Voices for Recovery Set for Saturday

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Have Hope Peer Recovery Center is inviting the community to celebrate Recovery Month at the annual Voices for Recovery event. 
 
The celebration of substance abuse recovery has been a staple in the city for the past decade. Last year's event was held indoors because of blustery weather but Saturday's event is looking good with sunny skies forecast. 
 
The event begins at 1 p.m. at Noel Field Athletic Complex. 
 
This family friendly event is also about heightening awareness of substance abuse and the pathways to recovery for families and individuals and empowering people through finding resources and support. 
 
There will be community resource tables, food trucks, kids activities, music and special guest speakers including members of Have Hope Peer Recovery Center, Mayor Jennifer Macksey, state Rep. John Barrett III and John Crane, assistant division director of recovery services at the Brien Center.
 
Have Hope Peer Recovery Center opened earlier this year on Main Street as a peer-run recovery support center. The Brien Center, the county's largest provider of mental health and substance abuse services, was awarded a five-year contract from the state Bureau of Substance and Addiction Services for the center with funding from the federal Helping to End Addiction Long-term, or HEALing Communities study. The city is participating in the study which includes grassroots strategies to reduce addiction.
 
Have Hope provides nonclinical support: education, resources, social events, recreational activities and peer counseling. The Brien Center also operates a residential program, Keenan House North, in North Adams.  

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Four Pets Lost in North Adams Fire

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A cat may be the cause of a fire that forced a woman to flee her home on Saturday night and lose four of her five pets.
 
The occupant of the small home at 1561 Massachusetts Ave. called 911 to report a fire on her kitchen stove at about 9:10 p.m.
 
"Looked like the fire started in the kitchen area. Best guess at this point is that it an animal turned the stove on," said Fire Chief Brent Lefebvre, repeating what the woman had reported. 
 
"Basically, the occupant was alerted to the sound of the stove igniting, the electronic ignition. She came downstairs and witnessed the cat on the stove. Unfortunately, there was a box on top of the stove, and that lit, and that got the cabinets going."
 
One cat was saved but firefighters were unable to rescue two other cats and two dogs. 
 
The chief said he hadn't completed his investigation but was going by what the resident had reported at this point. 
 
Firefighters were able to swiftly douse the blaze on arrival and were rolling up hose about an hour later. Mass Ave was closed at Ashton Avenue on the city side. 
 
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