More than 80 Participate in Hoosic River Run/Walk

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Pittsfield’s Simeon Mercier and Kelly Maginnis were the top male and female finishers in the inaugural Hoosic River Run on Saturday at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.
 
Mercier clocked a 5-kilometer time of 20 minutes, 12.65 seconds to finish 49 seconds ahead of the field. Maginnis placed fifth overall among 41 finishers and first among female finishers with a time of 22:06.07.
 
The 5K competitors were joined by 32 participants in a 1-mile walk held in conjunction with the race.
 
“People loved the route we created with the support of Mass MoCA: viewing the river’s North Branch before walking through MoCA’s Mary Lum exhibit, exiting and shortly thereafter enjoying the sight of the free-flowing South Branch meandering next to Noel Field,” HRR President Nancy Bullett said.
 
Organizers credited Mayor Jennifer Macksey and the City of North Adams with helping make the event a success, along with the Berkshire Running Center, volunteers along the route and sponsors that included Specialty Minerals, Casella Waste Management, the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, RK Miles, Berkshire Bank, Greylock Community Club, Haddad Auto Group, Mezze Bistro, Tunnel City Coffee, Door Prize, Big Y, Hotel Downstreet, Grazie and Coyote Flaco.
 
A highlight of the day included hearing the premier of “The Wise Old Hoosic River Suite,” a piece created for the HRR event by the students at the Berkshire Academy for Advanced Music Studies located in Heritage Park, a spot along the run route. The composition can be heard at https://www.berkshiresacademyams.org/baams-presents.  
 
Organizers also provided an opportunity to meet with Tessa Kelly, whose Pittsfield design firm Group Work has been hired by Hoosic River Revival to meet with residents living near the Hoosic River to discuss options for creating riverfront permanent, public gathering spaces for music, recreation, and relaxation. 
 
Hoosic River Revival is a non-profit organization dedicated to modernizing the aging, unattractive Hoosic River flood control system in order to reduce flood risk, enhance climate resilience, and create a community asset for North Adams. For more information, call 413-398-5288 or email info@hoosicriverrevival.org.
 
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NAHA Board Accepts Director's Resignation, Unlocks Tenants Association Office

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Housing Authority Board of Commissioners officially accepted the resignation of Executive Director Jennifer Hohn and restored access to the Tenants Association office.

The board held a special meeting Thursday to vote to accept Hohn's resignation and determined that there are currently no plans to replace her.

"We didn't make any final determinations in terms of the executive session so we will schedule another meeting at another time," Chairwoman Leigh Uqdah said after returning from more than an hour session. "Day-to-day operations will continue to be managed as normal by staff."

Per their bylaws, board member Marie Harpin will continue to handle finances, and Uqdah will manage contracts.

Hohn stepped down on Oct. 8 after 24 years leading the agency. Her resignation followed rising tension between her and the NAHA Tenants Association, culminating in the scheduling of a formal grievance hearing between both parties.

The boiling point was the locking of the association's office this summer. Tenants alleged the lockout was retaliation for posting a video on social media depicting improperly functioning door alarms. Hohn claimed the office was locked for tenant safety and to stop the spread of misinformation.

Tenants Association President Corey Fortin asked if Hohn's security access had been removed. Uqdah confirmed her credentials were revoked the day she resigned, meaning she can no longer monitor security cameras remotely.

Jennifer Barbeau, a former city councilor who was liaison to the Housing Authority, asked when the board met to discuss Hohn's severance package. Uqdah stated that Hohn did not have one.

The board also accepted the resignation of Commissioner Richard Lavigne, though they will vote officially on the matter at their next meeting.

The open portion of the meeting was brief, with nearly an hour and a half spent in executive session. Before entering executive session, the board opened the floor to tenants.

"The tenants requested an opportunity to talk to the board," said Uqdah. "It has been quite a while, but we have decided to honor that."

Fortin, who posted the original video to social media, was the first to speak. He was clear in his request: unlock the office door.

"Let's cut straight to the chase tonight. The former resigned Director Jennifer Hohn ordered the office locked," he alleged. "She is gone. The lockout is a direct violation, and the board has a duty to end that tonight."

He cited federal and state laws that mandate the tenants association be provided with office space, including computer and network access.

"We are here with a direct administrative demand. We demand that the board vote tonight to unlock the doors," he said. "Do not let a resigned director's illegal action remain the board's ongoing liability. Open our door tonight, and let us get back to work."

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