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Neighbors' Feud Surfaces at Adams Board of Health Meeting

By Gregory FournieriBerkshires Staff
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ADAMS, Mass. —  A neighbor feud over trees surfaced during one of the agenda items at the Board of Health meeting Wednesday,
 
The issue in question revolved around two neighbors on Summer Street in Adams. One neighbor, John Sherman, lives at 5 Summer St. and has on his property a number of trees that reportedly overhang into his neighbor's lawn. David Krol lives at 7 Summer St. and argued that the trees on Sherman's property "pose a danger" to himself and his family.
 
Krol had an arborist view the property and prepare a report to present at the meeting. While the arborist was not present, the board reviewed parts of his report, which they said was extensive and thorough. 
 
The arborist reported that if a tree from Sherman's yard fell into Krol's yard while someone was in Krol's yard, it could pose a danger to anyone present. The arborist recommended that all five trees in Sherman's yard be removed.
 
Sherman said he had talked to a tree removal expert in Bennington, Vt., who has been removing trees for more than 30 years. This expert said there was "nothing wrong" with the trees, according to Sherman, but he was also not present at the meeting.
 
Sherman said he was told that "the root systems are holding" all of his trees together, and that cutting down one or two trees in his yard could damage the structural integrity of those trees.
 
Sherman was visibly irritated at the meeting. He had Code Enforcement Officer Mark Blaisdell read aloud a note Sherman had sent to him. The note mentioned that Sherman had been feuding with the Krols for 10 years, and in this instance, he "find[s] them just picking another fight."
 
Sherman's note also read: "Maybe we should just think of my neighbors as Chicken Little and Henny Penny."
 
Sherman also pointed out that Krol's arborist reported only a "moderate" risk of the trees falling down into the Krols' yard while his expert said there was almost no risk of the trees falling.
 
When asked if the arborist mentioned the root system's potential vulnerability, Krol said his arborist said "owning a home is a privilege," and that removing trees at the request of one's neighbor was simply part of being a good neighbor.
 
Board of Health chairman David Rhoads tabled the discussion until the June 9 meeting. He said he hopes the arborist and the tree removal expert will be present at the next meeting to sort out some of the differences.

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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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