Letter: Ashuwillticook Rail Trail Covered in Dog Feces

To the Editor:

We have been waiting, with great anticipation, all winter to walk the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. On a recent beautiful, sunny day we drove all the way from Albany, N.Y., to downtown Adams to pick up the trail on main street. To our great disappointment and disgust, the trail in both directions, was covered in dog feces, both fresh and what obviously had been there all winter. We had to turn back and abandon our plans, it was so repulsive and disgusting.

Russell and Christine Pearce
Albany, N.Y.

State Fire Marshal Returns to Hoosac Valley to Offer Career Advice

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
02:36PM / Sunday, May 31, 2026

Jon Davine joined the Marines just out of high school and spent 25 years moving up the ladder as a Northampton firefighter. He was selected to replace State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey in 2023. 

CHESHIRE, Mass. — As juniors and seniors consider their futures, Hoosac Valley High School officials strive to introduce them to various industries and accomplished professionals through the Pathways program.

 

On May 22, State Fire Marshal Jon Davine was one such official, returning to his alma mater to give students an inside look into his profession and offer some words of advice.

 

During the 50-minute presentation, he outlined his career journey, which began with his service in the Marine Corps, continued through work as a bricklayer, firefighter, and fire captain, and ultimately led to his current leadership role in public safety. He later visited Hoosac Elementary.

 

The Adams native and 1989 Hoosac graduate was chief of the Northampton Fire and Rescue Department when he was tapped by the state in 2023. He was the first fire marshal from Western Massachusetts and, according to the state Department of Fire Services, the first of its recruits to "work his way to the top job using a system designed to make that possible."

 

His journey demonstrated that students do not need to have everything figured out at this stage in their lives.

 

"I think it helped kind of relieve some of the nerves that I have about taking that next step and going off and pursuing college," senior Nathan Lapinski said.

 

"He went through a couple … career opportunities before he went to firefighting, before he became the fire marshal, so I think it helped relieve some of the nerves about trying to figure out what I want to do so early."