Letter: That's Who We Are, Adams
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To the Editor:
That's Who We Are
I wanted to say something about Sept. 12, 2026. The day we celebrated the with the Alerts 150th anniversary parade.
I want us to recognize that our community is built on, and sustained by, an amazing force: volunteer organizations and the people who give their time, energy and passion to make Adams a better place.
Our community is not defined by naysayers, keyboard warriors, problem creators, or those who seem intent on finding fault with every effort. It is defined by people who step up, get involved, solve problems, learn from our mistakes, add value where they can, and lift each other up when times are difficult.
We live in what I like to call "our little piece of heaven." And Sept. 12 was a wonderful reminder of who we really are.
Our community is built on amazing volunteers and first responders, as was so clearly demonstrated by the celebration of the Adams Fire Department's 150th Anniversary. It was a glorious parade, planned and executed flawlessly, and made even more special by the participation of more than 30 fire departments and first responder organizations from throughout the area. Thank you, Mike Therrien and your entire team, for giving all of us the opportunity to celebrate with you. That's who we are.
Our community is built on newcomers like Yina Moore, who came to town with a vision and is executing it beautifully. She continues to curate amazing performances. The Adams Theater surpassed its $100,000 fundraising goal this year. That kind of accomplishment doesn't happen by accident. It happens because people believe in Adams and are willing to work for it. That's who we are.
Our community is built on supporting the incredible work at the Greylock Glen Outdoor Center; an amazing facility that grew from a concept championed by our Community Development Director Donna Cesan, and made possible in part through extraordinary state support led by Representative Barrett, who believed in the project and believed in us. That's who we are.
Our community is built on four people sitting on a porch one day and deciding that they didn't want Adams to be defined by negative stories. They decided that creating a group called Pro Adams could be part of changing that narrative. Fifteen years later, they are still going strong. This year, they are continuing to innovate with projects to help promote economic growth, like Bears on Parade. Thank you, Pro Adams, for keeping that dream alive. That's who we are.
Our community is built on another conversation between two women who believed our town needed an uplift. There are no words to adequately express our gratitude to Mary Parker, Deb Nowicki, and the entire team that has made such a difference in such a short time. Our Adams Beautification team did just that! It's beautiful. That's who we are.
Our community is built on dedication to preserving the history of Adams. Through newsletters, reenactments, church tours, the Quaker Meeting House and the continued preservation of artifacts and stories, the Adams Historical Society remains an important part of our community and our identity. That's who we are.
Our community is built on organizations like Berkshire Harm Reduction and Berkshire Health Systems that work to address the needs of all our residents. You may have noticed the new naloxone boxes appearing in locations throughout town. That is what a community does; it recognizes a need and works together to address it. Thank you to BRPC, Berkshire Harm Reduction, Adams Police Department, and the HEAL Community for being part of that effort. That's who we are.
Our community is built on the steadfastness and hard work of the team that calls itself the Adams Street Fair. We all know that it is about much more than the Street Fair itself. When the Adams Events Committee disbanded after more than 40 years, this group stepped up and took on the movies and concerts. They didn't simply continue them; they expanded them. No complaints. No excuses. Just hard work, coordination and commitment to the community. That's who we are.
Our community is built on the hard work and passion of the Thunderbolt Ski Runners, who for years have maintained and groomed mountain bike trails on our side of majestic Mount Greylock. They continue to put in the work and create events that give all of us opportunities to enjoy this incredible place we call home. That's who we are.
I am leaving out so many others that this letter could go on forever; the Adams Lions Club, the American Legion, Friends of the COA, Friends of the Library, our churches, our civic organizations, our businesses, and countless individuals who quietly volunteer their time without ever asking for recognition.
That is the Adams I know.
Here is my final point.
Rather than tear down our community or our town administration, embrace the opportunity to make a difference. We have a new town administrator who is open to communication and is taking a flexible and informed approach. We have a new community development director coming on board, and we have a wonderful finance director.
Are things perfect? Of course not. No community is. But we have an opportunity to move forward together.
Let us not allow the loudest voices; or the people who are most committed to finding fault; to define who we are. Let us instead be defined by the people who show up, roll up their sleeves, volunteer, create, preserve, support, and care about their neighbors.
Let us continue to be the community that is kind, compassionate and caring about all of its residents. A community that adds value. A community that believes in itself. A community that is willing to work together and believes in growth. Here's to our little piece of heaven, Adams.
That's who we are.
Carol A. Cushenette
Adams, Mass.
