NAFD/NAPD Forces Championship Final in Women's League

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
07:50PM / Monday, August 24, 2026Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – North Adams Fire Department/Police Department scored three runs in the top of the sixth to take a one-run lead and held on for a 5-4 win over Belle Ame Lashes in the championship round of the North Adams Women’s Softball League.

Carrie Brassard went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI and Kenzie Dobbert recorded a pair of strikeouts as NAFD/ NAPD forced a winner-take-all finale on Tuesday night to conclude the double-elimination tournament.

It was a pitchers’ duel early between Lashes’ Sarah Sweet and Dobbert, who started a 1-3 double play on a line drive back to the circle and speared another line drive for the third out in the third inning.

Sweet got out of a jam after putting runners on first and second to start the third with three straight outs to help keep it a 0-0 game going to the fourth.

In the top of the fourth, the first responders scored the game’s first two runs.

Heather Morris got things started with a leadoff single to left and moved into scoring position on Brassard’s single.

Morris came home when Anna Dix singled up the middle, and an infield error allowed NAFD/NAPD to score its second run.

It stayed 2-0 until the bottom of the fifth, when second-seeded Lashes, which advanced through the winners’ bracket, rallied for four runs.

Morgan Kiersted worked a leadoff walk to start the rally.

An errant throw put runners at second and third with one out before Lashes got back-to-back singles from Jackie Larochelle and Ashton Smead to make it 2-2.

Larochelle came home on Logan Stansfield’s single to left, and a bases-loaded walk to Morgan Shafer made it 4-2.

A leadoff single from Morris started the top of the sixth, and Brassard’s RBI double made it 4-3. Brassard, who went to third on a throw home, then scored when Cheyanne Alcombright reached on an error to tie it.

Alcombright reached second on a fly ball to left and took third on Ava Cariddi’s single to put runners at the corners. Dobbert then reached on a groundball up the middle for an RBI fielder’s choice to give the First Responders a 5-4 lead.

Sweet got a comebacker to the circle to end the rally.

And Dobbert held serve from there, allowing just two out singles in the bottom of the sixth and the seventh, without allowing a runner in scoring position.

The game ended when Alcombright charged for a shoestring catch in left field for the final out.

Tuesday’s Championship Game is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Disanti Field.

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NAHA Board Accepts Director's Resignation, Unlocks Tenants Association Office

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
03:33PM / Friday, October 16, 2026

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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