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The town of Adams will open its recreation fields on Thursday but with limitations on numbers and uses.

Adams Reopening Parks Thursday With Several Restrictions

By Jeff SnoonianiBerkshires Staff
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Code Enforcement Officer Mark Blaisdell discusses the Phase 2 rules and regulations for the reopening of parks and recreational areas.
ADAMS, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen on Wednesday took some more steps toward a return to a "new normal."
 
The past few weeks have seen on-site retail sales return and patio seating reopen, followed by a socially distanced form of inside dining for restaurants.
 
Wednesday night the board, with guidance from Code Enforcement Officer Mark Blaisdell, took the necessary steps to reopen parks and open spaces. 
 
The Selectmen ordered all parks and open spaces closed on March 29 until further notice because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They rescinded that order on Wednesday night in accordance with Phase 2 of the state's reopening plan. 
 
Parks will be able to reopen Thursday, June 25, at 8 a.m. For softball and baseball coaches and kids, this is a welcome respite from backyard Wiffle ball or hitting off a tee in the basement into a pile of laundry. The reopening does come with several caveats however.
 
Pursuant to the state's Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, there are several limitations in place. First and foremost is that games or scrimmages will not be allowed. It will be practice only and groups will be limited to 12 participants including coaches.
 
Contact sports of any kind are still not allowed and practices of these must be conditioning only and still adhere to the guidelines set forth by the state EEA. According to the EEA, contact sports include basketball, football, soccer, field hockey and others "where ordinary play puts players in direct contact or close proximity."
 
The president of Adams-Cheshire-Savoy Softball, Lou Moser, was attending the meeting remotely and afterward said the girls are excited for the change.
 
"ACS girls softball is eager and excited to see our players get back to a degree of normalcy where they can smile and laugh 'face to face' with their friends," he said. The league will also be requesting space at Cheshire Elementary's fields.
 
Any group looking to use Valley Street, Renfrew or Reid fields must fill out a facility use request and also have a health and safety plan in place. Paperwork can be found on the town website and the entire list of rules and regulations can be found on Mass.gov.
 
All kids, whether participating in an organized league or just playing on the jungle gyms must be supervised at all times. Selectman Joseph Nowak said he hopes parents stay vigilant so the parks can remain open.
 
"It's only going to be as successful as the adults that are going to be taking care of the kids. I worry about young kids being carriers, perhaps they'll go home [with no symptoms] and pass it on to their parents or grandparents," he said. "I'm glad the activity that is going to be taking place is run by adults so that all the rules are followed."
 
Russell Field was not mentioned during the reopening discussions as reconstruction will begin in earnest July 20. The roughly half-million dollar project will effectively close the field for the entirety of 2020. The Department of Public Works has been performing preliminary work clearing the way for Mountain View Landscapes and Lawncare from Chicopee to begin the total rehabilitation. 
 
Chairwoman Christine Hoyt announced that the town is looking to fill several empty seats on a couple of important boards. The recent resignation of Jake Levesque has left the Parks Commission with only three members out of its usual five. All three would need to be present for any vote to happen and given the expected uptick in applications because of the parks reopening, she thought it was crucial to fill the two empty seats. 
 
The Zoning Board of Appeals is short one regular member as well as two alternates. Any appointment would be until next year's town election and anyone interested can contact Town Hall or visit the website. 
 
The board entered executive session to discuss the potential contract of newly appointed interim Police Chief Troy Bacon. They were expected to approve the contract when they reconvened. Pending the contract being finalized and passing a physical, Bacon is expected to start before current Chief Richard Tarsa retires on July 13.

Tags: playing fields,   public parks,   


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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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