image description — More than a dozen students wrote essays urging Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, right, to hang a portrait of former Gov. Jane Swift, center, in her office.

Symbolic Frame, Swift Picked by Students for Healey & Driscoll's Offices

11:21AM / Thursday, April 27, 2023Print Story | Email Story

Gov. Maura Healey, right, with Julian Hynes, Ja'liyah Santiago and Adniley Velez whose essay on inspiration was chosen as the winner of the student essay contest.

BOSTON — Gov. Maura Healey will hang an empty gold frame in her office so young people can envision themselves there one day and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, a portrait of former Gov. Jane Swift.

The unveiling on Wednesday was the result of a statewide student essay competition in which Bay State students were asked to decide whose portraits should be featured in the new administration's offices.

The student winners and their families were present for the event in the Governor's Ceremonial Office on Wednesday.

The gold frame in Healey's ceremonial office was proposed in a collaborative essay submitted by Julian Hynes, an 11th-grader at Amherst-Pelham Regional High School, and Ja'liyah Santiago and Adniley Velez, 8th-graders at Holyoke Community Charter School, titled "Inspiring Change and Dangerous Hope: Unequal Representation in the Commonwealth."

"Our proposal is to break from tradition, to hang nothing but an empty frame to remind you that there will be large groups of people that remain underrepresented, voiceless, and invisible," wrote the students. "Look forward not back for your inspiration. Look at the young, the poor, the people of color, and the ones who need the most help. Look at the empty frame and then around the table and ask, 'Who is not represented here?' Then, break free from the symbolic fetters that bind you and invite them."

"The State House is the People's House — and symbols matter. I was inspired by this submission from Julian, Ja'liyah and Adniley, who considered how they themselves could be the face of leadership in our state. This frame serves as a reminder of those who aren't always reflected or heard in the halls of power," said Healey. "When people come into this office, I want them to envision themselves in that frame. For me, it will remind me of the young people who are looking to our administration right now, and of our commitment to ensuring that all voices are heard."

The portrait of Swift was the choice of more than a dozen students, including Vane Jacobs, a ninth-grader from Swift's alma mater, Drury High School.

Swift, who attended the unveiling, was elected lieutenant governor in 1998 and rose to acting governor in 2001 when Gov. Paul Cellucci resigned to become U.S. ambassador to Canada. She was the first woman to serve as governor in Massachusetts history. She was instrumental in cementing Massachusetts' role as the nationwide leader in education and has continued her advocacy to strengthen our schools, in addition to transforming her family farm in Williamstown into an education and rescue center.

"Governor Healey and I have long been inspired by Governor Swift, and it was heartwarming to see so many students feel the same," said Driscoll. "She helped pave the way for us to serve as the first all-women team in Massachusetts history, and she inspired a lasting legacy of educational excellence in our state. I'm honored to hang her portrait in my office."

"We'd like to thank the more than 100 students who submitted thoughtful essays to this contest. It was certainly a hard decision to make, but we learned a lot from reading each one — and we know the students did too," said Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler. "We're grateful to all of the educators, administrators and family members who supported the students in submitting their essays and helped us get the word out about the contest."

Winners who wrote about former Gov. Jane Swift:

Lu-Anna Njinyah, eighth grader from Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School
Jake Stuppia, fourth-grader from Belmonte Steam Academy
Layla Keefe, first grader from Daniel B. Brunton Elementary School
Vane Jacobs, ninth grader from Drury High School
Leela Choudhury, sixth grader from F.A. Day Middle School
Joseph Pisani, 11th grader from Gateway Regional High School
Marissa Matthews, 11th grader from Hingham High School
Katie McGuinness, eighth grader from Lynnfield Middle School
Breonna Mody, seventh grader from Monomoy Regional Middle School
Emily Jamieson, fourth grader from Norman E. Day School
Bethany Luhrs, fourth grader from Norman E. Day School
Ace Madrigale, seventh grader from Plymouth Community Intermediate School
Heba Belyazid, fifth grader from Willard Elementary School Concord

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North Adams Jewelry Store Has New Owner

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:34PM / Thursday, December 18, 2025

Cheryl Coppens put out a call for someone to take over the jewelry business she began last spring — jewelry maker Alexandra Padilla answered the call.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Artful Jeweler has a new owner who is looking to expand its offerings.

Cheryl Coppens opened the jewelry store in May, showcasing local artists, offering fine jewelry, and jewelry repair.

But a new grandson in Texas, and the difficulties in flying back and forth to see him, had her looking to move closer to him.

Last month, she posted on the business's Facebook that she wanted someone to take over the space and continue the venture. Alexandra Padilla reached out to her and Coppens said she met all her criteria she was looking for in anew owner.

"You have to really want to be in retail. You have to want to be in this community, priced where people can afford it. Alex is native to North Adams. Her husband, she's got two great kids, so it just felt like they would be able to continue the store," Coppens said. "So the criteria really was somebody that would work the store, not somebody that would just come in and hire employees. I didn't want that."

Padilla started taking over the store in the beginning of December. She has been selling jewelry for about three years, and has an online shop, and has worked in wholesale jewelry for about 15 years.

"I always wanted to have my own thing on it, and I wanted to bring something new, and I want to involve my family, my kids do something, and I want to be independent," she said.

Now Padilla showcases her jewelry in the Ashland Street store and plans to keep some of the local artists' items, like stained glass made by Coppens' mother.

Padilla customizes jewelry and tailors pieces to her customers.

She plans to work around her job at Berkshire County Head Start so she can open store for more hours.

She also plans to redesign the store a little bit and bring in a couple more lines, like more rings and pearls.

The store is open on Saturdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays 9 to 2, Fridays 9 to 6, and Sundays 9 to 3. The store has also been open on Mondays 10 to 5 and Tuesdays 10 to 3 for the holidays.

Padilla thanks Coppens for trusting her and hopes customers continue to support the Artful Jeweler.

"Thank you for trusting me. I'm going to try and do my best and work hard to make it happen," she said. "This is our first time selling retail, so we hope the community supports us in here."

Coppens will be helping Padilla until she is comfortable operating the store on her own. She said it will continue to be a space of community support.

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