The town of Adams canceled the annual Halloween Parade, as seen as above, and is discouraging trick-or-treating. Instead, the town vehicles will drive through Adams distributing candy.
ADAMS, Mass. — The town will bring a trick-or-treat to the kids of Adams this year, and town vehicles will drive through each precinct to distribute candy.
Police Chief Troy Bacon rolled out the town's modified Halloween plans at Wednesday's Selectmen's meeting and instead of encouraging door-to-door trick-or-treat, town vehicles driven by town employees will distribute candy throughout the town.
"I think tonight we just want to get a consensus of what our plans for Halloween are," Town Administrator Jay Green said. "Everything that we do in 2020 seems to be somehow affected by COVID-19, and we do our best to offer some positivity in the town especially for our young ones."
On Tuesday, the state announced that there would be no state mandates for trick or treating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the state directed residents to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control's guidance in regards to trick or treating during the pandemic.
Berkshire communities are determining how they will deal with door-to-door distribution of candy. North Adams is holding trick-or-treat and issued a list of cautions. Pittsfield also set hours and cautions but did discourage residents from trick or treating altogether.
Town Administrator Jay Green said Bacon, the code enforcement officer, and the Board of Health over the past few weeks have met to discuss possible safe trick-or-treat options. Green referenced the CDC's guidance and noted door to door trick or treating is considered high risk.
After talking with other communities, Bacon said they developed a plan to utilize the Highway Department, the Fire Department, the Police Department, and the Forest Wardens who will drive through each precinct to hand out candy on Halloween.
"I can tell you that the town departments that I have asked to help are energetic, and they are excited about the event," Bacon said. "They want to help, and it brings some sense of normalcy and happiness to our community."
Bacon said vehicles will be equipped with public address systems playing Halloween music. He said they will make multiple trips through the neighborhoods.
"Keep your windows open a little so you can hear the vehicles, and I don't anticipate doing one swap," he said. "We will be able to hit every street maybe multiple times so bear with us if you don't see us right away. We will get there."
He said there will be two people in each vehicle so candy can be handed out on both sides fo the vehicle. He said volunteers will wear masks and gloves.
Green said this limits contact and is a far safer option than door-to-door trick-or-treat, especially with a large elderly population.
Bacon asked that the trick-or-treat hours be set from 5:30 to 7. He said he would like to wrap up before it gets too dark out.
The chief said there is a need for candy and donations are being accepted at the police station. He said candy must be factory sealed. He added that people can also donate money.
Bacon said he would rather have more candy than not enough.
Selectman Joseph Nowak said the town has always been supportive of its children. He said he has always received donations from local businesses.
Selectman Richard Blanchard asked if the town could outright ban door-to-door trick-or-treat and feared that kids may still attempt it.
Green said the town can only "strongly discourage" trick-or-treating. He said they can only ask residents to adhere to their recommendations but cannot control the decisions individuals will make.
"That is their choice but in terms of a townwide turn-your-lights-on and hit it, no not this year," he said. "This decision was made of the greater public good and safety."
Chairman of the Board of Health David Rhoads agreed and urged residents to also avoid Halloween parties or venture to other communities.
Rhoads did say the Board of Health will review the plan at the next meeting to give it their blessing, but he personally was supportive of it.
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A Rare Bird: Koperniak Stands Out in Triple-A
By Frank MurtaughThe Memphis (Tenn.) Flyer
With Major League Baseball’s September roster expansion just around the corner, Berkshire County baseball fans will be watching to see whether 2016 Hoosac Valley High School graduate Matt Koperniak gets the call from the St. Louis Cardinals. Heading into Tuesday night’s action, Koperniak had 125 hits this summer for the Cards’ Triple A affiliate, the Memphis (Tenn.) Redbirds. He is hitting .309 this season with 17 home runs. In his minor league career, he has a .297 batting average with 56 homers after being signed as a free agent by St. Louis out of Trinity College in 2020. This week, sportswriter Frank Murtaugh of the Memphis Flyer profiled Koperniak for that publication. Murtaugh’s story appears here with the Flyer’s permission.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- I’ve interviewed professional baseball players for more than two decades. There are talented players who, honestly, aren’t that interesting away from the diamond. They’re good ballplayers, and baseball is what they know. There are also very interesting baseball players who aren’t all that talented. Now and then, though, you find yourself in the home team’s dugout at AutoZone Park with a very good baseball player who has a very interesting story to share. Like the Memphis Redbirds’ top hitter this season, outfielder Matt Koperniak.
That story? It began on Feb. 8, 1998, when Koperniak was born in London. (Koperniak played for Great Britain in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.) “My dad was in the military,” explains Koperniak. “He was in Italy for a bit, then England. But I have no memories of that time.” Matt and his family moved back to the States — to Adams, Mass. — before his third birthday.
Koperniak played collegiately at Division III Trinity College in Connecticut, part of the New England Small College Athletic Conference. He hit .394 as a junior in 2019, but beating up on the likes of Tufts and Wesleyan doesn’t typically catch the eye of major-league scouts. When the coronavirus pandemic wiped out his senior season, Koperniak received an extra year of eligibility but, having graduated with a degree in biology, he chose to sign as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals.
“I’ve always loved baseball,” says Koperniak, “and it’s helped me get places, including a good school. My advisor — agent now — was able to get me into pro ball, so here we are.” He played in a few showcases as well as for the North Adams SteepleCats in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, enough to convince a Cardinal scout he was worth that free agent offer.
The Redbirds hosted Memphis Red Sox Night on Aug. 10, the home team taking the field in commemorative uniforms honoring the Bluff City’s Negro Leagues team of the 1930s and ’40s. Luken Baker (the franchise’s all-time home run leader) and Jordan Walker (the team’s top-ranked prospect) each slammed home runs in a Memphis win over Gwinnett, but by the final out it had become Matt Koperniak Night at AutoZone Park. He drilled a home run, a triple, and a single, falling merely a double shy of hitting for the cycle. It was perfectly Koperniak: Outstanding baseball blended into others’ eye-catching heroics.
“It’s trying to do the little things right,” he emphasizes, “and being a competitor. The Cardinals do a great job of getting us to play well-rounded baseball. Everybody has the same mindset: How can I help win the next game? You gotta stay in attack mode to be productive.”
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