Letter: Transportation Is Economic Development in the Berkshires

Letter to the Editor11:00AM / Tuesday, July 28, 2026Print Story | Email Story

To the Editor:

For too long, Western Massachusetts has been treated as an afterthought in statewide transportation decisions. The 1st Berkshire District needs a state representative who understands that reliable transportation and infrastructure are essential to economic growth, public safety, tourism, healthcare access, and quality of life.

As a small-business owner, downtown property owner, and former airport commissioner, I know that transportation investments determine whether communities grow or fall behind. Our region needs leadership focused on delivering results, not political theater.

I support expanding passenger rail to reconnect the Berkshires with Boston, while investing in safe roads, reliable bridges, public transit, walkable communities, bicycle infrastructure, and electric vehicle charging. Rural communities also deserve transportation funding that reflects the true cost of maintaining our roads and infrastructure.

I will support expanding the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail into North Adams and Williamstown, strengthening Berkshire Regional Transit Authority service, modernizing bridges and culverts, improving freight and passenger rail, and pursuing every available state and federal infrastructure funding opportunity. Together, we can build a transportation system that keeps the Berkshires connected and competitive.

Andrew Fitch
North Adams, Mass.

Candidate for state representative
of the 1st Berkshire District

Tags: campaign statements, election 2026,

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Veteran Spotlight: Coast Guard Capt. Thurman 'Tom' Maine

By Wayne SoaresSpecial to iBerkshires
04:42PM / Sunday, September 13, 2026

MASHPEE, Mass. — If I were to describe the best attributes of this week's veteran, they would be an infectious personality, role model, leader, wonderful family man and a person that leads by example in the very best way.

The aforementioned, are the primary reasons why Thurman "Tom" Maine enjoyed a successful and distinguished military career in the Coast Guard from 1983 to 2014.

Born in North Stonington, Conn., Maine entered the Coast Guard at the age of 21 and was sent to boot camp in Cape May, N.J. His first assignment was at Coast Guard Station in Provincetown, R.I. From 1994 to 1997, he was a helicopter pilot for Coast Guard Air Station at Otis Air National Guard Base and was elevated to operations officer, chief pilot at the base from 2004 to 2007.

During his 31-year career, Maine flew some of the Coast Guard's most elite helicopters; the Sikorsky H-3 (the Coast Guard's last amphibious aircraft), the Sikorsky H-60 (the most widely flown military helicopter in the world) and the H-65 (a smaller, faster helicopter that deploys on ships).

Maine continued to rapidly climb the ranks and in 2009 was promoted as the Coast Guard's liason to the Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon, a position he held until 2011. Following that assignment, he was promoted to captain and rose to be the commanding officer at the Coast Guard's prestigious Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Ala.

During his tenure as commanding officer, he suffered a devastating blow when four Guardsman were killed during a night training exercise. He conveyed that his greatest achievement in his entire military career, was the leadership he provided

to his 600-member unit and the families of the fallen Guardsmen, by always being accessible, communicating constantly and holding vitally important family nights.

He said this tragedy, "gave him the ultimate opportunity to live out his faith." He also lobbied intensely for the student pilot who was killed to be awarded his designation posthumously, which he did.

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