Election 2009: Alcombright Announces His Plan for Debates

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Dick Alcombright
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Mayoral Candidate Dick Alcombright today announced his plans for debates this fall:

"I have been contacted by the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce about participating in a debate hosted by them and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on either Sept. 29 or 30 and have agreed in principle to this debate.  We are working with the Chamber on format and ground rules for the debate and I am sure we will firm up the event fairly quickly. I look forward to the opportunity and thank both the Chamber and MCLA for sponsoring this important event."

"In addition, and in response to the Transcript's offer to host a second debate, I have contacted several local media outlets in Berkshire County regarding the possibility of their participation in a second debate in mid-October. I am pleased to announce that Tammy Daniels of iBerkshires, Larry Kratka of WUPE/WNAW, Sherman Baldwin of WBRK, Charlie Dietz of WAMC and Charles Giuliano of Berkshirefinearts.com have agreed to participate as panelists. I am also very excited to announce that Paul Hutchinson, town clerk of Adams, has offered his services as moderator. We will wait to hear from the Transcript as well as our opponent on format, ground rules, venue, and final date and time."

"I feel that it is very important to have all of the local media involved in the debate process as it includes many voices and audiences in the area. I believe my opponent agrees with this philosophy as he was quoted in the Aug. 6 issue of the Transcript as saying '... I'd like to see the local media put [another debate] together.'"

"We welcome the upcoming debates as an opportunity to discuss the most important issues facing the City of North Adams and thank all who have agreed to participate."

Together We Will Succeed

If you are interested in helping to elect Dick Alcombright as the next mayor of North Adams, e-mail him at info@AlcombrightForMayor.com or call him at 413-663-5057 and visit AlcombrightForMayor.com.

Submitted by the Committee to Elect Alcombright for Mayor
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Companion Corner Grey Boy at No Paws Left Behind

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There's a cat No Paws Left Behind still waiting for his forever home.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home. He was previously highlighted but he now has new information.

Grey Boy is 10 years old and is a gray and white domestic shorthair and was previously highlighted on Companion Corner.

The shelter's Executive Director Noelle Howland introduced us to him and his long journey to be ready for adoption.

"He's been here a couple months. He was a transfer from a rescue in Bennington. They were out of space, so we had taken him in with a few other cats. So he's been here a couple months. He came in with what we believed was a respiratory infection," she said. "So it took us a little bit to get him ready, and then he also needed a dental. So he has nice, clean teeth. He had some teeth removed, and then he has to go back in and have one more dental. So he'll be all ready to go."

It was previously thought that he has feline herpes but he was recently diagnosed with a palette fracture because of how bad his dental disease was, which is what is causing his sneezing. He can now go home with cats, a cat-savvy dog and children.

"He has had two dentals since being with us. Due to the palate fracture he will be sneezy for the rest of his life, not contagious sneezing, but that doesn’t stop him from living a perfectly happy life. He should be on wet food with chunks due to this and since he has had many teeth removed," Howland said.

Grey Boy loves to play with toys and enjoy treats. He would also love to have a window to lounge or bird-watch in.

"He is not afraid of anything. He's very curious, so I'm sure he'd love if you have windows for him to look out of. He still plays, even though he's 10 it does not stop him. So any home would be a good fit for him."

Now that he is ready to be adopted, he is excited. When you walk into the room with him he will rub up against your leg introducing himself and asking to be pet.

"Usually, I would say, when you're walking, he'll bonk into you so he might catch you off guard a little bit. He constantly is rubbing against you," Howland said. "He really, I would say he's lazy when you want him to be, and he's active when you want him to be. He'll play with toys. He's usually lounging away. And then when he comes out he'll play. He loves it. So, very friendly, easy going cat."

He is now perfectly healthy with his dentals all done and veterinary care up to date and is ready to find his forever family.

"I would say the friendliest, easiest cat you could have. He's just, he's just gonna be a little sneezy sometimes, but that doesn't stop him from doing anything," she said.

Grey Boy's adoption fee is sponsored by Rooted in Balance Counseling LLC.

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