Hoosac Valley Ski And Snowboarding Club Returns

CHESHIRE, Mass. — There may not be any snow for the cross country skiers, but the Hoosac Valley High School ski and snowboarding club has found luck on higher ground. 

For the past three weeks, Hoosac Valley snow enthusiasts have made their way up to Berkshire East in Charlemont.

Club organizer and physical education teacher Jason Sniezek said he wanted to bring the program back to give students more sports options.

"I wanted to start it up to give kids something different to do during the winter," Sniezek said. "Basically, all they have is basketball."

He said it has been nearly 12 years since the school has hosted a ski program.

"Luckily this year the principal was on board with it, and I just organized it and we ended up 14 kids this year," he said. "Hopefully we can grow next year."

Sniezek said the students pay for their ski time and Berkshire East provides them with discounts, even on rentals and lessons.

They get free range of the mountain, but he has no interest in becoming more than a club.

"It's just a casual outing. The kids are on their own on the mountain, and they can go ski and snowboard and we meet back up at 8," he said. "It’s just a good social outing and all around fun. ... The kids are having a blast."

Berkshires Turns Out in Protest Against Trump Administration

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
05:37PM / Saturday, April 05, 2025

Hundreds of people were at Park Square on Saturday afternoon to protest actions by the Trump administration and expressed fears about the potential loss of civil rights and Social Security.

ADAMS, Mass. — A cold and rainy Saturday didn't stop hundreds of Berkshire residents from making known their feelings about recent actions by the Trump administration. 

 

At least 150 people assembled in Adams around the Town Common, with the statue of voting rights icon Susan B. Anthony in the background, and at the Adams Free Library where Civil War veterans once gathered.

 

"Last time I was in one of these marches was in 1969 against the Vietnam War down in Boston," said Michael Wellington of Adams.

 

In Williamstown, more than 200 people turned out to line both sides of Main Street (Route 2) in front of First Congregational Church at noon on Saturday afternoon. And hundreds gathered at Park Square in Pittsfield, with chants so loud they could be heard from the McKay Street Parking Garage. 

 

"We need peaceful protest, I think, is the only thing that is going to make a difference to certain people," said Jackie DeGiorgis of North Adams, standing across the corner from the Adams Town Common.  "So I'm hoping we can get more people out here and say their peace. ...

 

"I would like our our representatives in Congress, to do their job and listen to their constituents, because I don't think that's happening."

 

Her friend Susan Larson King, also of North Adams, acknowledged that "government needs to be downsized, maybe."