MCLA Presidential Pick Staying in Wisconsin

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — MCLA's choice for its 12th president will not be accepting the position.

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts announced on Tuesday that Greg Summers has bowed out because of personal issues.

"Dr. Summers was deeply apologetic as he was very impressed with the MCLA community. Unfortunately his family is dealing with a confluence of health issues that have recently surfaced, making it impossible for him and his family to relocate. The board was excited to have found someone of the caliber of Dr. Summers, however, we will take this in stride as MCLA is a well-led and well-managed institution," said Tyler Fairbank, chairman of college's board of trustees.

Summers was the unanimous choice of the trustees on March 5; each trustee gave him high marks, referring to his "fierce commitment to public higher education" and his easy relationship with MCLA community.

Cost, Access to NBCTC High Among Concerns North Berkshire Residents

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
06:15PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Adams Select Chair Christine Hoyt, NBCTC Executive Director David Fabiano and William Solomon, the attorney representing the four communities, talk after the session. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Public access channels should be supported and made more available to the public — and not be subject to a charge.

 

More than three dozen community members in-person and online attended the public hearing  Wednesday on public access and service from Spectrum/Charter Communications. The session at City Hall was held for residents in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg and North Adams to express their concerns to Spectrum ahead of another 10-year contract that starts in October.

 

Listening via Zoom but not speaking was Jennifer Young, director state government affairs at Charter.

 

One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly. 

 

"I don't know if everybody else feels the same way but they have a monopoly," said Clarksburg resident David Emery. "They control everything we do because there's nobody else to go to. You're stuck with with them."

 

Public access television, like the 30-year-old Northern Berkshire Community Television, is funded by cable television companies through franchise fees, member fees, grants and contributions.

 

Spectrum is the only cable provider in the region and while residents can shift to satellite providers or streaming, Northern Berkshire Community Television is not available on those alternatives and they may not be easy for some to navigate. For instance, the Spectrum app is available on smart televisions but it doesn't include PEG, the public, educational and governmental channels provided by NBCTC.