Dr. Radin Named Grand Marshal of 64th Annual Fall Foliage Parade

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Dr. Len Radin has been selected as grand marshal for the upcoming 64th annual Fall Foliage parade presented by 1Berkshire.

The parade will be held in downtown North Adams on Sunday, Oct. 6, at 1 p.m. This year's parade theme is "The Wizard of Oz," both in celebration of the 80th anniversary of its Hollywood premiere, and in the promotion of the message that "there's no place like home in the Berkshires."

Dr. Radin was selected for this honor not only because of all he has done for the community, but for his enduring love for "The Wizard of Oz." He has spent more than 60 years in the theater business, including founding the nationally award-winning Drury Drama Team and serving as its volunteer director for more than 25 years.

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.