Poet Stephen Rifkin Launches New Book at North Adams Library

07:48AM / Wednesday, April 23, 2025Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Public Library will host a book launch and reading with poet Stephen Rifkin on Tuesday, April 29, at 5:30 p.m.

Rifkin will present his new book, "Changing Skies, New and Selected Poems," at the event. The poems in the collection address Rifkin's relocation from Deer Isle, Maine, to the Berkshires, and explore themes of introspection, nature, memory, and language. Wilma Rifkin's artwork is featured in the book.

The event will take place in the library’s front parlor. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

The North Adams Public Library is located at 74 Church Street, North Adams, MA 01247.

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North Adams Council Looks to AG for Assurances on Federal Grant

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:35AM / Wednesday, October 14, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — City officials want to know if the attorney general will defend them if they refuse to abide by certain provisions in a federal grant for the Police Department.

The City Council on Tuesday voted to postpone action until Nov. 10 on a fiscal year 2025 Edward Bernard Memorial Justice Assistant Grant after an hour of debate and hearing from more than a half-dozen audience members in opposition.

"Let's take all the time that we have. Let's wait for them to actually do their due diligence and fight these provisions and, hopefully, win, and then it's not a problem at all, and everybody's happy, and we take care of it," said Council President Ashley Shade. "And if they don't get the provisions out, let's make sure that they're willing to defend us if we accept it. And if they are, let's fight them. Let's fight them on this."

The U.S. Department of Justice grant for $14,231 is to update the department's overstuffed evidence room to aid its accreditation process. But new requirements within the contract about active or passive cooperation with federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, have raised fears within the council and community.

Mayor Jennifer Macksey and Police Chief Mark Bailey had explained the need for an evidence room two weeks ago and assured that Police Department didn't deal with civil matters like immigration, but the council rejected the grant. Shade motioned for it be reconsidered for discussion, which passed.

Audience members spoke out in opposition to accepting the grant, often to applause.

"We cannot trust that they aren't attaching strings that we think, in good faith, could not happen," said Sarah Farnsworth from North Adams. "That they could not make us do things that we are protected from in the Constitution. And we have seen over and over that somehow that manages to happen."

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