North Adams Seeing Races for Mayor, City Council

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — It looks like the city may avoid a preliminary election, based on the number of candidates as of last week. 
 
There are two candidates certified for the November ballot: Jennifer Macksey is running for her third term in the corner office and Scott Berglund, a sales representative, is challenging her. Richard David Greene, who has taken out papers in the past for office, has not returned papers for mayor. 
 
Fourteen people have taken out papers for City Council, including seven incumbents. Of those, Peter Breen, Bryan Sapienza and Ashley Shade have had their signatures certified. Wayne Wilkinson and Deanna Morrow have not taken papers out. 
 
Newcomers  Aprilyn Carsno, Virginia Riehl, Joshua Vallieres, Thomas Wallace and Lillian Zavatsky have not returned papers. 
 
Carsno twice unsuccessfully ran for mayor against Macksey; Riehl has become involved in local housing efforts and was recently appointed to the Planning Board; Zavatsky is also a housing advocate and works at the Brien Center; and Vallieres was briefly city clerk and served on the School Committee. 
 
School Committee incumbents Emily Daunis and David Sookey are running for re-election; Richard Alcombright has not taken out papers. They are being challenged for one of the three seats by Eric Wilson, who ran unsuccessfully in 2023. Wilson has had his signatures certified.
 
Incumbents Gary F. Rivers and Tyler Gibeau have returned papers for the two seats on the McCann School Committee.
 
A preliminary election would be required if at least one of the positions had twice the number of candidates as seats plus one. Should Greene return papers for mayor, an election would be held to narrow the field to two. 
 
The last day to submit nomination papers is July 29; all papers must be certified by Aug. 12. Mayor, City Council and both school committee require 50 signatures of registered voters. Aug. 14 is the last day to withdraw or file objections. 
 

 


Tags: election 2025,   municipal election,   


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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

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