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A section of Massachusetts Avenue will be closed for the installation of a 5-foot diameter stormwater pipe.

Mass Ave Section Closed for Culvert Construction

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The first phase of the $2.4 million stormwater project has been completed under Ashton Avenue, which reopened to traffic on Monday. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There's some good news for residents in the west end of the city: Ashton Avenue has reopened as of Monday. 
 
There's also bad news: Massachusetts Avenue is now closed to through traffic from Ashton Avenue to Protection Avenue for at least the next three months. 
 
The city is using a $2.4 million MassWorks grant to fix infrastructure issues that have slowed attempts to redevelop the Blackinton Mill.
 
A 5-foot diameter stormwater pipe is being installed between Ashton Avenue and Wood Street to address stormwater issues. The 1-foot to 2-foot drainage pipes under Wood and Ashton are undersized to handle the amount of water coming off the mountain to the north. 
 
The waterway under the Blackinton mill and the culverts on Ashton Avenue had become clogged with sediment and debris, causing flooding. 
 
The plan is to replace the existing pipes with a 60-inch pipe down Wood Street and then mostly along the same track, until it crosses under Massachusetts Avenue to the south before the intersection with Ashton to avoid a 24-inch water line. 
 
A box culvert was installed below Ashton Avenue, which has been closed since early spring to allow for construction.
 
Eastbound traffic on Mass Ave will be routed over Ashton to Route 2 and westbound traffic over Protection to Route 2. The city sent out Code Red over the weekend and on Monday morning to alert motorists. 

Tags: road project,   stormwater,   

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Mass MoCA Commission Approves Mental Health Practices as Tenants

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Mass MoCA Commission on Thursday approved three new tenants for Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. 
 
Kimma Stark, project manager at the museum, gave the commission the rundown on each of the new tenants. 
 
Eric Beeman is a licensed mental health counselor who uses art in his therapy. He holds a master's degree in expressive arts and arts therapy from Lesley University, where he's also taught graduate-level practices and principles of expressive art therapy.
 
He integrates creative arts based interventions into his clinical work including drawing painting, poetry, writing, brief drama and roleplay, movement and sound. Beeman works one-on-one and with small groups and said he mostly works with adults. 
 
He will be operating as Berkshires Expressive Arts Therapy on the third floor of Building 1. 
 
Beeman said Stark has been very helpful. "It's different than just renting a space and she's been very helpful and personable and accessible," he said. 
 
Mary Wilkes, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist, works with individuals with severe mental illness, with attachment and relationship issues and needing support navigating major life transitions. She works with teenagers, college and students and adults. 
 
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