Adams Picks Select Board Candidates; Cheshire Nixes Appointed Assessor

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story
ADAMS, Mass. — Voters chose incumbent John Duval and newcomer Ann Bartlett for the two open seats on the Selectmen.
 
Bartlett, a co-owner of the former Red Carpet Diner, garnered the most votes at 791, more than 300 above the other three challengers, and Duval was returned for another three-year term with 685.
 
Incumbent Howard Rosenberg's decision sparked a five-way race for the two seats. Coming in third was Jerome Socolof with 465, Mitchell Wisniowski with 446 and former board member Donald Sommer with 367.
 
All results are unofficial.
 
Wisniowski did win a seat on the Parks Commission and Michael Mach outpolled challenger Timothy Kitchell Jr. 887-407 to stay on the Planning Board. 
 
Frederick Lora appears to have bested Jennifer Solak as Adams representative to the Hoosac Valley Regional School District by 10 votes. The unofficial tally is 814-804, with Lora gaining 674 votes to Solak's 620 in Adams; the voted flipped in Cheshire with Solak winning 184-140 but not enough to overcome the gap. Robert Tetlow Jr., running unopposed, was returned as the Cheshire representative. 
 
Write-ins for Board of Health and Redevelopment Authority, which had no candidates, were still being tallied. 
 
Town Clerk Haley Meczywor, running unopposed for another three-year term, earned the highest number of votes at 1,335, just seven more than Eugene Michalenko, who was running with James Loughman for re-election to the library trustees. Also returned to office were Moderator Myra Wilk, Assessor Paula Wheeler, Mary Ciuk and James J. Fassell for Parks Commission; and Bruce Dale Shepley for Cemetery Commission and McCan School Committee. 
 
Turnout was about 22 percent with 1,465 of the town's 6,574 registered voters going to the polls. 
 
In Cheshire, a ballot vote on making the town assessor an appointed rather than elected position was roundly defeated 152-219. The question would also have been on the town warrant.
 
Shawn McGrath and Raymond Killeen were re-elected to three-year terms on the Select Board with 257 and 234 votes, respectively; coming in third was Mark Biagini with 204. 
 
Assessor Kellie Lahey, Board of Health member Brian Trudeau, Cemetery Commissioner Timothy Garner, Water Commissioner Ricky Gurney and Planning Board member Peter Traub were re-elected unopposed. 
 
Whitney Flynn received 55 votes for town clerk on an empty ballot to replace Christine Emerson, who retired.

Tags: election 2024,   town elections,   


If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Adams Marks 250 Years of the Declaration With History, Hope and Look Toward the Future

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

George Washington (Joseph Nowak) addresses the gathering at the Greylock Glen. Look for more photos later. 
ADAMS, Mass. — On July 18, 1776, the first reading of the Declaration of Independence was held in Massachusetts. 
 
Now 250 years later, the reading not only stands as a reminder of the country's history but also serves as a beacon of hope for change. 
 
On Saturday, hundreds of people gathered at the Greylock Glen Outdoor Center, nestled at the base of Mount Greylock, the tallest mountain in all of southern New England. The clouds rolled over and rain came pouring down but that did not dampen the voices of the people. 
 
Dressed as George Washington, Selectman and Adams 250 committee founder Joseph Nowak was handed the Declaration of Independence, by two horsewomen played by Kathy Foley and Donna Digrigoli of Aisling Mountain Farm. 
 
Sections of the Declaration were read by resident Christian Rowe; re-enactor Michael Duncan Smith; retired historian Barry Emery as Thomas Jefferson; and the Stafford Hill Boys, Ken Milman and Ed Chase, who are descendants of Deacon Stephen Carpenter, who fought in the Battle of Bennington.
 
As it was read, history and the present stood together, with reenactors dressed in period clothing alongside Adams American Legion veterans, dressed in modern day regalia — a demonstration of how history and present are forever intertwined. 
 
"We were given the roles of speaking the grievances, and the original writers of the Declaration made it very clear that it was the duty of the people to petition in redress for grievances against the governing authorities," Chase said. 
 
View Full Story

More Adams Stories