image description — Quinn Battaini-Barnaby, 7, poses with dispatcher MaryAnn King on Friday after being honored for helping EMTs get to her mom, who has having difficulty breathing.

North Adams Girl Recognized as '911 All-Star' by Local Police

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
02:20PM / Saturday, February 12, 2022Print Story | Email Story

Quinn with Mayor Jennifer Macksey as MaryAnn King reads her 'All Star' certificate.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Joanne Battaini couldn't get the words out when she called 911 for help last month. As she struggled to breath, her 7-year-old daughter came to her rescue.

Quinn Battaini-Barnaby calmly took the phone and gave dispatcher MaryAnn King the correct address so emergency medical services could come to her mother's aid.

"She was a real trooper," King said on Friday as Quinn was presented with a certificate from Police Chief Jason Wood designating her a 911 Emergency All-Star Kid. "We are all so very proud of you."

"You're a hero," said Sgt. Preston Kelly.

The Colegrove Park student quietly accepted the accolades from police officer and Mayor Jennifer Macksey but her eyes really lit up as she pulled wrapping from a Barbie and Care Bear that King gave her.

Battaini was proud of her young daughter, saying she was brought up not to be afraid of police and first responders and to taught what to do in an emergency.

"I couldn't breath at all. I'm having trouble breathing now," she said. "We got her ready for something like that because of my health. ...

"She's my girl. She's a good helper at school, too. She gets picked to be the class helper all the time."

King said she really couldn't understand what Battaini was trying to say when she called 911 and because she lived within an area of several close apartment blocks, King's virtual map couldn't pinpoint the address.

"I'm thinking in my head, oh my god, you know, this is gonna be a delay. I need to get people there," King said. She could hear there was someone else in the room and asked Battaini to put that person on. "So she came on and it was so cute, this little voice comes on and says, 'hello.' And I said, 'hi, who are you?' And she says, 'I'm Quinny. I'm 7 years old.'"

Quinn knew what to do when she talked to King giving her the address and staying on the line while waiting for the EMTs. And she wasn't afraid when the ambulance came.

"You know what she remembers most about it? She says, 'I remember I got to go in an ambulance,'" Battaini smiled. "Not that her mom was out of breath. Or that I was in distress. She remembers the ambulance ride."

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NAHA Board Accepts Director's Resignation, Unlocks Tenants Association Office

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
03:33PM / Friday, October 16, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Housing Authority Board of Commissioners officially accepted the resignation of Executive Director Jennifer Hohn and restored access to the Tenants Association office.

The board held a special meeting Thursday to vote to accept Hohn's resignation and determined that there are currently no plans to replace her.

"We didn't make any final determinations in terms of the executive session so we will schedule another meeting at another time," Chairwoman Leigh Uqdah said after returning from more than an hour session. "Day-to-day operations will continue to be managed as normal by staff."

Per their bylaws, board member Marie Harpin will continue to handle finances, and Uqdah will manage contracts.

Hohn stepped down on Oct. 8 after 24 years leading the agency. Her resignation followed rising tension between her and the NAHA Tenants Association, culminating in the scheduling of a formal grievance hearing between both parties.

The boiling point was the locking of the association's office this summer. Tenants alleged the lockout was retaliation for posting a video on social media depicting improperly functioning door alarms. Hohn claimed the office was locked for tenant safety and to stop the spread of misinformation.

Tenants Association President Corey Fortin asked if Hohn's security access had been removed. Uqdah confirmed her credentials were revoked the day she resigned, meaning she can no longer monitor security cameras remotely.

Jennifer Barbeau, a former city councilor who was liaison to the Housing Authority, asked when the board met to discuss Hohn's severance package. Uqdah stated that Hohn did not have one.

The board also accepted the resignation of Commissioner Richard Lavigne, though they will vote officially on the matter at their next meeting.

The open portion of the meeting was brief, with nearly an hour and a half spent in executive session. Before entering executive session, the board opened the floor to tenants.

"The tenants requested an opportunity to talk to the board," said Uqdah. "It has been quite a while, but we have decided to honor that."

Fortin, who posted the original video to social media, was the first to speak. He was clear in his request: unlock the office door.

"Let's cut straight to the chase tonight. The former resigned Director Jennifer Hohn ordered the office locked," he alleged. "She is gone. The lockout is a direct violation, and the board has a duty to end that tonight."

He cited federal and state laws that mandate the tenants association be provided with office space, including computer and network access.

"We are here with a direct administrative demand. We demand that the board vote tonight to unlock the doors," he said. "Do not let a resigned director's illegal action remain the board's ongoing liability. Open our door tonight, and let us get back to work."

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