Letter: Bond Will Be a Reliable Community Leader

Letter to the Editor06:45PM / Tuesday, October 26, 2021Print Story | Email Story

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.

Tags: city election, election 2021, letters to the editor,

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Application Withdrawn for North Adams Homeless Shelter

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
05:53AM / Tuesday, October 06, 2026

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 — A proposal to turn a Hall Street apartment house into a homeless shelter was withdrawn from consideration on Monday.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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