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New reserve Police Officer Alexander Morse is sworn in on Wednesday by Town Clerk Holly Meczywor.

Marijuana Cultivators Eye Adams

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Interim Town Administrator Donna Cesan, right, fills in the board on current affairs.
ADAMS, Mass. — The town will be approached by a company that wants to establish a marijuana grow facility on Howland Avenue.
 
Interim Town Administrator Donna Cesan said representatives from LC Squared will meet with the board in the near future to discuss developing a grow facility at 173 Howland Ave.
 
"They want to discuss their plan and they have indicated a desire to move forward quickly," Cesan said. "As you know it is a bit of the wild west out there. There is a lot of jockeying, but I was impressed with this company."
 
Cesan said the company has secured the 40,000 square foot building that was formally Berkshire Outdoor and that plans are to renovate the facility.
 
Mission Massachusetts has already been given permission to operate a retail facility, also on Howland Avenue, and the town is currently formalizing a host community agreement with it.
 
Cesan said the LC Squared group has connections with Mission Massachusetts and with a proposed facility in North Adams, is looking to supply product to retailers throughout the county.
 
She added that she was happy to see development in that part of town. 
 
"We are excited to see investment in that corridor and I think that is very important for the town in the future," she said. "So I look forward to the discussion."
 
In other business, the town received $550,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to replace the heating and air conditioning system in the Memorial Building. 
 
Chairman John Duval said the Memorial Building subcommittee will meet soon to discuss the project.
 
The Selectmen also ratified the appointment of reserve Police Officer Alexander Morse, who will help fill out the growing Adams Police Department reserve officer pool.
 
"We found him to be a very impressive young man with very thoughtful answers," Police Chief Richard Tarsa said. "He presented him himself well and I think he will be a great police officer for the department and for the town as a whole."
 
Morse is from Buckland but currently lives in North Adams. He graduated from Fitchburg State University with a criminal justice degree. He also is a graduate of the Franklin County Reserve Academy and interned with the state police.
 
Cesan, who also interviewed Morse, said it was a pleasure to meet him and welcomed him to the town.
 
"It was a pleasure to interview him his responses were excellent," Cesan said. "He is a very thoughtful individual."
 
Because of the mandates Civil Service places on new hires, the department had a difficult time maintaining full staffing but since the town has dissolved its affiliation with Civil Service, the department has regularly been bringing on new officers.

Tags: Adams Police,   marijuana,   

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State Celebrates Agriculture Day with Farmland Preservation Funding, Youth Council Announcement

BOSTON.—Governor Maura Healey has declared March 18, 2025, as Massachusetts Agriculture Day. The event, held at the State House, highlighted the contributions of farmers, growers, and agricultural groups to the state's food supply and natural resource protection.
 
"We stand with our incredible farmers every day, and today we are proudly celebrating their hard work and resilience. Through every challenge they face, these farmers cultivate the crops that feed our families and strengthen our communities. Their dedication ensures that fresh, local food reaches every table," said Governor Maura Healey. "At a time of immense uncertainty at the federal level, Massachusetts is fully committed to delivering the support, programs and resources that empower our farmers to grow, expand and succeed."
 
The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced over $5 million in funding to permanently protect nearly 400 acres of farmland across eight farms through the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program. Shaker Farm in Richmond completed an APR project in 2024.
 
An additional $500,000 will be allocated to assist existing APR farmers in restoring previously unsuitable land.
 
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner Ashley Randle announced the new members of the Massachusetts Agricultural Youth Council. The council, now in its second year, comprises 15 high school students selected to discuss agricultural issues, learn about the legislative process and workforce development, and attend industry events. Olivia Silvernail from Hoosac Valley was selected to serve on the council.
 
Commissioner Randle also declared 2025 as the Year of Youth in Agriculture, aimed at increasing youth involvement in farming. The declaration will provide opportunities to highlight young adult voices in agriculture through events and partnerships with organizations such as 4-H and FFA.
 
"Youth engagement in agriculture has been one of our top priorities at MDAR so I’m delighted to welcome in a new class of leaders who will help shape the future of agriculture and especially want to thank our inaugural class for their contributions and involvement over the past year," said MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle. "While there are always challenges in farming and agriculture, I’m optimistic that our future looks bright with the amount of interest we’ve seen in our students who share the same values we all have in making sure we continue to grow and nurture a rich and diverse industry. Through our farmland protection programs, we’ll make sure that when the next generation of farmers take their place in shaping the agricultural landscape, they will have access to farmland here in Massachusetts so they can make their mark."
 
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