New surgeon joins Williamstown Medical Associates, NARH staff

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Dr. Sekkal
A. Kacem Sekkal, M.D., a board-certified general surgeon, has joined Williamstown Medical Associates (WMA) and the Medical Staff of North Adams Regional Hospital. Dr. Sekkal is accepting new patients and can be reached through WMA at (413) 458-8182. Dr. Sekkal most recently has practiced surgery at Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin, New Hampshire, but also has practiced as a temporary (locum tenens) surgeon at NARH and other hospitals in New England. "We are excited to have Dr. Sekkal join our surgical services. His professional expertise and demeanor will compliment our already well respected staff," said Dr. Patrick O'Brien, chairman of WMA's surgery department. Dr. Sekkal earned his medical degree from the University of Algeria in Algiers, Algeria, and served his internship and residency in general surgery at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, and an additional residency in general surgery at Bridgeport Hospital in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He is certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery. His clinical interests include laparoscopic surgery, vascular surgery, and colonoscopy. "North Berkshire has a progressive health care system that I want to be a part of," said Dr. Sekkal. "The staff of WMA and the hospital are friendly and very dedicated to the care of their patients, in addition to being very capable. I'm looking forward to using the new surgical facilities at NARH." NARH opened two state-of-the-art operating theaters in January, as part of the hospital's $23 million modernization and renovation project. Two additional operating rooms will be opened in June. WMA opened its doors on April 29, 1958, when H. Collier Wright, M.D., and Robert K. Davis, M.D., established the practice with a staff of four. Now, more than 47 years later, WMA has become one of the largest independent physician-owned and operated facilities in New England. WMA has offices on Adams Road in Williamstown and in the Ambulatory Care Center at North Adams Regional Hospital. For information about the physicians and services of WMA, one may call (413) 458-8182.
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Pittsfield to Consider Speeding Cameras

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Will Pittsfield have speeding cameras in 2026? That is to be decided.

Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren would like the city to consider traffic cameras for speeding enforcement. The City Council referred his petition to Mayor Peter Marchetti last week. 

"Obviously, the mayor's got to consider it, consider whether it's something we are willing to do, something that we are willing to pay for," he said.

Warren suggested the use of speed safety cameras to deal with the city's almost "epidemic" speeding problems.

"Safety dictates that we expand our arsenal in the fight for speed mitigation in order to foster safe streets," he wrote to fellow councilors.

Gov. Maura Healey's $62 billion budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 includes a provision to legalize the traffic cameras starting in July of next year. Before this, state law did not allow for them.

"As people may remember, I petitioned for this before, but at the time the state law — and I did not realize that, I made a mistake — the state law didn't allow it," Warren explained.

"…This would allow tickets to be issued by a stationary camera so it would supplement our police."

He said councilors often hear requests for police officers to monitor streets where cars tend to speed but there is not always the workforce to meet those needs.

"It might be very helpful and cost-effective, but it's something that the mayor should look at and then we can go from there," he said.

Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey recalled his time living in Colorado and wondered why Massachusetts didn't use the cameras. He voted in opposition to the petition, as the cameras will illegal in the state for more than a year — should the Legislature pass the bill. 

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