Election 2009: Coakley Endorses Alcombright

03:01AM / Saturday, October 31, 2009Print Story | Email Story

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Martha Coakley, attorney general and a candidate for U.S. Senate, on Friday endorsed Dick Alcombright for mayor of North Adams.

"I am proud to endorse Dick Alcombright for mayor of North Adams," said Coakley. "I grew up in North Adams and the future of the city means a great deal to me. I went to grammar school with Dick Alcombright. I know his character, his strong work ethic and his great sense of humor. When Dick pledges to the citizens of North Adams that he will be open and accountable to the taxpayers, he means what he says. I would also like to thank John Barrett for his 26 years of service."

"I am delighted to have the support of U.S. Senate candidate Martha Coakley in my race to become the next mayor of the city of North Adams," said Alcombright. "Martha and I have known one another for decades and our families have worked hard for the benefit of this city and its residents."

Coakley, 56, was raised in North Adams. She is a graduate of Williams College in Williamstown, where she was a member of the first class admitted to the college that included female students. She received her law degree from Boston University School of Law in 1979. Coakley resides in Medford with her husband, Thomas F. O'Connor, a retired police Deputy Superintendent.

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Your Comments

iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.

If, like Bo Peabody's wife and Coakley, you want money taken from our schools to start a charter school that we didn't ask for and that's only for certain kids, endorse Alcombright. If you want a Mayor who cares about all of our citizens, and is tough and who fights for us, vote John Barrett.
from: Long Time Voter	on: 10-31-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

If you want a mayor who has stalled progress and will continue to do so stay with Barrett. We don't need 2 more years of the Barrett administrations fall from grace.
from: BuhBye	on: 10-31-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

We have to understand that Charter Schools are here, and they aren't going anywhere. Our children now attend BArT (whether you like the concept or not)... We need a mayor that will support our children at these schools. Dick Alcombright is that man. Dick (as well as most of us) understand that the state-dictated methods for paying for charter schools are broken, and need to be fixed. He will work to do that. But the fact is, that we need to support our kids, and that means supporting BArT.
from: Brian Miksic	on: 10-31-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Once again the Transcript has failed the citizens of this community in not carrying out its mission to each and everyone of us. That mission is to report the news of public interest in a timely and unbias manner. This leads one to believe that the importance of the press in the democratic process has been violated, resulting in a total destruction of the Transcripts credibility. No matter who you support for Mayor, it is an blatant attack on the people of North Adams in reporting news fairly and in a balanced manner.
from: Vin Melito	on: 11-02-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

This was posted at 3 am on a Saturday. The Transcript goes to press at midnight on Friday to put out Saturday's paper. The next paper they put out is Monday's. This story was in Monday's paper, what else do you want? Editor: To clarify, this was received in the afternoon and I had planned on writing a story or column, but had an obligation in Pittsfield. After working for hours afterward to catch up on other stuff, realized I hadn't dealt with the endorsement so posted it as is. Yes, I was working that late.
from: Observer	on: 11-03-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

'Into Light': Addressing Addiction One Portrait at a Time

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
08:13AM / Sunday, March 08, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The "Into Light" exhibit is sketching a new path toward transforming the conversation around addiction — one portrait and story at a time.

Since 2019, the nonprofit's founder Theresa Clower has put on close to 21 exhibitions around the country, sharing the stories of more than 600 people who have lost their lives to addiction.

Now, the installation will be on view at Hotel Downstreet from Friday, March 13, through June 30, featuring 10 portraits of local community members who died from addiction and 20 portraits from the eastern Massachusetts exhibit.

This collaborative effort combines municipal opioid settlement funds and lead sponsor Berkshire Health Systems, in collaboration with the Northern Berkshire Opioid Abatement Collaborative, HEAL Coalition, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, and North Adams Regional Hospital.

In addition to the installation, the team has developed programs and forums to be held throughout the three months to start a conversation and improve education on the disease.

"The core to our efforts around 'Into Light' is the community education, especially building on people's awareness of addiction as a disease and as a disease that is curable," said Andy Ottoson, BRPC senior public health planner.

Ottoson stressed the importance of treating substance use disorder like any other disease, reducing stigma, and normalizing open conversations around addiction and the resources out there to help recover.

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