Louison House Community Picnic and Fundraiser

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Louison House will host a community celebration and fundraiser at noon on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at the Historic Valley Campground pavilion at Windsor Lake.
 
The baseball-themed event serves a dual purpose: honoring local athletes and marking a major milestone for the housing and social services organization. 
 
This June marks 10 years since a fire impacted the Louison House property on June 28, 2016. At 1:00 p.m., organizers will briefly reflect on the organization's progress and recovery over the decade since the incident.
 
The event will also welcome and honor the North Adams SteepleCats collegiate baseball team, alongside local high school baseball and softball graduates. SteepleCats players will be on-site to sign autographs and take photos with attendees.
 
Festivities include a lunch from noon. to 1:00 p.m. featuring hot dogs, veggie burgers, pasta salad, beans, and drinks, with food donated by Bounti-Fair in Adams. Activities scheduled for the day include a T-Ball Home Run Derby, a dunk tank, cornhole, and various baseball-themed raffles and games.
 
Admission is $10 for individuals and $25 for families (up to two adults and four children), which includes the cost of lunch. While some games are free, others require a small fee to play, and all proceeds will directly benefit Louison House. Payments can be made via cash, check, or Venmo at the gate. Advance tickets are available by contacting the organization.
 
On-site parking is located near the campground office, and the new Louison House passenger van will provide a continuous shuttle service to the pavilion. A limited number of handicapped parking spaces are available directly next to the pavilion, and a drop-off zone will be open for guests before drivers park.
 

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North Adams Housing Authority Director Steps Down

Staff Reports

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Jennifer Hohn, the longtime executive director of the North Adams Housing Authority (NAHA), has stepped down after 24 years with the agency.

The Berkshire Eagle reported that Hohn resigned from her position on Thursday. The NAHA Board of Commissioners is currently developing a transition plan.

Her resignation follows rising tension between Hohn and the tenants association. Residents—particularly at the Spring and Ashland Park apartments—have raised specific concerns regarding building security, drug activity, and trespassers.

This summer, Tenants Association President Corey Fortin posted a video on social media demonstrating that door alarms in some of the buildings were not functioning.

Shortly after the video was posted, the tenants association's office was locked. Members alleged Hohn locked the space in retaliation, while Hohn maintained it was a matter of tenant safety. Hohn also stated that NAHA does not officially recognize the association because it has yet to go through official channels for certification—a claim the tenants association disputes.

The dispute culminated in plans for a formal grievance hearing between Hohn and the association. Both sides agreed to hold a meeting on Oct. 3, but the hearing had not yet been scheduled at the time of her resignation.
During her tenure as director, Hohn oversaw significant changes at NAHA, including expansion and the dissolution of Housing Opportunities Incorporated, a program founded over 30 years ago to assist first-time homebuyers. Most recently, she led efforts to transition NAHA properties from traditional public housing models to the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. She also directed the rebuilding of a Greylock Valley Apartments building after it was severely damaged by a fire.

The NAHA Board of Commissioners meets monthly, typically on Mondays.

 

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