Letter: Bond Will Be a Reliable Community Leader

To the Editor:

When looking toward the future of this great city, it is important not to neglect the voices of the younger generations. It is also important not to underscore the value community service has in shaping a candidate. Coming from an MCLA student and soon to be officeholder, I believe the person to best connect with our youth and represent the value of community service is Lynette Bond.

The most important memories I've made as a college student were through active volunteerism. As a person who dedicates my time in such a way, I can see how volunteer work has influenced Lynette Bond as a person, and how it will shape her tenure as the next mayor of North Adams. Through her dedication as a foster parent, her time in the Peace Corps, and her intense dedication toward the Colegrove Park Elementary School project, she has proven to me that she will be a reliable community leader.

I have been able to call North Adams my home for 22 years. MCLA was my school of choice because of this beautiful city I have been able to call my home. I think the school is especially emblematic of our community's younger demographics, and it makes me pleased to see who younger people want as their leader. The feedback we have received from the overwhelming majority of them? The future is with Lynette.

With students who want to make North Adams their home after they graduate, and have taken on our community as one that represents them, Lynette is an especially symbolic person to take office as our next mayor. Lynette may not have been born in North Adams, but she chose our city as her home like so many others here do. I am confident in Lynette's experience, transparency, and communicative nature to lead our city for the next two years. I hope with all this information in mind, you will vote for her assuredly on Nov. 2.

Joshua Vallieres
North Adams, Mass.

Joshua Vallieres is a candidate for North Adams School Committee. 

North Adams Glamping Project Teams With Luxury Resort for New Approvals

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
05:24AM / Friday, April 17, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Just last fall, wellness and fancy tents were the core of the glamping proposal for Notch Road.

 

On Monday, developer Benjamin Crespi of 196 Marine LLC, was back before the Planning Board with a dramatically different proposal: 49 two-bedroom tourists cabins with a restaurant and recreational amenities.

 

He was approved with a lengthy list of conditions hammered out between the project and a group of residents represented by attorney Alexandra Glover of Lazan Glover & Puciloski.

 

"After I think multiple rounds and many discussions with neighbors to understand what their reservations about the project were, we went back to the drawing board," said Crespi. "The main critical issues were the fact that my last permit allowed me to be open to the general public.

 

"There was concerns about the number of events and the size of those events. There was concern about noise impact in the neighborhood, traffic volume, traffic routing and wildlife interaction."

 

He detailed the 19 issues that the neighbors had and determined the way forward was to limit access only to paying customers and not open to the public for events.

 

"It was very clear that I had to reduce the volume of people on site. So if I reduce my guest count, and I've lost those profit centers, then I need to offset by going to a higher level of service. That's exactly what I've done," Crespi said.