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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Healey, Driscoll's Campaign Stop Talks Housing, Health and ICE

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
05:48AM / Wednesday, February 18, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Gov. Maura Healey acknowledged challenges and touted successes on Tuesday to a packed room at the former Johnson School on Tuesday.

Healey, standing with running mate Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Mayor Jennifer Macksey in front of a background "Team Healey Driscoll" logos, the governor spoke to housing, health care, education, energy, infrastructure, and public safety — declaring ICE had to "stay out" to loud applause.

"You know, there's a lot of work ahead. There's a lot of challenge out there. There's a lot of work in communities here in the state and around this country," she said, recalling how she'd stood with Mayor Jennifer Macksey at a "massive sinkhole" in the days following the extreme rain in 2023.

"I'll never forget that moment. And, you know, what can we do as a government to help and that's our job, actually, in government. DC doesn't understand but our job actually is to work together to deliver for people. That means working state and local, really tight. It means also working with our community leaders, our businesses, our not-for-profits, our schools, our hospitals and health-care systems."

Healey is running for a second four-year term as governor. On Tuesday, the Democrat released a list of mayors and legislative leaders backing her, including Macksey and Pittsfield Mayor Peter Marchetti and the entire Berkshire state delegation.

The hall at what is now called the Residences at Amity Square was filled with former and current elected officials including city councilors, School Committee members, mayors, Select Board members from neighboring communities, as well as residents and educational, cultural and business leaders.

"The governor promised four years ago that she would not forget North Adams and not forget Western Mass, and she certainly hasn't," said Macksey in endorsing the governor. "She supported us through floods, she supported us through grants, and she is a trusted, trusted colleague in Boston who knows how to get to North Adams."

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