image description — Silver Cane Award recipient Evelyn Degen and junior recipient Lucia Socha. They were presented with the canes at this year's annual award ceremony and luncheon at the Millhouses of Adams.

Millhouses of Adams Celebrates Oldest Residents With Silver Canes

Community submission12:39PM / Tuesday, May 27, 2025Print Story | Email Story

ADAMS, Mass. — The Millhouses of Adams has been recognizing its eldest residents for more than three decades with the presentation of silver canes.

Wingate Companies, the operator of the affordable housing facility, held its 35th annual Silver Cane Award Ceremony on May 22. The ceremony is celebrated every May in conjunction with Older Americans Month and honors residents who are 80 years and older.

The 2025 recipient is Evelyn Degen, 92, and the junior recipient is Lucia Socha, also 92.

Senior Property Manager Danielle Senecal, Assistant Property Manager Jennifer Rose, Maintenance Supervisor Jody Goff, and maintenance technician Greg Alexander Sr. presented flowers to all that attended.

The decorated silver cane was presented to Degen as her proud daughter, Martha Labbee, looked on. The luncheon was catered by Boston Sea Foods and balloon making was provided by Millhouses of Adams very own Walter Timoney.

The first silver cane was presented in 1989 to Emma Levesque as the Millhouse Senior Association Award. Levesque, born in 1899, won the cane each year to 1997, when she was 98.

Tags: recognition event, senior citizens,

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Adams Parts Ways With Police Chief

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
04:43PM / Monday, December 22, 2025

ADAMS, Mass. — The town has parted ways with its police chief.

K. Scott Kelley "is no longer employed by the Town of Adams," according to interim Town Administrator Holli Jayko.

The Board of Selectmen voted on Sept. 8 to put the police chief on a paid leave of absence but town officials have declined to answer repeated questions about the nature of the absence other than to clarify it was not a "suspension."

His departure follows an executive session held by the Selectmen last Wednesday to discuss a personnel matter other than professional competence, including health or discipline, or dismissal.

A request for further information on whether Kelley's leaving was through resignation or termination was not provided, or whether his contract had been paid out.

"The Town does not comment on personnel matters and will have no further comment on this matter at this time," responded Selectmen Chair John Duval via email on Friday.

Kelley, who moved here to take the post of chief in 2021, has reportedly sold his home.

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