NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There will definitely be at least one new face on the City Council this time next year.
City Councilor Benjamin Lamb announced via Facebook on Monday that he would not be seeking a fifth term this fall.
"This is a decision long in the making and due to a number of factors, but the reason I am announcing now, relatively early by most standards, is specifically because I want to help others who, for their first time, may be seeking to run for City Council," he wrote.
The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduate was first elected in 2013, part of the wave of younger candidates who began populating the council nearly a decade ago. Lamb has consistently placed among the top vote-getters during his runs for office.
During his tenure, he's become involved in numerous community efforts to boost his adopted hometown, including the NAMAzing Initiative that's sought to enhance Eagle and Ashland streets, helping push the city as a finalist in the Small Business Revolution, and bringing TEDx to North Adams.
He also was co-author of a resolution on declaring the city a safe and inclusive community and of the creation of a working group to ensure those principles were included in legislation, as well as being a found of Men Initiating Change In North County as a way to address domestic violence.
"Our work expands far beyond the boundaries of a job description as the 'legislative branch of city government,'" he said when running for his second term in 2015. "We have the opportunity to be the cheerleaders, conversation starters, community outreach facilitators, and motivators for change."
That's in part why he's stepping back, he wrote, so he can support individuals of underrepresented and minority communities within the city to have a voice at the table.
"I greatly look forward to spending what would normally be re-election and campaign time/energy in 2021 differently: pursuing new paths for me to positively impact this community I adore, and helping new and underrepresented voices in navigating and running for seats as elected representatives in our community," he wrote. "More to come in the future, but for now, for those even dancing around the idea of running for this critical role as a public servant in North Adams, message me."
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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