Henderson Road winds steeply into the hills above Williamstown, rising among pastures and woods, bucolic and secluded.
But the focus is on rural Henderson Road, in particular on the farmhouse down a long driveway where Jane Swift, now acting governor, will be conducting considerable state business.
Reporters have reconnoitered, swarmed, and in some cases, launched incursions onto the property.
Swift took on the governorship — although her title remains acting governor — yesterday, when Gov. Paul Cellucci officially left his state post to assume the post of U.S. ambassador to Canada.
Swift, a hometown girl, brought up in North Adams and a resident of Williamstown, has commuted to the farm here as lieutenant governor. But Swift, 36, is the mother of a toddler, and is expecting twins in June, so telecommuting is likely to be part of her program.
Residents had varying reactions.
“She’s quite the topic of conversation,†said Claire Morrison, who lives at 191 Henderson Road, downhill from the farmhouse Swift shares with husband Charles Hunt at number 580.
“Certainly, we’ve seen state troopers going up and down the hill,†said Morrison.
Selectman Charles Schlesinger, who lives at number 617, said, “Even though we’re right across the street, they have a long driveway, so we’re not going to be too aware of traffic.
“It’s still a quiet neighborhood,†said Schlesinger. “I’ve heard a couple of rumors [about reporters barging around], but they’re just rumors.
“What’ll happen when the office moves out here I don’t know, but it’s a long driveway, and there’ll be plenty of parking for them,†added Schlesinger.
Alice Godfrey, longtime harness racing owner and trainer, said, “I can’t foresee any great changes, but we’re living in different sections of the same house. Jane is married to my nephew, so she’s part of the family.
“Even at that, I see no reason why there should ever be any change, no more than with anyone else who has moved up on the hill. I see nothing different,†said Godfrey.
Asked about reporters making unauthorized forays, and appearing unannounced, and unwelcome outside the windows, Godfrey responded, “We have already had our share. You can’t escape it. But I think most of them have realized they overstepped their boundary.
“Things here haven’t changed because Jane’s here, and she’s still Jane, totally down-to-earth.â€
Marcia Gross, who is director of the North Adams Public Library and lives at 651 Henderson Road, said, “I haven’t seen any activity. It’s still a quiet neighborhood.â€
Carol DeMayo of Bonnie Lea Farm on North Street said she had been called by a television station asking her thoughts about Jane’s ability to run the state from Williamstown, and combining children and the state’s top job.
“I kept thinking, ‘When did they last ask a guy these questions?’ †said DeMayo, adding that Swift’s husband will be at home with the children.
“Jane’s always been around; it’s not like she’s new,†said DeMayo. “It’ll settle down and they’ll get along with the fact that she’s the first woman governor. It’s exciting for all of us women. They’ll be off to something new, and she’ll be raising her children and running the state.â€
Steve Lawson, director of the Williamstown Film Festival, who lives at 145 Henderson Road, said, “What I hope will happen is the reverse of what you might expect. I’d love it if they would put more potholes in Henderson Road to slow the traffic down.â€
Selectmen Chairman Margaret Johnson Ware said, “The town is thrilled that the state’s governor is going to be a resident of our community — of course she was already a resident of our community, but now she’s governor.
“She’s putting together a very unique set of support systems to allow her to do her job long distance,†said Ware.
“Anything we can do to facilitate her job, whether it’s by providing office space in Town Hall, or running interference, we’re glad to do,†she said.
One resident of Henderson Road, who did not want to be identified, noted that the town had, years ago, accustomed itself to the presence in town, on South Street, of the family of the Shah of Iran.
“I don’t think there has to be a fuss made about celebrity. Of course, Jane Swift is a celebrity because she holds high political office, but we have many celebrities in town; for example, the Williamstown Theatre Festival,†she said. “If people just keep their heads about it, we should be able to handle anything that comes.
“Of course, reporters change the flavor of the neighborhood. I wouldn’t like to see busloads of cameramen staked out at the foot of her driveway.â€
Chief of Police Arthur Parker said, “We have enhanced some things that were already in place due to her elevation to governor. I don’t anticipate any drastic changes.â€
“The department can appreciate the fact that she is a public figure, but her family should be shielded,†said Parker. “She’s the public official, her family members aren’t. I hope people continue to respect that.â€
A spokesman for the governor’s office, John Birtwell, said, “A couple of stories in the Boston Globe and the Herald indicated that Jane Swift will be taking advantage of telecommuting, and I anticipate that this will probably be the case. The technology is in place, and presently she’s taking greater advantage of the computer.â€
Birtwell said Swift will, in her later pregnancy, “abide by her doctor’s advice.
“She’s doing well,†he said. “She’s going to take it day by day.â€
North Adams Mayor John Barrett III, a Swift supporter, hailed the shift of influence from Boston to the Berkshires.
“Let the press get out of Boston, and see what it’s like in the real world,†said Barrett, speaking from a cell phone on his way back to North Adams from yesterday’s swearing-in.
“They can see there is life outside Route 495,†said Barrett. “That’s what it’s going to do.â€
“There’s a preconceived notion that you can’t govern the state from more than a mile outside Boston, but it’s probably good for everybody, for her to be out in the Berkshires,†said Barrett, a democrat who received some criticism from his own party for his support of Swift.
“I always point to Warren Buffet, who made his money in Omaha, Nebraska, not by being on Wall Street,†said Barrett.
“Jane Swift doesn’t have to be in Boston to run the state. This is a new day and age, new technology, Internet access,†he said.
“What I think it’s going to do is bring attention to the area,†said Barrett. “I think it’s great. I can’t wait until there are press conferences out of City Hall in North Adams, MASS MoCA, or Mass. College of Liberal Arts. It’s certainly going to help the area.â€
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Companion Corner: Weber at No Paws Left Behind
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There's a young cat waiting for a family to play with him.
iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.
Weber is a 10-month-old domestic shorthair. He has been at No Paws Left Behind since November.
Volunteer Claire Morin introduced us to him.
"He came in with an abundance of cats that were in a crowded situation in the home," she said. "Most of his brothers and sisters are gone, but Weber is still here."
Weber loves the attention and if you aren't giving him enough he will let you know.
"Weber is very, very sweet. As you can see, he's very needy for attention. He loves his treats, and he can get a little overstimulated. He's very attention seeking. And if you don't give him attention right away, he nips at you a little bit, not a bite, more like a tender here I am — pay attention to me," Morin said. "But he's very engaging, and he's a very, very sweet boy."
The city has lifted a boil water order — with several exceptions — that was issued late Monday morning following several water line breaks over the weekend. click for more
