PreviousNext

North Adams Delivers Donations from Annual Food Drive

Collection boxes are put out in municipal buildings and facilities each year to gather goods for the annual holiday food drive.  Assistant to the Superintendent Bobbi Tassone, Assistant Superintendent Timothy Callahan and school facilities manager Robert Flaherty helped with the delivery. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city delivered several boxes filled with food, personal care and other essential items to Eagle Street on Monday, all of which were donated as part of this year's annual food drive. 

This year's drive worked to re-stock the shelves of the Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative's Al Nelson Friendship Center Food Pantry, located at 43 Eagle St. City workers, as well as Timothy Callahan, assistant superintendent of North Adams Public Schools, came to deliver the items. 

Rich Davis, the food coordinator for the pantry, thanked the city and the community for helping to keep the pantry filled. 

"It's just nice to see the community out there helping to support those who are not as fortunate," he said. "... we certainly appreciate the support of the community. Not just at this time, but all year round." 

The Food Pantry is encouraging donations such as: tuna; peanut butter; brown rice; whole wheat pasta; pasta sauce; low sodium canned vegetables (e.g. potatoes, green beans, carrots); low sodium soups; whole grain cereals (low sugar) and/or oatmeal; canned fruits (no sugar added); and beans (e.g. kidney beans and garbanzo beans). In addition, personal care items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, and shampoo were also included.

"Some of the items that we will get in today is stuff that we may carry on a regular basis, but a lot of items are not," 'Davis said. "So that gives us a little variety for us to offer to our friends, too." 

The annual food drive is one way items come to the food bank, in addition to contributions from the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, individuals, local supermarkets and businesses. Drop-off boxes were available throughout the city for residents to donate and collections were taken up in city departments, which Davis said helps the pantry get donations it may not have otherwise received. 

This year's donations weighed in at 525 pounds, Davis said later. 

"This here gives a greater number of individuals, who may not have time to do it, just on their own, but they can bring it to their work and have the city bring it into us," he said.

North Adams Council Sets School Debt Exclusion Vote

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:26AM / Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Council President Bryan Sapienza holds up an application to work as a poll worker for the upcoming elections. The form can be found under 'Becoming an election worker' under city clerk on the city website or in the city clerk's office. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council gave final approval on Tuesday for the mayor to borrow $65,362,859 for a new Greylock School to serve Grades prekindergarten through 2.

 

This second reading of the order, approved last month, was adopted unanimously.

 

This final adoption paves the way for two community forums and a debt exclusion vote scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Elizabeth's Parish Center. Passage of the debt exclusion vote will allow the city to raise funds beyond its levy limit for the life of the loan. 

 

City Clerk Tina Marie Leonesio said the city has about 1,400 requests for mail-in ballots for all elections and that in-person early voting will start the Saturday before. 

 

The first forum is Thursday, Aug. 15, at 6 p.m. at Greylock; officials will provide an overview of the project and tours of the school. Zoom participation is available here. Northern Berkshire Community Television will also record the forums for later broadcast.

 

The second forum is Thursday, Aug. 22, at 6 p.m. at Brayton Elementary School. The Zoom link is the same and those attending in person can also take a tour of the building.

 

The Massachusetts School Building Authority will pick up about $41,557,218 of the cost, the city about $20 million and the $3 million balance is expected to come from federal energy grants. The 30-year tiered loan for $20 million is expected to have its highest impact in 2029 when it will add $270 to the average tax bill, or about $22.50 a month.