Letter: Support Jennifer Macksey for Mayor

To the Editor:

The voters of North Adams have to take advantage of the great opportunity that has been given to them! The decision by Jennifer Macksey to run for mayor will give you the most qualified and experienced candidate to lead North Adams forward.

I had the opportunity to work with Jen while employed by the city Highway Department for 30 years. I first met Jen while she was working at the city landfill selling stickers and composting bins. Then she worked as director of finance/chief procurement cfficer for the city and the became the city tax collector/treasurer. Along with all of this she became the go-between employees and the administration, which at the time was greatly needed.

She treated us all with dignity and respect! One instance that sticks out in my mind is when the federal law for drug testing was put into place. Jen had a meeting with us all and explained the law to us and told us all about the programs that city was putting into place for us to use if the need arose. This skill in dealing with people is a great asset to have.

All this experience makes Jennifer Macksey the right choice for mayor — one that could step into the job and begin work immediately. I also would like to take the time to thank the Macksey campaign for keeping this election civil and free from personal attacks.

Edward Denault
Clarksburg, Mass. 

Edward Denault was highway superintendent for North Adams until his retirement.

North Adams Unveils Hometown Heroes Banners

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
04:30PM / Friday, May 22, 2026

Carol Ethier-Kipp holds up the first aid kit her father used as an Army medic in World War II. See more photos here. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City of North Adams honored its own on Friday afternoon, unveiling 50 downtown street banners representing local veterans who served — and continue to serve — the community and the country.

 

More than 300 residents packed the front lawn of City Hall as the community took a moment to reflect on its "Hometown Heroes" during the morning unveiling ceremony.

 

"In a city like North Adams, service is personal. The men and women we honor today are not strangers to us. They are our neighbors, our classmates, our parents, our grandparents," Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the crowd. "... These banners are far more than names and pictures hanging along our streets. They are visible reminders of the values that define North Adams: courage, sacrifice, humility, duty, resilience, and the love of country. They remind every person who passes by that this community remembers our veterans."

 

The banner program launched exactly a year ago. Veterans Services Agent Kurtis Durocher opened applications in October and spent the next six months working with families to bring the project to Main Street and over the Hadley Overpass. 

 

"We gather to recognize the brave men and women from our community who have served or who are currently serving in the United States armed forces," Durocher said. "These banners are more than images. They bear a tribute to service, sacrifice, courage, and pride, and they remind us that the freedoms we enjoy every day have been protected by our neighbors, family members, friends, and Hometown Heroes."

 

Each banner features a portrait of a veteran alongside their military branch and dates of service.

 

Durocher noted that the program was something residents clearly wanted, pointing to how fast applications flooded his desk. He praised the volunteers who stepped up to get the banners made and displayed — including city firefighters and Mitchell Meranti of Wire & Alarm Department, who were installing them as late as Thursday night.