The billboard sparking questions about Hoosac Valley is on Route 8 in Lanesborough. It shows the seven pathways at the school: arts & entertainment; biomedical science & health care; business and entrepreneurship; education; engineering & technology; environmental studies; and sports medicine and health & wellness.
Hoosac Valley High Prepared for New innovative Pathways Program
CHESHIRE, Mass. — Hoosac Valley High Principal Colleen Byrd has an objective for this school year: getting freshman on the path to future careers.
"One of the goals in my sit is getting 100 percent of ninth graders will be enrolled in a pathway by the end of the year," she told the School Committee on Monday.
Hoosac Valley was designated by the state as an Innovation Career Pathway school earlier this year, joining Mount Everett Regional School and Monument Mountain Regional High School.
The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will be providing resources for pathways development.
"We're effectively creating the winds of change in this district as I speak," said Superintendent Aaron Dean. "We've taken a lot of steps, a lot of shifts in the positive direction and, this year, I feel like the year where a lot of these things finally will come together."
Pathways are designed to provide students with coursework and experiences such as internships to prepare them to enter their field of interest after graduation or to continue on to a higher degree. The goals are to produce lifelong learners, critical thinkers and global citizens.
Byrd said many of the courses overlap in the pathways (or are required for graduation) so students who may change their minds partway through high school should have credits that can be transferred.
"These skills are not just something that we do in high school. This is something that we're expanding all the way down to our preK programming and really looking at how do we make these connections and how do we build new skills for our students as they graduate," said Superintendent Aaron Dean.
Byrd said the middle school is already teeing up with incoming eighth graders being counseled and "exposed to the pathways through similar vantage points as ninth graders."
Hoosac is certified for two pathways so far — environmental and life sciences and health care and social assistance — but is preparing seven total pathways.
That's led to a somewhat cryptic billboard on Route 8 advertising the high school's new program with just graphic symbols. School Committee members asked if it was effective without words.
"Our whole point was to put it out there we are a pathway high school, and drive traffic to our site," Dean said, adding that it was the recommendation of the marketers. "Over time, I think we can do more spotlights."
He couldn't speak to how much traffic it had driven yet but said it has generated a lot of questions.
The school's been seeking a direction of this sort for some years.
"We're finally getting our identity, our niche, our place in Northern Berkshire," said Dean.
In other business:
• The School Committee ratified a new three-year contract with the teachers union. The contract includes a negotiated restructuring to accommodate the new pathways curriculum in the first year and then 3 percent raises in each of the next two years. The old contract expired at the end of June.
• Dean reported that 25 new teachers attended orientation; there is now a total of 105 in the district. He said they had a varied background and "seem very excited about the pieces that we're working on, Project Lead the Way, pathways programming in general."
• The School Committee voted to award the roofing contract for the middle and high school gyms to Triumph Roofing Inc. of Baldwin, which had the low bid of $784,000. Of the seven bids, the highest was $1,257,880 by Reliable Roofing & Sheet Metal LLC.
The funding will come out of the district's federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. The roof comes with a 30-year warranty and construction starts Oct. 1 and should be completed by the end of the month.
• The committee also voted on the use of Yondr pouches for cell phones, authorized account transfers to close out the fiscal 2023 year and briefly touched on the superintendent evaluation process.
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Friday Front Porch Feature: A Historic Simmons Cottage
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
The house has plenty of vintage charm and a new roof, heating system and updated kitchen and bathrooms.
ADAMS, Mass — Are you looking for a charming cottage to spend your days in? Then this is the house for you.
Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are discussing a single-family home at 2 Melrose St., directly behind the Adams Free Library.
This 1890 Simmons Cottage has four bedrooms and three bathrooms. It comes with dryer, built-in electric oven, washer, refrigerator, range, microwave. The house is 2,406 square feet with 0.24 acres.
The kitchen was recently updated as well as the roof and heating system. The house has multiple preserved features, including built-in cabinets and curved front porch, and is a short walk to stores and restaurants.
The Simmons family had lived in the house until 1973. They had owned and operated Simmons Furniture Store on Park Street and Simmons Funeral Home.
The asking price is $575,000.
We spoke to listers Nick Geranios and Diane Thorson with William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty along with the current owners.
What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?
This home offers something truly rare: a blend of historic charm, unique architectural craftsmanship, and a walk-to-town location that's increasingly hard to find. The Simmons Cottage, built in 1890, is filled with preserved period features — from Lincrusta ceilings and walls to original woodwork and stained glass windows — all thoughtfully maintained and enhanced by recent updates like a renovated kitchen, modern baths, and major system upgrades. It's a turnkey opportunity to own a piece of Adams history in the heart of the Berkshires.
Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history?
Yes — one of the more fascinating bits of history is about the carriage barn, which was once used by a local funeral parlor in the front house. It originally housed four horse stalls, and when the business transitioned to motorized vehicles, the entire structure was moved to its current location. Today, that barn serves as a five-car garage with potential for creative future use — a link to the past that remains very much part of the property's charm.
Are there any standout design features or recent renovations?
Absolutely. The home is rich with architectural detail, including original Lincrusta ceiling and wall treatments in the entry hall and dining room, stained-glass windows in both the living room and powder room, and decorative plaster ceilings that add to the elegance of each room.
Every space is thoughtfully preserved, including a paneled den/office, butler's pantry with a wet bar, and a grand foyer with a fireplace and window seat. At the same time, the kitchen has been fully updated with granite counters, a breakfast bar, and custom cabinetry, and the roof and heating system have been recently replaced — so the big-ticket work is already done.
What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?
This is a home that invites memory-making. With its flowing layout, sun-drenched rooms, and welcoming front porch, it's ideal for both everyday living and holiday celebrations. The house offers a mix of elegance and warmth that's perfect for a growing family, creative retreat, or anyone who wants to live surrounded by beauty and character. It's a place where every corner feels intentional and lived-in, yet ready for new stories to be written.
How would you describe the feel or atmosphere of this home?
The best way to describe it? "Walking into this house is like walking into a hug." There's a comfort and quiet grace that fills every room. Whether you're stepping into the wood-paneled den, enjoying the light pouring into the kitchen, or sitting beside the foyer fireplace, it just feels like home — layered with history, but completely welcoming and warm.
What do the current owners love most about the home?
They love the location, nestled in a walkable neighborhood close to restaurants, shops, and some of the Berkshires' best destinations. But more than anything, they love the space and spirit of the house itself — the way it has held decades of family life, hosted holidays, and always remained a place of joy and comfort. After 45 years, it still feels like the heart of their story.
What was their first impression when they saw the home?
They knew it was the one the moment they walked in. The original features, the soaring ceilings, the way the house flows — everything spoke to them. Over the years, as they made updates, they were always mindful to honor the home's originality and soul. It was clear from day one: this was where they wanted to raise their family and build their life.
You can find out more about this house on its listing.
*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.
The town will celebrate community and history on Saturday, July 12, during its inaugural Cheshire Hoedown event at the Community House, starting at 4 p.m.
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Interim Town Administrator Kenneth Walto said the range was suggested by Richard White of Groux-White Consulting LLC, hired in May to assist the town in its search.
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With pens and crayons in hand, the students let their creativity run rampant as they created advertisements for Smith Brothers-McAndrews Insurance, showcasing its community-focused approach to providing insurance for families, businesses, and individuals. click for more