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A serious accident that injured two people closed Curran Highway for several hours.

Update: Head-On Collision on Curran Highway Turns Fatal

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Update: The district attorney's office has confirmed that George Ferris, 82, of North Adams was killed as the result of the collision on Friday.
 
The driver of the other vehicle, Ann Meier, 60, of Adams, was taken to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield and later to Baystate Medical in Springfield. Ferris was taken to BMC's emergency satellite facility in North Adams, where he later died. 
 
There were no other occupants in the vehicles. 
 
The State Police Detective Unit assigned to the DA's office is assisting in North Adams Police's investigation into a fatal collision, along with the State Police from the Cheshire barracks, the Crime Scene Services and Collision Analysis and Reconstruction sections. 
 
Ferris was a longtime barber in the city, operating Man's World Styling Salon on Marshall Street with his two brothers. 
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Original post, Friday, Oct. 30, 2020; 4:57 p.m.
 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A head-on collision on Curran Highway on Friday afternoon left one person seriously injured.
 
The crash occurred in front of North County Veterinary Hospital at about 3:30 p.m. and involved a car and a sport utility vehicle.  
 
Police Sgt. Albert Zoito said one driver was transported to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield and the other to BMC's emergency satellite facility in the city.
 
"One went south, one went north," Zoito. "He had to be stabilized. Serious, serious injuries."
 
Police, firefighters, and Northern Berkshire EMS were dispatched to the scene and the road was closed from Hodges Cross Road to the former Doran's Carpet.
 
State Police and Adams Police were also called to assist.
 
Zoito said the accident is under investigation and that the State Police accident reconstruction team was being called to assist in the investigation.
 
Reports over the scanner indicated that one of the vehicles was on fire. Zoito said this was not the case.
 
He said the road will likely remain closed for some time.
 
"We are going to be here for a while," he said.
 

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North Adams Housing Authority Director Steps Down

Staff Reports

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Jennifer Hohn, the longtime executive director of the North Adams Housing Authority (NAHA), has stepped down after 24 years with the agency.

The Berkshire Eagle reported that Hohn resigned from her position on Thursday. The NAHA Board of Commissioners is currently developing a transition plan.

Her resignation follows rising tension between Hohn and the tenants association. Residents—particularly at the Spring and Ashland Park apartments—have raised specific concerns regarding building security, drug activity, and trespassers.

This summer, Tenants Association President Corey Fortin posted a video on social media demonstrating that door alarms in some of the buildings were not functioning.

Shortly after the video was posted, the tenants association's office was locked. Members alleged Hohn locked the space in retaliation, while Hohn maintained it was a matter of tenant safety. Hohn also stated that NAHA does not officially recognize the association because it has yet to go through official channels for certification—a claim the tenants association disputes.

The dispute culminated in plans for a formal grievance hearing between Hohn and the association. Both sides agreed to hold a meeting on Oct. 3, but the hearing had not yet been scheduled at the time of her resignation.
During her tenure as director, Hohn oversaw significant changes at NAHA, including expansion and the dissolution of Housing Opportunities Incorporated, a program founded over 30 years ago to assist first-time homebuyers. Most recently, she led efforts to transition NAHA properties from traditional public housing models to the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. She also directed the rebuilding of a Greylock Valley Apartments building after it was severely damaged by a fire.

The NAHA Board of Commissioners meets monthly, typically on Mondays.

 

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