Campaign Statement: Morrow Running for North Adams City Council

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Deanna Morrow, a direct care support worker at the Brien Center's Keenan House North, and recent Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduate, announced on March 10 that she will run for a seat on the North Adams City Council.
 
Morrow has resided in North Adams since 2018.
 
Her priorities for City Council focus on increasing addiction resources, expanding affordable and accessible housing, and more development in public transportation. She is dedicated to making North Adams a welcoming community, especially for future generations. 
 
In the last decade, she said, there's been a sharp increase in addiction without a corresponding reaction for addiction resources available to the public. 
 
As a young person looking for housing in North Adams, she has experienced firsthand how difficult it is to find an affordable place to live. 
 
As a working adult without a car, Morrow knows how difficult it is to get around North Adams and the Northern Berkshires with the current state of public transportation. 
 
Growing up in Boston, she has seen how the public transportation system has the capacity to thrive and run well. It is important to have  additional routes, stops, and funding within BRTA. She is also excited about expanding the city's bike lanes and encouraging residents to use more sustainable transportation.
 
When asked why she decided to run for City Council, Morrow stated, "Because I want to be more involved in the community's decision making process. I also bring a unique perspective being a young woman, a walker, and a renter. These experiences could be better represented on the council. I know I have spent little time in politics but I believe I have a lot to bring to the table based on experiences I've had throughout my life and career."
 
Morrow grew up in Hyde Park, a neighborhood of Boston, and moved to North Adams to attend MCLA in 2018. In high school, she was very involved in Student Government and National Honors Society, and contributed to her community by organizing blood drives, field days, and
fundraisers. During her sophomore year, her school was on the verge of being shut down, but because of Morrow's tireless efforts in organizing and attending meetings, protests, and walkouts, her school remained open to serve and educate students.
 
During her time at MCLA, Morrow spent most of her time volunteering. She developed a food insecurity program called MCLA Swipes, attended the Days of Service and the Winter Blitz, and gave her afternoons to the MCLA Volunteer Center's after school programming.
 
She can be reached at deannamorrow2023@gmail.com.
 

 

 


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North Adams Restaurant to Closing in Two Weeks

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A downtown restaurant announced on Wednesday that it will be closing.

In a Facebook post, Door Prize stated its last day of service is Saturday, Nov. 14.

"We are not making this decision lightly and wish there was another way forward," read the post by owners Bryan "Swifty" Josephs and Jenny Klowden.

"We feel great pride for our successes and for a wonderful year of serving our community. Now on to the next adventure!"

They also thanked their staff and patrons who enjoyed their food 

The restaurant opened over a year ago in Hotel Downstreet after Josephs and Klowden previously had a residence at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, where they sold some of their signature dishes, as well as working in area restaurants, bringing their food to farmers markets and operating a catering business. 

The two named the restaurant after a John Prine song that they danced to at their wedding. Josephs described their fare as European comfort food, with one of their most popular dishes being pierogies. 

They also successfully renovated the covered porch outside the restaurant for dining, raising $7,000 through a Kickstarter

While their post did not allude as to why they are closing, iBerkshires has reached out for more answers. 

The 90-room hotel has reportedly been sold, with a closing expected by the end of the month. Owner Peregrine Group put the former Holiday Inn up for sale earlier this year after purchasing the property for $4.45 million in 2021. According to reports in The Berkshire Eagle, the cost of renovations to the 55-year-old property put a dent into revenues that limited the hotel's ability to cover obligations. 
 
It's not clear if this has anything to do with the restaurant, which operates as a separate entity.
 
"We are not looking for a public discourse on our business model or the closure," the Door Prize post states, inviting patrons to personally contact the Josephs or Klowden rather than comment on the posting. 

 

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