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An image of the rustic bench, in its unfinished state, that is being handcrafted for the Billy Evans memorial. The bench was accepted by the City Council on Tuesday.

North Adams Dedicating Tree, Bench to Capitol Police Officer Evans

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Drury High graduate William Evans, a Capitol Police officer who died in the line of duty in April, will be memorialized in his hometown on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. 
 
The city is planting a tree in his honor at Noel Field Athletic Complex along with a bench being donated by the Drury High School Class of 1998. The City Council accepted the bench, valued at $500, from his classmates on Tuesday night. 
 
Evans, 41, was one of two officers struck on April 2 when a man rammed his car into them at a barrier on the north side of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., then got out and lunged at officers with a knife. He was shot and killed. Evans was taken to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
 
Born in North Adams, he later grew up in Clarksburg and graduated from Western New England University in 2002. Evans was known as a standout baseball player for Drury and had also played in the local Babe Ruth League. He was a Capitol Police officer for 18 years. Among survivors are his wife and two small children. 
 
He lay in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda and a Mass was held at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Adams that was attended by family, friends and numerous state officials and Capitol Police. He was laid to rest in Bellevue Cemetery next to his father, late Howard Evans.
 
"Many of us turned out when he came back home to North Adams and to the Northern Northern Berkshires after having been honored by the United States Capitol," said Mayor Thomas Bernard. "His classmates have been working on an effort to honor and commemorate and celebrate his life and his legacy."
 
The newly rejuvenated Tree Commission was tasked with obtaining and planting the memorial tree prior to Sunday's dedication. The tree is coming through the federal grant program the city is participating to planting trees throughout the North Adams. 
 
The memorial will be installed between Joe Wolfe Field and Child Care of the Berkshires at Haskins School. 
 

Tags: benches,   memorial,   trees,   

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Up Front for DeMar Race Nov. 10

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The Up Front for DeMar 5-kilometer race and 1-mile walk is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 10, at 9 a.m.
 
The annual event honors SPC Michael R. DeMarsico, age 20, who volunteered to be "up front"', taking the lead of his battalion, protecting them and searching for dangerous IEDs. He lost his life in Afghanistan on Aug. 16, 2012. 
 
Pre-registered runners or walkers will have a $20 registration fee. Day of event registration will be available at the starting line area from 7 to 8:30 a.m. and will be $25. Organizers also ask that participants please bring an item or items for care packages to be sent to deployed service men and women. 
 
The starting line is at the Veteran's Memorial at the intersection of Route 2 and Eagle Street. Runners will continue to Eagle Street, crossing Main Street and continuing onto Ashland Street. Walkers will turn around at the North Adams Armory and runners will continue on Ashland Street to South Church Street.
 
Runners will turn into the BFAIR parking lot at 771 South Church St., continue to the back of the lot where the water table is and then back out to exit, turning left onto South Church Street. Runners and walkers will follow Ashland Street and then turn left onto American Legion Drive. The race will finish at the American Legion. The course is a primarily open course with some police presence. Please be cautious of vehicles on the course.
 
Race packet pickup will be available on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the North Adams American Legion.
 
Shirts will be available to the first 100 registrants. Additional shirts may be available for purchase.
 
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