Adams Cannabis Dispensary Owner Facing Charges in Vermont

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BENNINGTON, Vt. — The owner of Indica Cannabis in Adams, Mass., is facing a slew of charges including aggravated stalking and attempted assault on an officer related to disputes with his neighbors over the past year on private Blue Stone Road. 
 
According to the Bennington Banner, a police officer stopped Kerry Raheb on Tuesday on a warrant for violating stalking and other charges from last year. Raheb would not exit his vehicle and drove off with the officer halfway in the vehicle, according to police. 
 
The Banner outlines a complicated list of charges related to stalking a neighbor and his wife and that Raheb was ordered to stay away from them and not post anything on social media about them. An affidavit filed with the court indicates that Rahed did not sign the order and continued to harass the couple and others, the Banner wrote. 
 
Raheb turned himself in Thursday and was arrested on the new charges from Tuesday's incident; he was arraigned and released on $10,000 cash or bond. 
 
One of his neighbors, Peter Geannelis, was apparently also arraigned this month on charges of shooting off a gun when Raheb yelled at him to stop stalking him. 
 
The Banner reports that Raheb, who ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in the last election, is "facing 13 charges, including five felonies and eight misdemeanors, over the two cases."
 
Raheb opened Indica, Adams' first cannabis dispensary, in June and a ribbon cutting was held in August. A felony conviction could affect Raheb's license renewal. 
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Hoosac Valley Regional School District to Undergo Tiered Focused Monitoring Review

CHESHIRE, Mass. — During the week of Jan. 6, 2025, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's (DESE) Office of Language Acquisition (OLA) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring
Review of the Hoosac Valley Regional School District. 
 
This review is part of DESE's ongoing efforts to monitor and ensure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations concerning English Learner Education (ELE) programs.
 
The Tiered Focused Monitoring Review is a comprehensive process that examines various aspects of a district's ELE program. The review will focus on areas such as:
 
  • Student assessments for English learners
  • Identification and placement of English learners
  • Parent and community involvement
  • Curriculum and instructional practices
  • Student support services
  • Faculty, staff, and administration licensure requirements
  • Program planning, evaluation, and recordkeeping
 
The review is conducted every six years for each district and charter school to assess their adherence to relevant laws and ensure continuous improvement in serving English learners.
 
In addition to the onsite review, parent outreach is a critical component of the process. The Hoosac Valley Regional School District will distribute a survey to parents of students whose records will be
examined. The survey seeks feedback on key aspects of their child's English learner education program. Survey results will be reviewed by OLA and included in the final monitoring report.
 
Parents or community members who wish to participate further can request a telephone interview with the Review Chairperson, Samantha Kodak, by contacting her at Samantha.k.kodak@mass.gov.
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