Casita Restaurant to Host Community Choke Saver Class

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— Casita restaurant, located at 1111 MASS MoCA Way, will host a Choke Saver Class for the community on Monday, May 12, 2025, at 10:00 AM.

The class is inspired by a recent incident at the restaurant where a guest choked, and Casita's chef and owner, Justin Forstmann, administered the Heimlich maneuver to clear the airway. This event highlighted the importance of knowing how to respond to such emergencies.

In partnership with Berkshire Community College (BCC), Casita will offer a comprehensive class covering the identification of choking signs in adults, children, and infants. Participants will also learn the correct techniques for the Heimlich maneuver and other necessary steps for airway obstruction emergencies.

Event Details:

• Event: Choke Saver Class
• Location: Casita, 1111 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
• Date: Monday, May 12, 2025
• Time: 10:00 AM
• Registration: Required via the Berkshire Community College website: https://www.berkshirecc.edu/academics/community-education-and-workforce-development/workshops/choke-saver.php

Pre-registration is mandatory, and space is limited.

Barrett Holds off Fitch in State House Race

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
11:20PM / Tuesday, September 01, 2026

Candidate Andrew Fitch thanks his supporters for their work on the campaign and promised 'we're going to get him next time.'

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — State Rep. John Barrett III showed Tuesday that it is still his time to serve.

 

In an election night cliffhanger that had supporters of each candidate anxiously checking their cell phone screens two hours after the polls closed, Barrett defeated challenger Andrew Fitch in the First Berkshire Democratic primary for the State House of Representatives.

 

With one town, Peru, missing from the vote total, Fitch called Barrett to concede the race at about 10 p.m. with Barrett holding a 3,597-3,476 lead, a margin of 121 votes.

 

With no Republican on the ballot, Tuesday's winner will be unopposed in the November general election.

 

After receiving well wishes from his supporters at the GOAT Sports Bar and Grill, Barrett talked about his win and shared part of his motivation for seeking another two years in the post he has held since 2017.

 

"When [Fitch] called me up and said that he was going to be running against me and said, 'I want to announce I'm going to run in two weeks,' and then he says, 'This is my time and your time to retire,'" Barrett said. "Well, that's when I decided I was going to run."

 

On Tuesday, Barrett congratulated Fitch, a North Adams city councilor, on a well-run campaign after accepting his concession.