Author, Correspondent to Speak at MCLA Annual Public Policy Lecture Event

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Jamie Ducharme, an author and TIME magazine correspondent, will be Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' 2021 Public Policy lecturer. 
 
She'll speak at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7, at the college's Church Street Center Auditorium. A remote viewing option will also be available, and both options are free and open to the public. 
 
Registration for the in-person event or for the virtual option can be done here.
 
Ducharme covers health and science. Her work has won awards from the New York Press Club, the Deadline Club, and the Newswomen's Club of New York. Her first book, "Big Vape: The Incendiary Rise of Juul" — a deep-dive into the e-cigarette company Juul Labs and an exploration of the complicated search for an alternative to cigarettes — was published by Henry Holt in May 2021. 
 
Ducharme grew up in New Hampshire, earned a journalism degree from Northeastern University, and started her career as a health writer and editor at Boston magazine. 
 
In 2008, MCLA announced the establishment of the Public Policy lecture series, making public policy forums an ongoing part of the college's long-term speaker offerings, in complement to MCLA's major in political science and public policy.  

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Application Withdrawn for North Adams Homeless Shelter

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A proposal to turn a Hall Street apartment house into a homeless shelter was withdrawn from consideration on Monday. 
 
Caleb Wursten, operating as Queequeg Ventures LLC, had been scheduled to appear before the Planning Board on Monday seeking a special permit to convert the existing four-apartment residential building at 55-57 Hall St.
 
Louison House was listed in the application's narrative as managing the day-to-day operations, resident coordination, and house rules.
 
Wursten last month had been approved for a special permit for short-term rentals at the same Hall Street property. 
 
Projects coordinator William Shanahan informed the planners that Wursten had asked for total withdrawal, not postponement. Planner Kyle Hanlon moved that the board not enter into the public hearing and the disposition of the withdrawal was moved to regular meeting. 
 
Chair Brian Miksic said the board could decide whether to vote the withdrawal with or without prejudice; with prejudice would prevent the applicant from bringing the proposal back for two years. 
 
"I think it should be penalized," said Planner Paul Senecal. "I mean, we had to spend $300 to $400 [for public notices]."
 
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