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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.
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Maintenance Supervisor Jody Goff, left, Senior Property Manager Danielle Senecal, award recipient Evelyn Degen, junior recipient Lucia Socha, Assistant Property Manager Jennifer Rose, maintenance technician Greg Alexander Sr.

Millhouses of Adams Celebrates Oldest Residents With Silver Canes

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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 Man in Wednesday's Stabbing Incident Arraigned on Assault Charges

Staff Reports
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — An Adams man who called 911 on Tuesday night saying he had been stabbed was arraigned Friday on charges related to that incident and on outstanding warrants. 
 
Philip White, 25, is accused of stabbing himself and calling 911 posing as a "friend." According to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, an officer responding to the scene at 31 Commercial St. fired his weapon when the White was "observed approaching the officer in a threatening manner with an object in his hand." He missed, and no one was further injured. 
 
White was initially held at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield for a mental health evaluation and was reported in stable condition from his wounds, which were described as not life-threatening.
 
He was charged in Northern Berkshire District Court with assault with a dangerous weapon, to wit: cutting instrument, in connection with the Jan. 27 incident. He is being held without right to bail probation violation from charges of assault and battery, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct from an incident on Sept. 12, 2025. 
 
White has three outstanding warrants which include three counts of trespass and one count of assault and battery on a family/household member. The court has additionally ordered an evaluation on his competence to stand trial and at the defense request, criminal responsibility.
 
A dangerousness hearing request is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 4. 
 
District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said he will announce the findings of the full investigation into this incident, including the officer's discharge of his firearm, upon the conclusion of the investigation. The DA's Office said there would not be any additional comments at this time.
 
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