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The Board of Selectmen confirmed the appointment of two police officers last week.

Adams Appoints Two More Police Officers

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Reserve Police Officer Christopher Lampiasi is introduced to the board by Chief Richard Tarsa, right, on Wednesday. 
ADAMS, Mass. — The Selectmen have approved the ratification of a new reserve officer and a special police officer.
 
The Selectmen were happy to appoint new reserve Officer Christopher Lampiasi and special Police Officer Robert Mallet to the department Wednesday.
 
New appointments have been a regular event in the past year after the town dissolved the cumbersome Civil Service that limited who the town could hire.
 
Police Chief Richard Tarsa said Lampiasi is an Adams resident. He listed some of his credentials and said he has been through the reserve academy. He currently works for Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' campus security and is a part time officer in Peru.
 
He said he has also worked as an emergency medical technician and brings this first responder experience.
 
"He brings a lot of enthusiasm .. .he is a big advocate for community policing," Tarsa said. "I firmly believe he will be an asset to the department and the town."
 
Tarsa said Mallet has worked as a provisional officer for Adams in the past and will work as a special officer which means he will only be able to work the desk, security, and traffic detail.
 
Tarsa said Mallet retired at the rank of captain after 39 years with the Berkshire County sheriff's department. 
 
He said he is up to date on all his credentials and qualifications and will be an asset to the town. 
 
"He has always given back to the community: 39 years with the sheriff's department and he has given back as a teacher and coach among other things," Tarsa said. "He is the epitome of community service and he wants to continue that as long as possible and we are excited to have him."
 
The Selectmen also appointed Natasha Bordeaux to the Conservation Commission to fill the seat vacated by Corey Bishop earlier this summer.
 
"We are happy to have someone interested because we currently have a vacancy," Hoyt said.
 
Bordeaux said she has always been interested in agriculture and, in high school, used to work on a dairy farm. She said she currently helps run Burnett farm with her fiance. 
 
"I am always interested in that stuff I am very passionate about agriculture," she said.
 
The board was happy Bordeaux stepped forward and were excited to see a younger person interested in town government.
 
Selectman Joseph Nowak requested that Bordeaux attend some of the trainings to get up to speed because of the importance of the commission and possible liabilities that can fall back on the town.
 
He did say, as a former commissioner, he would be happy to help get her up to speed.
 
Nowak also asked that the town look into developing a bylaw for mini homes.
 
"I think we have to take a quick look at that especially with premiere maker of them right in town," he said.
 

Special Police Officer Robert Mallet was confirmed by the board. 
This year, B&B Micro Manufacturing relocated to Adams at the former Brown Packaging building. The company builds high-quality mini houses.
 
Chairwoman Chirstine Hoyt said she thought it was on Community Development’s radar but Town Administrator Jay Green said he would follow up.
 
In liaison reports, Nowak said he attended a Zoning Board of Appeals meeting and said an application for a proposed organic coffee shop on Commercial Street has been withdrawn.
 
He said the owners indicated that they were not prepared to begin renovations — specifically in the bathrooms.
 
The zoning board tabled the application without prejudice just in case the applicants want to pick up the project again.
 
Nowak did add that the ZBA is in need of members and is short at least one full member.
 
Hoyt added that the Board of Health is also in need of a new member because Bruce Shepley has resigned.
 
"He has served since 2015 and has done so very well," she said. "His service on the board will be missed"
 
Hoyt said his term would have run out in 2021 and the town needs to figure out how to appoint another member.
 
She noted Shepley still plans to serve in other capacities on other town boar ds and commissions he is involved with. 

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Hoosac Valley High School is Moving and Shaking

There have been some major shifts within the Hoosac Valley Regional School District recently, all of which have focused on enhancing the student experience to make it a place where ALL students can find their path.
 
In 2023, Hoosac Valley High School was designated an Innovation Pathway School by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and has since restructured the Program of Studies, utilized creative scheduling, and expanded internship opportunities. Part of this transformation includes participating in a "Portrait of a Graduate" cohort alongside four other Berkshire County schools to determine a collective vision for student success, in partnership with the BARR Foundation.
 
The Innovation Pathways at HVHS are designed to give students coursework and experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as technology, engineering, healthcare, or life sciences. Currently, Biomedical Science & Healthcare and Environmental Studies have received official state IP designation. In addition to the IP designated pathways, HVHS offers programs in Engineering & Technology, Business & Entrepreneurship, Arts & Entertainment, Education, and Sports Medicine. The result is that students have an opportunity for a transformative experience – enabling them to build essential skills, gain awareness of future career opportunities, and make informed choices about post-secondary education in promising fields.
 
Principal Colleen Byrd notes, "What makes our program special is that entry into the Pathway of your choice allows a student to access Advanced Placement and dual enrollment college courses, as well as internships in the community to set them up for success after high school."
 
The Portrait of a Graduate initiative consists of a team of Hoosac educators and students who exemplify the essential skills, practices, and beliefs that define learning experiences across the district. They work to outline the competencies, values, skills, and knowledge that define our vision for student success – keeping in mind that not every student's pathway will look the same. The District's goal is to ensure that all students graduate as responsible people, prepared individuals, lifelong learners, global citizens, critical thinkers, and thoughtful communicators.
 
Another recent change district-wide in grades K-12 is the "Crew" culture. Teachers and students now have time each day to create positive connections and build authentic relationships with one another. Through Responsive Classroom at the elementary school and Crew at the middle and high schools, students and staff gather for 30 minutes each day to engage in meaningful experiences rooted in mutual and shared interests. 
The Crew block is a prioritized structure that allows staff to support all students socially, emotionally, and academically – anchoring them and promoting the Portrait of a Graduate competencies. Crew takes many forms at the high school, such as gardening, bird watching, yoga, and sports talk with visits to college games.
 
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