nbCC to Host 13th Annual Back-Packed for Success

10:44AM / Monday, July 28, 2025Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (nbCC) is hosting its 13th annual back-to-school event for school-aged kids for local northern Berkshire students.

This includes homeschooled students.

This year registration has expanded to include children entering pre-k programs, spanning pre-K through 12th grade. Students will receive a free backpack to fill with school supplies.

The event for families living in Florida and Savoy will be located at Gabriel Abbott Memorial School, 56 North County Road, Florida on Tuesday, Aug. 12 from 5:00p.m. to 6:00pm. Families picking up from Florida and Savoy will receive pre-packed backpacks and will be contacted to choose the color of their child's backpack.

The event for families living in Williamstown, North Adams, Clarksburg, Adams, & Cheshire will be located at the North Adams Armory gym, 206 Ashland Street, North Adams on Thursday, Aug. 14 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. Families picking up at this location will choose their backpacks and school supplies at the event. If possible, bring children along so they can choose for themselves.

This event requires pre-registration to ensure there are enough backpacks and supplies ready for each child, as supplies are limited. Families can register online at:https://forms.gle/Uifib4ghS1betJzu8 or by contacting nbCC's Family Resource Center at (413) 663-7588 to register.

For more information, contact Nancy Kennedy, Northern Berkshire Community Coalition at (413) 663-7588.

Tags: NBCC,

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Andrew Fitch Launches Bid for State Representative in North Berkshire

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
04:30PM / Tuesday, February 03, 2026

Candidate Andrew Fitch gets a hug from his mother, Sara Prouty, who introduced him.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Andrew Fitch announced his run for state representative to an enthusiastic crowd on Tuesday morning.

The two-term city councilor stressed his energy, commitment and campaign priorities of economic development, housing and regional relationships for the 13 communities in the 1st Berkshire.

"There are a lot of municipalities to be in, and I have that energy and drive and interest and love a good road trip," he said, speaking to the crowd at Steeple City Social, a popular lounge/cafe that he runs with business partner Meghan Daly. "A lot of people have asked me for my fresh energy and my fresh blood, and that is what I give to you, maybe not literally my blood, but I certainly get my fresh energy and ideas and drive."

Afterward, Fitch said he'd been approached several times over the past few years about running for state representative. But he was just getting on the City Council, opening a business and involved in community activities, so it didn't seem to be the right time.

"Now that I have more time under my belt, I've been in two terms as a city councilor, and Steeple City Social is up and running and is almost a year old," he said. "It is now sustainable, not on its own, but without me having to work all the time here, I knew that I could take this on."

Fitch is mounting a Democratic primary challenge to John Barrett III, who won the seat in a special election in 2017 after the death of state Rep. Gailanne Cariddi. Since then, he's only had one primary challenger, Paula Kingsbury-Evans, a college student at the time, who he beat handily by 43 points.

Fitch was raised in Marshfield and moved to North Adams five or six years ago — becoming immediately involved the community. He's a founder of North Adams Pride (now part of Berkshire Pride), a co-organizer of First Fridays and a board member of the North Adams Chamber of Commerce. A small-business owner, he's served on the Zoning Board of Appeals and for a short time on the Airport Commission, to which is now liaison from the council.

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