New England Public Radio

North Adams Hoping New Projects Will Put City’s Economy On The Right Track

North Adams, Massachusetts, is pegging its economic development hopes on a new museum as well as the redevelopment of the Mohawk Theater.

Following in the footsteps of the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, North Adams officials hope adding more cultural attractions will help kick-start the city’s economy. A museum focusing on both model railroads and architecture is being planned for Heritage State Park near the city’s downtown. Mayor Dick Alcombright says while no funding has been secured yet, he’s confident it will be an easy sell.

“We think the quality and quantity of this museum would bring tens and hundreds of thousands of people here, it has that potential, ” Alcombright says. “I think the funding piece, albeit always hard to find funding, I think we could certainly bring a package together.”

The model railroad and architecture museum is the first phase of the plan with the long-dormant Mohawk Theater’s renovation to come after.

Contested Mayoral Races, Weather Expected to Boost Election Day Turnout

Several local elections are taking place across the region Tuesday. Some tight mayoral races in western Massachusetts are expected to send more voters to the polls.

A higher than average voter turnout is expected in Chicopee, Holyoke, West Springfield and Pittsfield. Elections officials there expect the percentage of voters heading to the polls to range from the upper 30’s to the lower 40’s. In North Adams, where an incumbent and former mayor faces off for a second time, City Clerk Marilyn Gomeau, says turnout there could be even higher.

“I think we’re going to probably see about 63 percent. And the reason I’m saying that is, one; it’s very highly contested race. And, two; is the weather,” says Gomeau.

The forecast calls for a sunny Election Day with temperatures in the 60’s. By contrast, turnout is expected to be nowhere near as high in Springfield. Election commissioner Gladys Oyola says she’ll be surprised if 20 percent of voters show up. In West Springfield, City Clerk Otto Frizell says 30 percent of registered voters typically cast ballots in local elections. But he says the mayoral race between town attorney Will Reichelt and State Representative Mike Finn is expected to boost turnout to 40 percent

“This is an empty seat, meaning there’s two new candidates vying for it. That usually brings out more voters, and it’s been a very well publicized race between Misters Finn and Reichelt. So I’m expecting a higher than average turnout,” says Frizell.

Incumbent Ed Sullivan did not seek re-election. The West Side is one of eight communities in western Massachusetts with contested mayoral races.

 

 

 

Preliminary Results Show Tough Elections Ahead For Mayors In Holyoke, Pittsfield, North Adams

The incumbent mayors of Holyoke, North Adams and Pittsfield each won enough votes during preliminary elections Tuesday to earn a spot on the November 3rd ballot. But none of the mayors will face an easy go of it in the next round.

In North Adams and Pittsfield, the incumbents both finished second. Facing three opponents,  Mayor Dan Bianchi of Pittsfield won 39 percent of the vote. That put him well behind the top vote-getter, City Clerk Linda Tyer with 55 percent.

In a three-way race, North Adams Mayor Dick Alcombright received 40 percent of the vote to John Barrett’s 51 percent. Barrett is a longtime former mayor who lost the office in 2009 to Alcombright.

Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse won his preliminary election, but not by much. In a three-way race, Morse won 42 percent to business owner Fran O’Connell’s 39 percent, a difference of 244 votes.

Mayoral Primaries In Pittsfield, North Adams Set For Tuesday

Voters in a handful of Massachusetts cities head to the polls next Tuesday for preliminary elections. Both cities in Berkshire County have contested races for mayor. New England Public Radio’s Berkshire County reporter Adam Frenier sits down with Henry Epp to take a look at the candidates and issues in Pittsfield and North Adams.

North Adams to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy: Put Us On The Map

A North Adams city councilor wants his city designated as an Appalachian Trail Community. The designation would put the city on official trail maps and websites and provide hikers with information about events and services there.

But City Councilor Joshua Moran hopes residents of North Adams will benefit the most.

“Hopefully the impact is all local,” says Moran. “Allowing some kind of pride and a sense of being in the community, having something as big and powerful as the Appalachian Trail run through it.”

And, Moran says, bridging the gap between hikers and residents could be good for city morale.

“The perspective that a lot of hikers take as they come in through town is it’s a great place, and I think sometimes in our day to day lives we forget to step away and realize there is a bigger picture to things,” Moran says.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy says it plans to review the application on November 21. North Adams would be the second town in Massachusetts to earn the designation, following Great Barrington.

Berkshire Health Systems’ Bid To Buy North Adams Hospital Approved

Berkshire Health Systems’ 4 million dollar bid for the former North Adams Regional Hospital has been approved by a bankruptcy court in Springfield.

For the past couple months, Berkshire Health Systems of Pittsfield has already been operating an emergency department, diagnostic imaging, and other services in the building. This followed the sudden closing of the North Adams hospital in March. BHS spokesperson Michael Leary says there were no other bidders, despite an extensive search by hospital trustees.

“The health care industry and market is going through adjustments right now,” Leary says, “and it’s not easy for any healthcare provider at this time, and that may have dissuaded other providers from bidding in the process.”

Leary says Berkshire Health Systems is now working with consultants hired by the state to determine how many additional medical services northern Berkshire county can sustain. Barring any legal appeal, Leary says the building sale should be final in late August.