CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Martha Coakley, attorney general and a candidate for U.S. Senate, on Friday endorsed Dick Alcombright for mayor of North Adams.
"I am proud to endorse Dick Alcombright for mayor of North Adams," said Coakley. "I grew up in North Adams and the future of the city means a great deal to me. I went to grammar school with Dick Alcombright. I know his character, his strong work ethic and his great sense of humor. When Dick pledges to the citizens of North Adams that he will be open and accountable to the taxpayers, he means what he says. I would also like to thank John Barrett for his 26 years of service."
"I am delighted to have the support of U.S. Senate candidate Martha Coakley in my race to become the next mayor of the city of North Adams," said Alcombright. "Martha and I have known one another for decades and our families have worked hard for the benefit of this city and its residents."
Coakley, 56, was raised in North Adams. She is a graduate of Williams College in Williamstown, where she was a member of the first class admitted to the college that included female students. She received her law degree from Boston University School of Law in 1979. Coakley resides in Medford with her husband, Thomas F. O'Connor, a retired police Deputy Superintendent.
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If, like Bo Peabody's wife and Coakley, you want money taken from our schools to start a charter school that we didn't ask for and that's only for certain kids, endorse Alcombright. If you want a Mayor who cares about all of our citizens, and is tough and who fights for us, vote John Barrett.
If you want a mayor who has stalled progress and will continue to do so stay with Barrett. We don't need 2 more years of the Barrett administrations fall from grace.
We have to understand that Charter Schools are here, and they aren't going anywhere. Our children now attend BArT (whether you like the concept or not)... We need a mayor that will support our children at these schools. Dick Alcombright is that man.
Dick (as well as most of us) understand that the state-dictated methods for paying for charter schools are broken, and need to be fixed. He will work to do that. But the fact is, that we need to support our kids, and that means supporting BArT.
Once again the Transcript has failed the citizens of this community in not carrying out its mission to each and everyone of us. That mission is to report the news of public interest in a timely and unbias manner. This leads one to believe that the importance of the press in the democratic process has been violated, resulting in a total destruction of the Transcripts credibility. No matter who you support for Mayor, it is an blatant attack on the people of North Adams in reporting news fairly and in a balanced manner.
This was posted at 3 am on a Saturday. The Transcript goes to press at midnight on Friday to put out Saturday's paper. The next paper they put out is Monday's. This story was in Monday's paper, what else do you want?
Editor: To clarify, this was received in the afternoon and I had planned on writing a story or column, but had an obligation in Pittsfield. After working for hours afterward to catch up on other stuff, realized I hadn't dealt with the endorsement so posted it as is. Yes, I was working that late.
Adams COA, Town Seek Funds for Memorial Building Bathrooms
By Brian RhodesiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — The Council on Aging is still waiting to transition its programming from the Visitor Center to the Memorial Building and is looking to the Community Development Department for help.
The COA has been waiting for additional bathroom facilities to be completed for the facility, but the council and the town have so far been unable to obtain grant or other funding for the work.
COA Director Sarah Fontaine said they are working with Community Development to find funds for the bathrooms and other small improvements, including increased entrance accessibility, renovations to the former music room and fixed windows.
"I had voiced my concern. It's a very extensive list, I don't expect that it will all be done before we transition over. The only need is the bathrooms," Fontaine said.
At last week's Board of Selectmen meeting, Community Development Director Eammon Coughlin said he looked into using Community Development Block Grant funds for the project. He said, however, that the Memorial Building is ineligible.
"The guidance we received from [the state Department of Housing and Community Development] has basically told us that the building is ineligible for funding because we already received funding in 2018," he said. "There has to be five years between the application for senior-center type projects. So based on that guidance, I don't believe Memorial School is eligible for funding."
Fontaine also mentioned the auditorium in the building, which the town plans to renovate separately as a future capital project.
"It would be nice as a senior center to have the auditorium available for guest lectures and other things like that," she said.
Moving staff to the Memorial Building now while keeping programming at the Visitor Center, Fontaine said, is not an option. She noted that the Hoosac Valley Regional School District had previously expressed interest in using the second floor of the Visitor Center for its office space.
"I was very firm in saying, logistically, it's hard for us to manage things just being upstairs. It's going to be very difficult if we're off site to try and manage programs downstairs," she said.
In other business:
The Council on Aging is looking for volunteers to fill vacancies on its advisory board. It filled one of the vacancies on Wednesday, appointing Barbara Ziemba. Ziemba, an active participant in the COA, had already filled out the paperwork needed for her appointment.
"I have attended many COA activities, volunteer, and am a member of the Friends of the Council on Aging and attend meetings. I have been interested in being a member of the Board of Directors for some time. Please consider my appointment to the board," Ziemba wrote, explaining in her paperwork why she was interested in the position.
The group also discussed two other vacancies on the board and potential candidates to fill them. Two members have been unable to attend recent meetings for health reasons.
The board voted to approve updated bylaws. The bylaws were revised and written primarily by Board Member Elizabeth Mach.
"I just wanted to make a comment, or rather an appreciation, for Liz for taking this project on," Fontaine said.
The new bylaws have a provision to allow honorary members. Fontaine said there are currently no honorary members.
The board appointed Bruce Shepley as the board's chair to replace Barbara Lagowski, who filled one of the now vacant member seats.
Emergency responders and officials from across the county came to the former Memorial School building Saturday morning to participate in active shooter and hostile event response (ASHER) training. click for more
