Mayor Jennifer Macksey, left, and her sister, Libby Macksey, pose with the New Year's ball on Sunday night.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Several hundred people gathered in the Center Street parking lot to watch the ball drop on New Year's Eve.
It was hours before midnight and took a double count to make its way down but cheers, whistles and tooting horns filled the air for an early welcome to 2024.
The event was the inspiration of "first sister" Libby Macksey.
"My sister has a lot of crazy ideas," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey. "She said we need to have our own ball drop ... and ran right to Bud Sherman."
Forrest "Bud" Sherman and his crew at North Adams Sheet Metal took on the challenge, designing and building a lattice ball wrapped in rope lights and the 20-foot pole to drop it from. They donated all the labor and materials.
"They made tonight possible," said the mayor, thanking their hard work from the flat bed set up with the pole.
Libby Macksey said she had felt the city should have some kind of New Year's event and envisioned something bigger next year with maybe food trucks and activities.
For Sunday night, there were horns and glasses and headgear being passed out for the family friendly event. People began to cheer as the ball made its way up the pole and then gave out a loud shout as the lights came on at the top.
The mayor asked for a "slow roll" for the countdown at 8 p.m. to give the ball time to make its way down but the crowd was a little too eager. About halfway down someone shouted "nine" to restart the count and the ball successfully made its journey to the bottom.
The crowd sang a chorus of "Auld Lang Syne" before breaking up to head for parties or home.
The mayor said at the start of the event that she doesn't like New Year's but seeing all the people who came "makes me love New Year's and love the job I do even more."
"I want to thank all of you for coming out," said the mayor. "This is hopefully going to become an annual tradition for us. We're going to have bigger and better every year. But this is a fantastic crowd."
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Countywide Drug Raids Executed Friday
Staff Reports
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Berkshire District Attorney's Office confirmed countywide drug raids were executed on Friday.
At least three occurred in North County — on Quaker Street and Howland Avenue in Adams and on Beaver Street in North Adams.
Julia Sabourin, spokesperson for the DA's office said, the office "in conjunction with multiple local and state law enforcement agencies executed a countywide operation to interrupt a large-scale narcotics trafficking ring."
The operation was the culmination of a multimonth-long investigation overseen by the DA's office and both narcotics and illegal firearms were sized during the operation.
Social media had been buzzing that the numerous vehicles parked in Cheshire in the morning were from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including at least one that was prominently lettered "State Police."
One resident posted a video showing law enforcement in camouflage busting down a door at 76-78 Howland Ave. and later a photo of people arrested outside the residence.
Defendants arrested in connection with the operation will be arraigned in both Central and Northern District Court on Monday, Feb. 10, according to the DA's Office.
College officials reported on funding campaigns, program advancements, capital improvements, student performance, and the commitment to inclusion and diversity.
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Ordinance changes related to mayoral appointments were referred to General Government on Tuesday but not without debate by the full City Council and the mayor. click for more