Firefighter Ryan Richards is sworn in by City Clerk Deborah Pedercini. Below, Ross Vivori has difficulty putting Sgt. Brad Vivori's shield after his swearing in.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city has welcomed five new police officers, a new firefighter and promoted a new sergeant.
City Council chambers were packed Tuesday with friends, family and colleagues and Mayor Thomas Bernard again quipped they were all in the safest place in the city.
"I think I made this joke every time we have the opportunity," he joked.
Ryan Richards was sworn in by City Clerk Deborah Pedercini as a permanent firefighter, after some time as a reserve. Fire Chief Stephen Meranti beckoned his parents, Bruce and Lauren Richards, up to the podium and his father pinned on Richards' new shield and his mother gave him a hug.
Robert Barrett, Dana Clement, Taylor Kline, and Sakan Sadowsky, recent graduates of the police academy, were then sworn in as patrol officers by Pedercini along with John Brack, who had been an officer in the state of Florida before joining the North Adams force.
Pedercini also swore Brad Vivori into his new post as sergeant. Vivori joined the force as a permanent officer in 2012 after a period as a reserve. He was a detective before his promotion to sergeant.
Vivori's father, Ross, pinned on his new shield — after Police Chief Jason Wood found the momentarily misplaced item, which led to some joshing from the mayor and councilors.
The mayor pointed to both Richards and Vivori's family tradition of service: Bruce Richards has worked for the city in the Department of Public Works for 30 years and Vivori has been the city assessor for nearly a decade.
"I know many of the families of our new officers who graduated from the academy were there with us in Fall River two weeks ago, but I want to thank them again while they're here," Bernard said.
In his communique to the City Council requesting the time for a public swearing in during the council's televised meeting, the mayor stated that "Sergeant Vivori has distinguished himself through his training, service, and commitment to the department and the residents of the City of North Adams; I am confident our new officers and our new firefighter will embody the same commitment to excellence, and will serve the City of North Adams with distinction."
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Colegrove Park Recognized as Top 10 School Statewide in Attendance
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
Superintendent Barbara Malkas, left, Colegrove Principal Amy Meehan, Mayor Jennifer Macksey and Dean of Students Jonathan Slocum pose with the Celtics basketball award on Friday.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Boston Celtics gave gold to Colegrove Park Elementary School on Friday for scoring in the top 10 schools for attendance statewide. The school saw its chronic absenteeism numbers drop by 11 percent last year.
Tim Connor, assistant director for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's west and central district, arrived with a gold basketball signed by the champion team to reward the students for their achievement.
"An award like this doesn't come easy. It takes a lot of work from all of you, the students, the parents, and especially Ms. Meehan and her wonderful staff, so a big round of applause," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey, after leading the assembly in the gym to chants of "Colegrove rocks!" "I am so proud of this school and the community that all of you have built. So everyone should be really excited about today, and this is an excellent way to start your school."
Superintendent Barbara Malkas asked last year's fifth-graders at Colegrove to join her at the front of the gym for a special applause.
"When we track attendance of all the students in the whole district, these students have the highest attendance rate, the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the entire district," Malkas said. "While all Colegrove students have been recognized as attendance all-stars, these students led the way in being attendance all-stars, so let's give them one more round of applause."
Colegrove switched this year to house Grades 3 to 6, so some of the younger students who helped earn the award are now at Brayton Elementary. However, all three elementary schools open last year saw improvement in attendance.
Schools statewide have been working to reduce chronic absenteeism — the percentage of students missing 10 percent of the school year, or 18 days — which peaked during the pandemic.
Last week, the nonprofit held a ceremonial groundbreaking for a 900-square-foot wooden structure with a full foundation and a composting toilet. The excavation process began this week, and completion is expected in 2026.
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The Boston Celtics gave gold to Colegrove Park Elementary School on Friday for scoring in the top 10 schools for attendance statewide. The school saw its chronic absenteeism numbers drop by 11 percent last year. click for more