North Adams Has 13 Candidates So Far for Council

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A couple more candidates have taken out papers for the November city election but so far there are not enough names to consider a preliminary election.
 
There are now 12 possible candidates; 19 would trigger a preliminary election. 
 
Incumbent Wayne Wilkinson and Andrew Fitch are the latest to toss their hat in the ring as of early Friday; update: Lisa Blackmer, council president, has also taken papers out. She will be seeking her eighth nonconsecutive term
 
Wilkinson will be running for his fifth elected term on the council. He is a real estate appraiser and has also served on the Planning Board and was chairman of the Mobile Home Rent Control Board. 
 
Fitch, originally from eastern Massachusetts, moved to North Adams a few years ago after time spent in New York, London and the West Coast. He's become very active in the community, including as a member of the city's Zoning Board of Appeals and IDEA Commission and with Pride and arts events. 
 
Five of the nine incumbent councilors have taken out papers for re-election: Keith Bona, Peter Oleskiewicz, Bryan Sapienza, Ashley Shade and now Wilkinson. So far Jennifer Barbeau, Marie T. Harpin and Michael Obasohan are not on the list. 
 
Fitch joins newcomers Colin Bain, Emily Johnson, Deanna Morrow and Joshua Vallieres, and returning candidates Robert Cardimino and Ronald Sheldon, in vying for one of the nine open seats on the council. 
 
Sapienza and Cardimino have returned and have had certified the 50 voters' signatures required to get on the ballot. 
 
The candidate list for the school committee seats and mayor have not changed. Cody Chamberlain and Eric Wilson have returned papers for School Committee, Peter Breen for McCann School Committee and Vallieres for City Council; these had not yet been certified on Friday morning. George Canales' papers for McCann have been certified. 
 
The deadline for submitting nomination papers is Aug. 1 at 5 p.m. Papers are available in the city clerk's office. 
 
Candidates who have taken out papers to date (*incumbent):
 
Mayor (1): Jennifer Macksey*, Rachel Branch
 
City Council (9): Colin Bain, *Lisa Blackmer, Keith Bona*, Robert Cardimino, Andrew Fitch, Emily Johnson, Deanna Morrow, Peter Oleskiewicz*, Bryan Sapienza*, Ashley Shade*, Ronald Sheldon, Joshua Vallieres, *Wayne Wilkinson
 
School Committee (3): Cody Chamberlain, Tara Jacobs*, Alyssa Tomkowicz*, Eric Wilson
 
McCann School Committee (3): Peter Breen*, George Canales*, William Diamond*

Tags: election 2023,   municipal election,   


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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. 

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