North Adams, was sentenced to 9 to 12 years in State Prison after being found guilty of 2 counts of Rape and one count of Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor.

On Friday, Nov. 6, a jury found Pini guilty of all three charges after deliberating for four hours.

Honorable Judge Callan sentenced Pini to 9 to 12 years in State Prison for the two counts of Rape and 6 months in the House of Corrections for Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor, to be served concurrently. The Commonwealth requested a sentence of 12 to 15 years in prison for the combined rape charges with 1 year in the House of Corrections, a maximum sentence, for furnishing alcohol to a minor to be served concurrently. Defense requested a 'very lengthy' probationary period.

According to a report, in November 2022, Joseph Pini brought a then-16-year-old to his home on Fairgrounds Avenue, North Adams. He proceeded to provide the teen with alcohol and then raped her twice.

District Attorney Shugrue thanked the jury for their services.

"I commend the North Adams Police Department and the Child Abuse Unit in my office for their thorough and dedicated work in bringing this case to a successful conclusion," he said. "My thoughts remain with the survivor, whose life has been forever impacted by this horrific assault. While no verdict can undo the harm she endured, I hope that the guilty verdict and sentencing bring a measure of closure and allow her the opportunity to move forward.”

Chief of the Child Abuse Unit Andrew Giorilo represented the Commonwealth. Ian Benoit and Shairai Richards served as victim witness advocates on behalf of the Berkshire District Attorney's Office. The North Adams Police Department served as the lead law enforcement agency on the case.

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