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North Adams Hospital Opens Walking Trails

Project manager Jennifer Munoz, right, greets hospital staff entering the trail system on Friday.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Visitors and staff at North Adams Regional Hospital can now stretch their legs in the great outdoors.

Northern Berkshire Healthcare has opened two walking trails in the woods behind the hospital and Ambulatory Care Center. The trails — a one-quarter mile loop and a nearly half-mile loop — wind along small hillside within sight of the facility.

Northern Berkshire Healthcare Trustee Ellen Bernstein of Williamstown donated the funds to clear the paths and build four bridges over ditches and wet areas. NBH President and CEO Tim Jones presented her with a walking stick on Friday before setting out with her on the path with about two dozen employees.

"Through the generosity of Ellen it really is supporting our vision for the future in the which is to be a vital partner in creating a healthy community," said Jones. "This is one of the first things that is tangible for the community to see."

The goal is to get people out of the building and walking when possible, such as during breaks or while waiting for a loved one to have a procedure. Project manager Jennifer Munoz said it was part of the hospital's goal to develop "a culture of health and wellness for employees as well as patrons."

The trails are open to the public; individuals can walk a couple miles up and down the mild incline by doing several loops.

It took the efforts of 10 employees in the facilities division about six weeks working part time to construct the bridges and clear the trails, said Director of Facilities Darryl Smith. The "brute work" of clearing was mostly done by new employees Ed Luczynski and Brandon Ansley.

The paths can support two across but while cleared, they are still woodland trails with rocks and roots. Appropriate footwear is recommended. Green ribbons mark the shorter, more level trail and orange ribbons the longer trail.

All the activities are part of the hospital's new "Greensters" team, which is also spearheading ways to reduce food waste.

The land was donated when the hospital opened in 1885.

Bernstein said she made the trails possible out of concern for the health of the community.

"It makes me sad to see so many people who don't get exercise," she said. "Who really could reverse their own health problems by adopting a healthy lifestyle."

The donation came from a family foundation created by her father, an enthusiastic walker.

"He went walking very night after dinner as long as it was not icy and horrible out," she said. "He went out after every meal and took a long walk."

Clarksburg Officials Debate Need for School Repairs, Renovations

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
05:46PM / Thursday, January 16, 2025

Select Board member Colton Andrews stands next to a bucket catching leaks as he talks to the joint gathering. 

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — School officials acknowledged that Clarksburg School is need of renovation or rebuild but declined to commit at this point to plan of action.

 

"We can't say that because it hasn't even been put out to the town," said School Committee member Cynthia Brule. "So I mean, we could say, 'yeah, I want a new school,' but it means nothing."

 

The comments had come during a joint meeting of the Select Board and School Committee last week over what to do with the leaking roof. 

 

"We're dealing with a pretty leaky roof that's affecting several classrooms," said Superintendent John Franzoni. "The leaks are continuing and impacting the classroom learning."

 

Select Board Chair Robert Norcross had pushed for the committee to make a declaration after talks with the governor's Western Mass office over the lingering $500,000 in a bond bill for the roof. 

 

He and Assistant Superintendent Tara Barnes had spoken with Kristen Elechko, Western Mass regional director, he said, and Barnes had mentioned the school could use more than a roof. 

 

"Kristen sent me an email the next day saying that I can't go for a roof if we're going to go for a new school or if we're going to go for something bigger," Norcross said. "You have to decide quickly what we want to do, because all these deadlines are coming up. So that's why I wanted to push the meeting forward and that's why I asked the Finance Committee and the Select Board to be here, because we got to make a decision tonight."