The Airport Commission are given an operations update on Tuesday.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Controversial skydiving instructor Alex Kelly has canceled his lease and will no longer operate at the airport.
Administrative Assistant Michael Canales informed the commission Tuesday that Kelly will no longer operate at Harriman-West Airport and has left the grounds.
"As of last week, Mr. Kelly has withdrawn from his lease of the airport classroom space and has withdrawn from operating at the airport effective now," he said. "We no longer consider him a tenant at the airport."
Canales did not provide the commission a reason for Kelly's exit nor did they ask.
The commission had voted to allow Kelly, a convicted rapist, to use the newly renovated city hangar in June over vocal protests from other tenants and airport users.
The commissioners had taken several months to make their decision, saying it was because they were revamping the lease structures. Kelly has long alleged that the commission was dragging its feet to keep him out.
The vote did not come without controversy and meetings were highly attended with residents vehemently against Kelly's presence at the airport. The so-called "preppy racist" was charged with assaulting two women in the 1980s, although other women have also accused him, and then went on the run in Europe for nearly a decade before surrendering to authorities. He was convicted and later released early from his 17-year sentence.
Kelly had been operating in Bennington, Vt., and sought to move to North Adams while that airport was under reconstruction. In October, his lease for Green Mountain Skydiving at William H. Morse State Airport was reportedly terminated by the Vermont Agency of Transportation because of a number of safety violations.
Canales said Kelly has left no personal property in the classroom and it will be inspected.
Kelly had agreed to maintain the hangar while there and Canales said, for the time being, he will coordinate with the airport manager to make sure upkeep will continue through the winter.
"We will get that worked out," he said. "We will come up with a plan to get us through the next couple of months."
Canales said they will look at leasing out the space again when the weather improves, and the administrative building project is complete.
He said in the meantime the hangar will act as a manager's office.
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The really scary thing is the North Adams airport commission gave Mr. Kelly the job of cleaning the restrooms. That mean he had the right enter the restrooms at any time despite his convicted sexual offender status. Scary! Any adults in the room?
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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