Letter: Breen Has Right Experience for North Adams Council

To the Editor:

Well, I just voted, and I gave my first vote for City Council to Pete Breen. Why, you ask?

No other new candidate has the experience and devotion and has been as generous with their time. Over the past 40 years, Pete has served on many boards and commissions. He has worked for a variety of employers including MCLA, where Pete was a facilitator and instructor for technology and curriculum development and assistant registrar. Pete took that experience over into the town of Adams, where he implemented the town's entire computer system, serving as the town's technology administrator. Pete then went farther south, where he was a member of the adjunct faculty at BCC for four years.

Shifting gears into education, Pete taught computer science at Hoosac Valley for 12 years, while also serving in the district office and as the pupil transportation officer.

David Willette
North Adams, Mass.

Downed Line Slows North Adams Traffic, Closes Restaurant

Staff Reports 07:14PM / Tuesday, May 05, 2026

Wire & Alarm Inspector Mitchell Meranti works to disconnect the line to get it out of the roadway. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A tractor-trailer truck took down an electrical line on State Street, closing the road for an hour and Grazie for several days. 

 

The incident occurred just past 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday as the daily rush hour was about to start. Northbound traffic was detoured at Hodges Cross Road and southbound traffic was allowed through, using the driveway of Automan Sam to get around the line. 

 

The line came down across both lanes until Wire and Alarm Inspector Mitchell Meranti was able to disconnect it from the pole outside Automan Sam's.

 

The automotive accessories store and the restaurant both lost power, but Grazie owner Matt Tatro described the damage as a "face punch" on Facebook. 

 

The line was pulled off the restaurant taking out the power, a new mini split air conditioning unit and sign. 

 

"We will need a couple days (hopefully) to get back in game day form.  We apologize that we will be closed tomorrow and Thursday to hopefully get the place back in shape. No power, internet, etc. All wires sheared off," the restaurant posted on its Facebook page. 

 

The restaurant's tentative reopening is Friday.