Up Front for DeMar Race on Veterans Day

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The annual Up Front  forDeMar 5K race and 1 mile walk will be held on Veterans Day, Sunday November 10, 2024. 
 
This annual event is to raise money for the SPC Michael R DeMarsico II scholarship fund and to honor DeMarsico and all who serve and have served. 
 
According to a press release: 
 
SPC DeMarsico was killed in action on Aug. 16, 2012 while serving in Afghanistan. "DeMar" to his fellow battle buddies, served at the front of his battalion searching for IED's. The young specialist discovered 16 IEDs, saving many men in his unit, before stepping on one.
 
In the days and weeks that followed DeMarsico's death, his community came out in full support of him, his service, and his family. This annually event allows the community to continue to do that and help ensure DeMarsico and his sacrifice are not forgotten. 
 
The race begins at Veterans Memorial in North Adams at 9:00AM and ends at the American Legion. People can register online at demar.racewire.com or by contacting Eileen Sullivan at 413- 212–0445 or upfrontfordemar5k@gmail.com
 
Packet pickup and race registration will be held at the American Legion Saturday Nov. 9 4pm to 7pm and  race day registration will be available at 7:00AM at the starting line.
 
"It's been 12 years since Michael was killed in Afghanistan and it's important that we ensure his name is said, his story is told and his life honored," said race organizer Eileen Sullivan. 
 
Additional information can also be found on Facebook at https://m.facebook.com/upfrontfordemar/

Tags: DeMarsico,   race,   

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Q&A with State Representative Challenger Andrew Fitch

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — On Sept. 1, voters in the First Berkshire District will decide whether they want to send a new representative to Beacon Hill in Boston.
 
Andrew Fitch, currently a city councilor in the district's largest municipality — and the commonwealth's smallest city — is challenging former North Adams Mayor John Barrett III, who won the First Berkshire seat in a 2017 special election, in the Democratic Party primary.
 
There is no Republican on the primary ballot for the First Berkshire seat so the primary will effectively be the election for the seat. 
 
The two candidates met for their only debate on Aug. 13 at Williams College. iBerkshires.com reached out to both candidates to follow up on some of the points raised in the debate and get their thoughts on some other issues facing the district.
 
Below are excerpts from a conversation with challenger Andrew Fitch:
 
Question: From the very beginning, you talked about the campaign as a listening experience, and this week you're continuing that with the bike tour …
 
Andrew Fitch: Knocking on doors that have never been knocked on before. … I was riding through, I believe it was Hinsdale coming into Windsor, and they started to yell at me, 'No!' And then the guy was like, 'Wait a second. That's Andrew Fitch.' They actually knew who I was, and they were actually wanting to chat with me.
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