NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — More than 16,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered through the Northern Berkshire vaccine clinic.
Board of Health Chairman John Meaney, who as general manager of Northern Berkshire EMS has been part of the group operating the clinic, said it wasn't clear how many North Adams residents that included.
As of last week, more than 5,000 residents in North Adams and Clarksburg had received at least one dose. The state tracks inoculations by ZIP code, which the city and town share, and may also include the town of Florida. The Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative is open to any Massachusetts residents and those who work or attend school here but reside in other states.
The clinic has been able to administer double the number of doses when it first opened, with more than 1,500 per clinic last week. But the number is dependent on the doses the collaborative gets from the state.
"We still are trying to advocate for additional first-dose vaccine, but that seems to be a struggle every week to make sure that we get an allotment," Meaney said at Wednesday's board meeting. "A lot of members are working with the Berkshire Collaborative to try to advocate for that and so I think we'll hopefully start seeing an increase so that we can
wrap this up."
Gov. Charlie Baker is expected to visit the collaborative's Pittsfield at Berkshire Community College on Thursday. He has in the past singled out the regional collaborative as model for vaccine distribution.
In other business, Health Director Heather Demarsico reported the city had 96 active cases in the last 14 days.
"But a majority of that is due to the Easter holiday, and people getting together," she said, adding that despite the numbers, hospitalizations are very low with a report of three patients at Berkshire Medical Center.
"We've had a few cases, you know locally at Walmart just recently, but aside from that, our restaurants are doing fairly well," Demarsico said. "We get one here and there but I don't see a huge increase in cases so it's been fairly quiet."
Demarsico reported the number of inspections she'd done since the last meeting, including five food service inspections, 13 housing complaint inspections, and two Title Five inspections.
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MCLA's Gallery 51 to Debut 'Materialscape' Exhibition
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — MCLA's Gallery 51 will host an opening reception for a new exhibition titled "Materialscape" featuring the work of three visual artists who explore the intersection of materiality and land.
The exhibition opens on Friday, Sept. 6, with an opening reception from 5 to 8 p.m. including light refreshments and a performance by Marissa Baez. The exhibition is on view through Nov. 3.
According to a press release:
"Materialscape" introduces the work of three visual artists—Marissa Baez (Mexican American), Delaney Keshena (Menominee), and Mikayla Patton (Oglala Lakota), each distinctively exploring the intersection of materiality and land. Their intentional use of material is deeply rooted in their cultural and personal journeys, manifesting either as a form of reclaiming or as a continuation. Ash, beeswax, metal, porcupine quills, paper, animal hide, and plants are not merely mediums but pivotal elements central to their expressive practices. By employing both natural and synthetic materials, the artists collectively share stories, memories, and histories that powerfully reflect on the contemporary Indigenous experience.
Through diligent research and the embrace of communal knowledge, these artists delve into the complexities of identity, resistance, and resilience. Their works act as a dynamic exploration of the interplay between culture, environment, and personal narrative, illustrating how deeply embedded materials can convey profound thematic inquiries. As they navigate through themes of dispossession and regeneration, their artworks resonate as potent symbols of cultural reclamation and personal revelation, offering insights into both shared and unique paths of Indigenous persistence and creativity.
The reception is free and open to the public. Gallery 51 is located at 51 Main St., North Adams, MA.
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