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Adams Board of Health Concerned Over Rising COVID-19 Cases

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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ADAMS, Mass. — The Board of Health issued another warning this past week in regard to COVID-19 as the town remains in the red.
 
"It is alarming that Adams is in the red," Chairman David Rhoads said Wednesday. "... One always hopes that this is a blip but cases keep appearing."
 
Rhoads said just Wednesday there were five new cases in Adams. According to the state's weekly health report, the town had 31 new cases over the previous two weeks.
 
Adams has been in the red category since April 1; this past Thursday it was one of three county towns in the red, the others being Lee and Williamstown. The town's 14-day average positivity rate is 3.56 percent and its incident rate is 26.9 per 100,000.
 
Rhoads asked that residents continue to respect COVID-19 guidelines and practice mask-wearing, social distancing, and proper hygiene.
 
He also asked that folks stay within their social circles and avoid traveling if possible.
 
Rhoads urged people to get vaccinated when they are eligible and that they should continue to wear a mask even after vaccination.
 
"You may be 95 percent there but there are still a few percentage points and you could possibly contract the virus after benign vaccinated," he said. "You may be able to pass it on. The likelihood is low but it is not zero. So keep wearing a mask."
 
He thanked Enforcement Officer Mark Blaisdell for issuing a public health order on weddings spelling out more stringent guidelines.
 
"I think it is justified given the number of cases we have here in Adams," he said. 
 
Weddings are limited to 75 attendees, indoor and outdoor. The order outlines protocols for the gatherings and caterers.
 
Blaisdell said he is sharing the order with stakeholders and said it will stay in place until he deems it safe to terminate it.
 
In other business, the board updated its tobacco regulations to address the sale of "flavored tobacco product enhancers" such as flavored hemp wraps.
 
According to the new regulations, no retailer shall possess, hold, keep, sell, or distribute such products.
 
Before closing, the board said goodbye to member Laura Grandchamp who will not run for re-election.
 
"Thank you for helping," Rhoads said. "Maybe we can tap you again in the future."

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Adams Sees No Races So Far

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — With less than a week left before nomination papers are due, there are currently no contested seats.
 
Only selectman incumbent John Duval has returned papers. Selectman Howard Rosenberg has decided not to seek re-election. 
 
Rosenberg, who was elected in 2021, said he has chosen not to run again to make room for younger candidates.
 
"I feel strongly, we need younger people running for public office,  as the future of our town lies within the younger  generation. The world is so fundamentally different today and rapidly changing to become even more so. I believe we need people who are less interested in trying to bring back the past, then in paving the way for a promising future. The younger generation can know that they can stay here and have a voice without having to leave for opportunities elsewhere," he said.
 
The only person to return papers so far is former member the board Donald Sommer. Sommer served as a selectman from 2007 to 2010 and before that was a member of the School Committee and the Redevelopment Authority. He ran unsuccessfully for selectman in 2019 and again in 2021 but dropped out of before the election.
 
Incumbent Moderator Myra Wilk and Town Clerk Haley Meczywor have returned papers for their respective positions.
 
Assessor Paula Wheeler has returned papers and incumbents James Loughman and Eugene Michalenko have returned papers for library trustees.
 
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