NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The year 2020 was supposed to be a year of celebration for the North Adams to mark the 125 years since it had incorporated as a city.
But the arrival of the novel coronavirus has put all those plans off now — along with a host of beloved summer activities.
The city of North Adams has made the decision to cancel all annual summer events through Labor Day. This includes the Concerts at Windsor Lake series, Movies Under the Stars at Colegrove Park, the Eagle Street Beach Party, Downtown Celebration, and the Motorama Car Show.
"I know this is a disappointing announcement. Our summer events bring people together to spend time with friends and neighbors, and to celebrate the sense and spirit of community that we hold so dear here in North Adams," said North Adams Mayor Thomas Bernard. "Like so many other communities, we're making this tough decision in the interest of public health and in light of current COVID-19 guidance. We intend and hope that all annual public events and series will resume as normal in 2021, following a safe and healthy recovery from COVID-19."
The city has yet to decide the status of fall events like the annual Fall Foliage Festival and parade.
City officials say they are hopeful that those events will be able to take place with appropriate precautions in place. The anticipated North Adams 125th Celebration has yet to be rescheduled, but will likely be pushed to late 2020 or summer 2021.
The health and safety of residents and visitors are the primary concern in making these scheduling decisions. COVID-19 is highly contagious and its full effects on the human body are still being investigated. It has caused more than 100,000 deaths nationwide and more than 6,500 in the state, includng 40 in Berkshire County.
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Clarksburg Gets 3 Years of Free Cash Certified
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Town officials have heaved a sigh of relief with the state's certification of free cash for the first time in more than three years.
The town's parade of employees through its financial offices the past few years put it behind on closing out its fiscal years between 2021 and 2023. A new treasurer and two part-time accountants have been working the past year in closing the books and filing with the state.
Some $231,000 in stabilization was used last year to reduce the tax rate — draining the account. The town's had minimal reserves for the past nine months.
Chairman Robert Norcross said he didn't want residents to think the town was suddenly flush with cash.
"We have to keep in mind that we have no money in the stabilization fund and we now have a free cash, so we have now got to replenish that account," he said. "So it's not like we have this money to spend ... most of it will go into the stabilization fund."
The account's been hit several times over the past few fiscal years in place of free cash, which has normally been used for capital spending, to offset the budget and to refill stabilization. Free cash was last used in fiscal 2020.
Officers Nicholas Lillie, Steven Wandrei, Nannette Reid and Elizabeth Zipp joined the force as full-time officers; Lillie and Wandrei recently graduated from the Police Academy.
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The proposal is to reconstruct some of the dry-laid stone retaining with new cast-in-place concrete and to relocated the existing drainage and stabilize the slope. The runoff will be tied into the storm drainage system at the bottom along State Street.
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The Airport Commission voted to re-release the request for proposals (RFP) for the airport restaurant space but only after the city formed a new and improved document. click for more