Time to Hit the Eagle Street Beach

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Historic Eagle Street will be covered with sand on Saturday afternoon for the 24th annual Eagle Street Beach Party. 
 
Founded by artist Eric Rudd in 1999 as an annual community sculpture, the beach party is sponsored by Rudd's Berkshire Art Museum and the city of North Adams.
 
Some 500,000 pounds of sand donated by Specialty Minerals will be spread curb to curb the entire length of
the downtown street. Hundreds of children and families each year are able to enjoy the unique urban beach and create sand sculptures at the community art event. 
 
Sand pails and shovels will be handed out as will certificates to Jack's Hot Dog to 250 SteepleCats tickets for children 12 and younger. First come, first served. 
 
The event runs from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. In case of rain, or a serious threat-of-rain, the event will be the following week, Saturday, Aug. 3.
 
The Mexican Fiesta added in 2010 will not be held this year but is expected to resume next year. The donated sand is used by the city for winter and street construction projects.
 
Supporters also include Adams Community Bank, Nocher Realty, A1, Greylock Federal Credit Union, North Adams Steeplecats, as well as volunteers and prize donors.  
 
Volunteers are needed to help spread the sand starting at  noon; shovels provided; just show up.

Tags: beach party,   community event,   

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MCLA Radiologic Technology Maintains 100% Employment

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) announced that its Radiologic Technology program continues a 100 percent employment rate for graduates over the last five years. 
 
MCLA became the teach-out partner for Southern Vermont College's (SVC) Radiologic Sciences program in 2019, following SVC's closure.
 
The Radiologic Technology program has doubled in class size over the last year, from five to 10 students, and is expected to welcome 20 students in next year's class. Program Director and Assistant Professor Julie Walsh reported that this year's graduates achieved a 100 percent pass rate on the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) exam and many secured employment before graduation, with some receiving multiple job offers. (The ARRT exam is required to become a radiologic technologist in almost every state. Students must score 75 or higher to pass; the 2024 MCLA class had an average passing grade of 85.)
 
"Half of this year's graduates were hired locally by Berkshire Health Systems, while others accepted offers in the Albany area," said Walsh. 
 
The program attracts students primarily from Massachusetts, Vermont, and New York.
 
Unlike Vermont's sole radiologic sciences program, which offers only an associate degree, MCLA provides a comprehensive bachelor's degree. (The only other bachelor's program in Massachusetts is located in Boston.) The program's structure allows students to gain additional qualifications in computed tomography (CT) or mammography modalities, enhancing their employability and earning potential.
 
"The additional year of study for a bachelor's degree prepares our graduates for supervisory or management roles much sooner," said Walsh. "Graduates also benefit from more than 1,400 clinical hours completed during the program, making them highly skilled, mature professionals."
 
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