Youth Coalition Director Wants to Fullfill Promises

By Jen ThomasPrint Story | Email Story
ADAMS - Jacquie Betti, the new director of the Adams-Cheshire-Savoy Youth Coalition, has big plans for the future. "My main goal for this year is to get the community more aware and more involved in Adams, Cheshire and Savoy youth," said Betti on Thursday afternoon in her new office at Adams Memorial Middle School. "I want to get into the communities, get into the businesses, and get them to sign on for the kids." Formerly run by AmeriCorps fellows, the ACS Youth Coalition acts as an umbrella agency for area youth organizations, helping to facilitate programs among several different groups and acting as a general support system. Starting in August, the coalition was able to hire a full-time director and Betti has worked it into her job description to draw more attention to the agency. "I'd like to keep going in the direction it was going, but I'd like to make the coalition more visible and strengthen the practices already in place," she said. Those practices include fulfilling the "Five Promises," five developmental resources as outlined by the America's Promise Alliance, which grew out of the 1997 Presidents' Summit for America's Future. The promises youth need to lead healthy and productive lives are caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, effective education and opportunities to help others. "The Five Promises are the key to the organization and it is a known fact that the more promises in children's lives, the better they'll do," Betti said. Most of the coalition's initiatives are geared toward the Five Promises, whether it's providing safe after-school space at the drop-in center at Youth Center Inc. or finding mentors. Betti's motivation to involve the community is a way to directly put the promises into practice. "I'm hoping I can get a commitment from businesses for sponsoring youth either in theory or financially," she said. "I'm looking to get something like a decal for businesses to put in windows so that kids can feel safe on the streets. They would know to go to the places with decals if they feel in danger or if they just need to call their parents." With more than 80 member organizations promoted, the coalition is looking to expand its board of directors, especially with members from Cheshire and Savoy. Currently, the ACS Youth Coalition board has 13 members. With a new home at the middle school, Betti said she'll be able to get a better idea of what programs will best benefit area children. "It's an advantage being here amongst a target group; middle school is a critical age for reaching out to kids and I can get direct feedback from them," she said. "I can ask 'what are your needs that aren't being met?' This is the group we don't want to feel like they're floundering out there. We want them to feel like there are great programs and great places to be." With plans to expand in the future, Betti intends to be a driving force behind the coalition's forward motion. "I'm going to be more visible," she said. "I'm not making an impact sitting in an office." Jen Thomas can be reached at jthomas@iberkshires.com
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Adams Man Gets 20 Years for Child Sex Assault

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An Adams man has been sentenced to 15 to 20 years in state prison for sexually assaulting a child. 
 
Michael Hiser, 39, was found guilty by a Superior Court jury on June 11 of single counts of aggravated indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and indecent exposure; two counts of posing or exhibiting a child in the nude, and three counts of photographing an unsuspecting nude child.
 
He was sentenced on Tuesday to prison for the aggravated indecent assault, with further sentencing of eight to 10 years for the indecent assault, four to five for the photographing and 2 1/2 for indecent exposure, all to be served concurrently. Hiser was also sentenced to five years probation on the posing or exhibiting charge, with conditions not to contact or go near the victim and no unsupervised contact with minors. He will have to register with the Sex Offender Registry Board and take sex offender treatment. 
 
Investigators found that from approximately 2020 to 2022, Hiser would sneak into the victim's room at night to inappropriately photogram and touch them inappropriately. Additionally, he would follow the victim around the house and photograph them with inappropriate intent. An additional incident involved the defendant acting in a sexual manner in the presence of the minor and the investigators found multiple explicit images of the victim on Hiser's phone.
 
"Cases of child abuse and child sexual abuse shake the foundation of our community," said Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue. "Today justice has been served on behalf of a child who survived unimaginable abuse. While the guilty verdict and lengthy sentence do not take away any of the horrific crimes the defendant committed, I hope today provides an opportunity for both the child and their family to move forward."
 
Chief of the Child Abuse Unit Andrew Giarolo represented the commonwealth and Associate Director of Victim Witness Advocates Kristen Rapkowicz served as the victim witness advocate on behalf of the DA's Office. The Adams Police Department with assistance from a Williamstown Police Department's Berkshire Law Enforcement Task Force digital evidence unit officer led the investigation.
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