Clarksburg Planners Continue Cannabis Dispensary Hearing

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The Planning Board has approved continued a hearing on a special permit submitted by New England Regional Dispensaries (NERD) to operate a cannabis dispensary on Cross Road. 

The board granted the special permit did not have a quorum at its meeting on Wednesday because one member was absent and another abstained.

The board will meet Wednesday, Dec. 14, at noon at the Community Center.

However, Chad Cellana, the founder of NERD, said if all goes well, he expects to be ready for operation in March. 

"We've already signed the local host community agreement and have been provisionally licensed with the state, pending the special permit and a commission inspection," he said. 

Board Chair Karin Robert said she was concerned about potential parking issues. Robert also asked if NERD got permission to operate on Sunday, which Cellana said was something he would consider and look into in the future.

"The [police] chief addressed [parking concerns] in his letter, saying if traffic becomes an issue, we can make it a right turn only out of that driveway or put up some mirrors and or get a detail," he said. 

Cellana said the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Conservation Commission have already approved site plans for an accompanying cultivation facility. He explained, however, it is unlikely that part of the operation will be ready for next year. 

"So once the funding shows up, we can get that rolling. It's a 2024 project at this point," Cellana said. 

The greenhouse would be on property owned by John Cellana, Chad's business partner and uncle, and board member Erin Scott, who recused herself from the vote to approve the permit. Scott's father, Clebe Scott, is the chair of the Conservation Commission. 

In other business, the board approved a land subdivision submitted by BEK Associates on behalf of Mary and Gus Giron. The board had planned to review the town's subdivision bylaws but waited as board member Ron Boucher could not attend the meeting. 

Update on Dec. 8: the board apparently could not approve the permit on Wednesday and has scheduled another meeting. 

MCLA, Drury Students Vouch for Early College Programs

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
08:04AM / Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Northern Berkshire educators attend the gathering in Murdock Hall. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts Secretary of Education Stephen Zrike and Department of Higher Education Deputy Commissioner for Policy Michael Dannenberg held a roundtable Monday with MCLA students and local high school students in the early college program.

 

The gathering at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts was part of an education focus in 413 Day, a celebration of Western Mass. Zrike and other state educators had also been in Pittsfield to learn about the needs for early childhood education. 

 

"To hear your stories is very helpful as we try to make sure that we craft policy, and we leverage resources in order to make those dreams more possible for people," Zrike said. "... We want to make sure that we're supporting as many people to get through college in a way that doesn't leave them behind."

 

The conversation was held in the college's Murdock Hall. Zrike, who was only 11 days on the job, said he felt the best way to prepare himself for the position was to talk to real students on different sides of the timeline: those exiting high school and those in the middle of college.

 

Dannenberg spoke to the Fair Share Amendment that Gov. Maura Healey deployed to make higher education more affordable. He said one key to making college accessible is giving students the opportunity to get a head start before they even set foot on a campus.

 

"The importance of time," he said. "Today, the typical student graduates from community college in just over 3 1/2 years; the average student graduates from a four-year college in 5.5 years. We can make college exceptionally more affordable still if we get students to accelerate. It becomes more affordable, and it opens up possibilities so they can graduate debt-free."

 

Drury High School seniors shared their own experiences in the early college program.