Letter: Stop the Notch Reservoir logging project

To the Editor:

As a lifelong resident of the Berkshires and current MCLA student, I have come to possess a great fondness for the nature intertwined within our towns and cities. Even as a person who generally gravitates towards the indoor side of life, I believe we strike a fine balance between natural land and industry here in Western Massachusetts. One needs little more than to look around at wonderful mountain forests that surround us to realize the beauty at hand. It saddens me greatly, then, to see our governing bodies propose plans to disrupt this balance, and tear away our beautiful scenic views.

Currently, there is a proposed logging project that will target nature trails surrounding the Notch reservoir, destroying a middle and old growth forest with the intent to replace it with one that will promote better long-term water quality. However, this seems not to take into account the immediate effects such a project will have on our current water supply; more importantly, the destruction of such a long-standing and untouched pocket of natural land will be a detrimental blow to both the many animals that inhabit the space, as well as the people who enjoy it as a hiking trail. Spending time in nature has great benefits to the emotional well-being of people, and it would be a shame to take that from our fellow North Adams residents.

The solution is quite simple: We do not want this logging project to proceed. Mayor Macksey has already postponed the project due to community efforts by the "Friends of the Notch Forest" group, but it can be reinstated at any time. Our mayor has demonstrated she is willing to listen, so in order to ensure our voices continue to be heard, we should write Mayor Macksey and urge her to stop the project altogether.

If you want to protect our beloved forest, you can contact Mayor Macksey at mayormacksey@northadams-ma.gov.

Julian Rocca Killela
North Adams, Mass.

North Adams Takes Possession of Historic Church Street Houses

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:30PM / Tuesday, April 22, 2025

The porch collapsed on 116 Church several years ago. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The state Land Court in February finalized the city's tax taking of four properties including the brick Church Street mansions.

 

The prestigious pair of Queen Anne mansions had been owned by Franklin E. Perras Jr., who died in 2017 at age 79. 

 

The properties had been in court for four years as attempts were made repeatedly to find Perras' heirs, including a son, Christopher. According to court filings, Christopher reportedly died in 2013 but his place of death is unknown, as is the location (or existence) of two grandchildren listed in Perras' obituary. 

 

Mayor Jennifer Macksey said the next steps will be to develop requests for proposals for the properties to sell them off. 

 

She credited Governor's Councillor Tara Jacobs for bringing the lingering tax takings to the Land Court's attention. Jacobs said she'd asked about the status of the properties and a few days later they were signed off. 

 

It wasn't just the four North Adams properties — the cases for three Perras holdings in Lanesborough that also had been in the court for years were closed, including Keeler Island. Another property on Holmes Road in Hinsdale is still in the court.  

 

The buildings at 116, 124 and 130 Church St., and a vacant lot on Arnold Place had been in tax title since 2017 when the city placed $12,000 in liens.