Adams Lifts State of Emergency, Gears Up for Summer & Fall Events

ADAMS, Mass. — The COVID-19 state of emergency in Adams is over.

Town Administrator Jay Green reported that Adams has lifted the state of emergency implemented for the pandemic. This originally went into effect in March 2020, and was lifted by the town to bring Adams into line with other local communities and the state of Massachusetts, which ended the public health emergency on June 15.

"Dare I say we are slowly approaching normalcy again," Green said Wednesday.

Selectman Joseph Nowak pointed out that despite the state of emergencies being lifted, local businesses may still require their patrons to wear masks. Moreover, Green said if COVID cases were to rise again in Adams, the Board of Health would have the authority to mandate masks independent of this decision by the Selectmen.

This, however, does not appear likely. Green reported that over roughly the last month, there were zero new reported cases of the novel coronavirus in Adams.

Adams joins Pittsfield, North Adams, and other towns in Berkshire County in lifting its state of emergency for the first time in more than a year.

In part to facilitate the return to normalcy, the Events Committee applied for and was granted space on the Town Hall lawn for outdoor movies on July 9, July 23, Aug. 6, and Aug. 20. These movies are family-friendly and begin at dusk. There will not be vendors, so attendees are advised to bring their own snacks and drinks.

In addition, the Events Committee requested and received approval for space at the Adams Visitors Center to hold outdoor concerts. These will be held on July 9, July 23, Aug. 6, and Aug. 20. These events will be held rain or shine.

In other news:

• Two businesses, Val's Variety and O'Geary's Package Store, provided plans to a Selectmen's subcommittee to correct previous unlawful actions. Both stores illegally sold alcohol on Memorial Day (May 31) before noon, in violation of state law. Vice Chairwoman Christine Hoyt and member Richard Blanchard recommended that the entire board approve the plans of these businesses, noting that they both complied and admitted their guilt. The Selectmen unanimously approved this educational, rather than punitive, approach.
• Matthew Burdick was approved as a member of the Conservation Committee.
• Pat Wol was appointed to the retirement board. The current retirement board recommended that she be approved to the board that she already chaired.
• The Alzheimer's Association was approved to hold an event at the Adams Visitors Center on Oct. 2, 2021.
• Berkshire Running Center was granted approval to use the Adams Visitors Center to hold the annual Steel Rail races. This is the ninth year that BRC will be running these races. Shiobbean Lemme of BRC said, "we're excited to get back to some real activity," and noted that $60,000 in funds from previous Steel Rail races has been used to maintain the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail.

Cheshire Town Meeting Oks Budgets, Debates Potential Prop 2 1/2 Override

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
10:12PM / Monday, June 08, 2026

Moderator Carol Francesconi, left, and Anne Marie Furey were presented flowers in memory of the Rev. William Furey, their brother and husband, respectively. The town report was dedicated to him. 

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Town meeting on Monday approved all 35 articles on the annual meeting warrant, including a total spending for fiscal 2027 of more than $8.5 million. 

 

Some 77 of the town's more than 2,500 registered voters filled the Cheshire Community House meeting room, debating on a number of articles during the meeting that lasted nearly three hours

 

The town dedicated its annual report to the Rev. William David Furey, longtime pastor of First Baptist Church and more recently Berkshire Union Chapel in Lanesborough. Furey died last year at age 77.

 

His wife, Anne Marie Furey, and his sister, Town Moderator Carol Francesconi, were presented with a bouquet of flowers in tribute to him. 

 

He was an exemplary member of the community who left a lasting impression in each and every life that he touched, said Town Clerk Whitney Flynn. 

 

Voters approved several warrant articles that make up an operating budget of $3,840,314 for fiscal 2027. Of this amount, $1,642,481 is allocated for the general government budget, which was approved after clarification of a few questions.

 

One item was the administrative assistant's salary. Prior to the annual meeting, the town eliminated the executive assistant salary of $54,309 in favor of a part-time administrative assistant salary of $27,155, to reduce costs considering the financial constraint the town is in.