Letter: Retired Police Chief Backs Macksey for Mayor

To the Editor:

To the residents of North Adams: It is with great pleasure that I may provide you with an honest and heartfelt letter in support of, who I feel, is the most qualified candidate for mayor of the City of North Adams. I have the privilege of knowing Jennifer Macksey both on a professional and personal basis. I have had the honor of serving this great city for over 32 years. I have seen its ups and downs, good and bad, positive and negative, trials and tribulations of the city I call home. However, through all of this, we always hold our heads high and continue to do what’s best for our city, its residents, and the communities around us.

Having known Jennifer for nearly 25 years, she has the integrity, intelligence, and strong municipal knowledge to "hit the ground running" on Jan. 1, 2022. I know Jennifer has a deep love and understanding of our city. Her passion and caring for our senior citizens, the hard working men and women of our community, and one of the most important assets of this city, our children and their education and well being.

We know there are some significant issues within this city, our crumbling infrastructure, failing water and sewer lines, roads, sidewalks, fire hydrants, public safety building, etc. Yes, there has been some improvements made to these issues, however, there is much more that needs to be done. We all know that this type of comprehensive work can be costly. But, if we start now, put a plan together and execute it, we will begin to make progress. Of course, this will take to few years to complete, nothing happens overnight. However, I know that Jennifer is person that can find the funding, coordinate, and execute a significant infrastructure improvement plan.

I believe public safety and our schools are the backbone of this city. I know Jennifer has the ability, trust, understanding and communication skills, to be sure that these important issues are always being improved, funded appropriately, and maintained to the highest standards possible.

Having worked with Jennifer, I have found her to have the ability to communicate and work very well with others. She listens to people, understands, and shows great empathy. She is a strong, no nonsense woman, yet, kind and understanding. In my opinion, her honesty, integrity, transparency, and love for this city is unquestionable.
Please go out and vote for Jennifer Macksey for mayor on Nov. 2, 2021.

Michael Cozzaglio
North Adams, Mass. 

Michael Cozzaglio is the retired police chief of North Adams.

Clarksburg Students Write in Support of Rural School Aid

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
07:25AM / Sunday, March 15, 2026

Mason Langenback calculated that Clarksburg would get almost $1 million if the $60 million was allocated equally.

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Eighth-graders at Clarksburg School took a lesson in civic advocacy this week, researching school funding and writing letters to Beacon Hill that call for fully funding rural school aid. 

 

The students focused on the hardships for small rural schools and their importance to the community — that they struggle with limited funding and teacher shortages, but offer safe and supportive spaces for learning and are a hub for community connections.

 

"They all address the main issue, the funding for rural schools, and how there's a gap, and there's the $4 million gap this year, and then it's about the $40 million next year, and that rural schools need that equitable funding," said social studies teacher Mark Karhan.

 

A rural schools report in 2022 found smaller school districts cost from nearly 17 percent to 23 percent more to operate, and recommended "at least" $60 million be appropriated annually for rural school aid. 

 

Gov. Maura Healey has filed for more Chapter 70 school aid, but that often is little help to small rural schools with declining or static enrollment. For fiscal 2027, she's budgeted $20 million for rural schools, up from around $13 million this year but still far below the hoped for $60 million. 

 

Karhan said the class was broken into four groups and the students were provided a submission letter from Rural Schools Advocacy. The students used the first paragraph, which laid out the funding facts, and then did research and wrote their own letters. 

 

They will submit those with a school picture to the governor.