Former Berkshire County Commissioner, Paul Babeu, is suing a former priest, accusing him of sexual abuse.
The suit was recently filed by Babeu who now lives in Arizona. It is the eleventh lawsuit filed this year against the Rev. Richard Lavigne.
Springfield Diocese Bishop Thomas Dupre has begun proceedings to defrock Lavigne, who recently completed a ten-year probation sentence.
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North Adams UNO Art Club Extends Into Year-Round Community Program
Staff Reports
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Clark Art Institute in Williamstown is expanding the summer program UNO Drop-In Art Club into a weekly, 50-week program for local youth ages 8 to 19, thanks to a new two-year grant from the W.L.S. Spencer Foundation.
Starting Wednesday, Oct. 7, the club reopens its doors at the UNO Community Center (157 River St., North Adams) with extended hours every week from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The UNO Art Club first took root in 2022, founded by local volunteers and supported by the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition as a safe, welcoming space for kids to explore their creativity. In 2024, NBCC sought new partners to keep the program running and joined forces with the Clark and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.
Over the past two summers, staff from all three organizations have guided kids through hands-on projects — from clay sculpture and origami to collage and self-portraiture — often inspired by ongoing exhibitions at the museums.
Now, with leadership from the Clark, this grant will allow the program to grow, not only with expanded hours and a year-round schedule, but also to support a paid intern to lead the weekly activities.
Additional benefits of the grant: The Clark will provide rides directly from the UNO Community Center so participants can attend major community events, including First Sundays Free and the annual Community Day. Youth will also take field trips to the Clark, Mass MoCA, and neighboring arts venues across the region.
The 13th president of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts was formally installed on Saturday and challenged the college community to "love your students to success."
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The North Adams Housing Authority Board of Commissioners will hold a grievance hearing with the Tenants Association to discuss retaliatory actions allegedly committed by the executive director. click for more
The brisket contest actually started at about 10:30 p.m. on Thursday night, as some smokers — like the North Adams Fire Department — fired up their charcoal for the long cooking process.
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