image description
MCLA student Paula Kingsbury-Evans is running as a Democrat to represent the 1st Berkshire District at the State House.

MCLA Student Paula Kingsbury-Evans Running for 1st District State Rep

By Brian RhodesiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — MCLA student Paula Kingsbury-Evans has officially entered the race to represent the 1st Berkshire District at the State House. 

 

Kingsbury-Evans, a 21-year-old Democrat who will graduate from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in May, said she decided to run to represent the young people of Berkshire County. Seventy-four-year-old state Rep. John Barrett III, also a Democrat, has held the seat since a special election in 2017. 

 

"The First Berkshire District is in need of a young voice with lots of energy and new ideas and creative solutions to some of the problems and issues that the residents are facing," she said. 

 

Originally from Davis, Calif., Kingsbury-Evans has volunteered with MCLA's Volunteer Center, Berkshire Regional Arts Integration Network and MCLA's student government. She highlighted education as one major issue in Berkshire County that she hopes to tackle. 

 

"Finding the resources to provide quality education, at no cost for the residents, and ensuring the educators themselves are also getting fairly and equally compensated for the work that they're doing," she said. 

 

Infrastructure is another issue that Kingsbury-Evans said she wants to work on. She explicitly mentioned the North Adams public safety building and the road conditions of Route 8 as two examples. 

 

"A lot of this comes down to the Berkshires not really being seen in the State House and in the state government," she said. 

 

While she recognized her lack of experience compared to Barrett, who has served the area in some form for nearly five decades, Kingsbury-Evans said she could provide a new perspective and enthusiasm that the district is lacking. 

 

"The Berkshires need someone that is willing to pull those late nights in the statehouse and early mornings in Berkshire County," she said. "We need someone that is going to fight for the community tirelessly, and listen to the community and be in all the 13 towns, figuring out, exactly, what they need from the state government." 

 

Kingsbury-Evans said helping people is what she is most looking forward to if elected.

 

"I'm really excited to be able to help people and take their thoughts and issues and things that they want to see done to the state government and get that process started so that they can feel more safe and more at home in their community," she said.

 

Kingsbury-Evans is not the first MCLA student to run for public office in the County. Fellow student Joshua Vallieres ran for and won a seat on the North Adams School Committee last year

 

"This place has become my home over the past four years, and I want to see it reach its full potential," she said. 

 

Those interested in learning more about Kingsbury-Evans and her campaign can visit her website at paulaformass.com.


Tags: election 2022,   state representative,   


If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

View Full Story

More North Adams Stories