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Officers Michael Wandrei and Joshua Baker were recognized Monday for helping deliver a baby in March.
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Police Chief Scott Kelley reads a statement at the ceremony organized by Sgt. Donna Malloy.
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Town Administrator Jay Green says it is important for police to be recognized as caring members of the community.

Adams Recognizes Officers Who Aided Resident In Birth

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Sgt. Donna Malloy congratulates Officer Michael Wandrei.
ADAMS, Mass. — The town recognized Officers Michael Wandrei and Joshua Baker who helped deliver a baby in March.
 
Town officials held a small ceremony Monday at Town Hall to recognize the officers who helped resident Jayme Pulasky give birth to her daughter, Calla.
 
"We want to raise our department up because it only raises our town up. When you have a valuable asset like this and they do something like this you need to put it out there and let everybody know," Police Chief Scott Kelley said. "I know because they are humble they won't say it, but I know they are proud of what they did. This is a great thing to be part of something like this. They do it every single day. I am proud to be their chief."
 
Kelley said both officers responded to the Hoosac Street medical call on March 11 at 8:55 p.m. He said the officers found that Pulasky was actively in labor.
 
"They were first on scene and found she was indeed in labor," he said. 
 
He said Wandrei stayed with Pulasky while Baker cleared the way for an incoming ambulance and other emergency services.
 
"Officer Wandrei was a calming presence assisting in any way he could with the delivery of the child as being the only emergency service person there at the time," Kelley said. "Baker then started taking measures to ensure that all parties made it safely from the house to the waiting ambulance. This included chipping ice, shoveling snow, removing debris to make it safe."
 
He said baby Calla was born healthy at 9:08 p.m., 13 minutes after the officers were dispatched. 
 
"Both officers assisted in moving mom and child from the residence," he said.
 
Sgt. Donna Malloy, who organized the ceremony and brought the case to Kelley, gave each officer a "Stork Award" certificate and a pin.
 
Kelley, originally from South Carolina, said he has been impressed since he came on the job in January by Adams' officers and their commitment to the community.
 
"Since my arrival, I have seen these police officers go above and beyond in the community every single day," Kelley said. "That tells me that the officers in this department love this community, and we will continue to celebrate occasions like this."
 
Town Administrator Jay Green agreed and said it is important for the public to see that every single officer is a member of the community and cares for it
 
"It is important for a smaller community like ours to let people see and appreciate when they see the black-and-white or an officer in uniform," he said. "It doesn't mean that behind that uniform, behind that tactical vest and the tools of the job that there isn't someone that cares about the public and cares about the person in front of them."

Tags: Adams Police,   recognition event,   

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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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