CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The Select Board will have a full complement this year after Ronald Boucher won write-in victory for a three-year term.
Only 110 ballots were cast in the annual town election on Tuesday, less than 10 percent of registered voters in the town. However, it took about an hour to count all the ballots because of the high number of write-ins, said Town Clerk Carol Jammalo.
Boucher is a new resident, having moved to Clarksburg last summer from North Adams. He does have plenty of experience in local government — he served eight terms on the City Council, including as chairman, and spent a number of years as an appointed member of the Hoosac Water Quality District representing North Adams. Boucher also ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2011 and considered a second run last year before he and his family made the decision to move out of the city.
Since then, he's been appointed to the Finance Committee, which has produced one of the least controversial budgets in years.
The three-year seat was being left vacant by Jeffrey Levanos, who chose not to run for a third term. No one took out nomination papers for the seat leading Boucher to mount a last-minute write-in campaign. That garnered him 20 votes and won him the seat.
Joining him on the Select Board will be Karin Robert, who was the only candidate to take out papers to complete the last year of a three-year term. It will, however, be a somewhat inexperienced board with two brand-new members and Kimberly Goodell, who also won her three-year seat last year as a write-in.
In the only race on the ballot, Cynthia Brule won a three-year seat on the School Committee over Martha Beattie. The seat had been held by John Solari who declined to run for a third term.
Two other write-ins also won office: Ernest Dix for another one-year term a tree warden and Carlyle Chesbro Sr. for a three-year term as War Memorial trustee.
Running unopposed were longtime Moderator Bryan Tanner for another one-year term; Norman Rolnick, returned to the Board of Health for three years; Gregory Vigna, elected in 2017 to complete the final year of a term on the Planning Board, won a full five-year term; and Debra Bua, re-elected for another three-year term as library trustee.
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Pontoosuc Under Public Health Advisory
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A blue-green algae bloom was confirmed on Friday at Pontoosuc Lake that may present harmful health effects for users of the lake.
The city has issued a health advisory as recommended by the state Department of Public Health for both people and pets.
• Do not swim.
• Do not swallow water.
• Keep animals away.
• Rinse off after contact with water.
Warning signs are being posted around the lake.
Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, occur naturally in lakes and ponds throughout Massachusetts. These microscopic organisms are components of the aquatic food chain. In ordinary circumstances, cyanobacteria cause no apparent harm. However, warmer water temperatures and high nutrient concentrations may induce a rapid increase in their abundance.
This response is commonly called a "bloom" because algal biomass increases to the extent that normally
clear water becomes markedly turbid.
Harmful health effects from the bloom can result through skin contact with the algae tainted water, swallowing the water, and when airborne droplets are inhaled. Pets are especially prone to the health effects not only through skin contact, but also by ingesting significant amounts of the toxin by licking their wet fur after leaving the water.
West Dews ran for 137 yards, Landon Corcoran made big plays down the stretch and the Wahconah defense made the biggest stop of the night to stymie a comeback drive in the closing minutes of a 22-18 win over rival Hoosac Valley on Friday night.
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It was a quick start for the McCann Hornets (4-1-1), finding the back of the net for the game's only goal just three minutes in. The goal was set up after a forced turnover around midfield when Ashton Solomon set up Collin Boyd.
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Leo Stringer headed a Nate Beatty free kick into the back of the net in the 71st minute to break a 2-2 tie, and the Wahconah boys soccer team went on to a 3-2 win over Lenox on Saturday night. click for more