Adams Historical Society Eagles Holiday Concert

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ADAMS, Mass. —The Adams Historical Society's annual holiday concert, featuring the Eagles Brass and Trombone Ensembles, will ring in the holidays at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30, in the Adams Free Library's G. A. R. Memorial Hall.
 
This year's concert will feature traditional Christmas carols, including "Joy to the World," "O ChristmasTree/The First Noel," and "What Child is This," along with contemporary arrangements of well-known holiday tunes such as "Jolly Old St. Nicholas/Up on the Housetop" and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," as well as a bit of Bach.
 
The Eagles Trombone Ensemble, under the direction of Mike Oft, is conducted by Gerald Zaffuts, Kyle Smith and Ron Barron, retired principal trombone for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The Eagles Brass Ensemble, a ten-piece brass band conducted by Deanna Fraher, has been performing for 30-plus years. Members of the ensemble come from the area and include former music instructors, professional musicians and amateur musicians with a passion for playing brass repertoire.
 
The public is invited to attend. There is no charge for admission. Memorial Hall is on the second floor of the Adams Free Library, 92 Park St. Please use the elevator entrance on Melrose Street to avoid the stairs.
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Adams Man Sentenced to State, Federal Prison for Child Rape

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An Adams man pleaded guilty on Friday in Berkshire Superior Court to multiple counts of aggravated rape of a child and aggravated indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. 
 
Brian Warner, 39, was sentenced by Judge Michael K. Callan to 25 to 28 years in state prison. 
 
The defendant pleaded guilty to the following:
  • Two counts of rape of a child with force
  • One count of aggravated rape of a child
  • Two counts of rape of a child, aggravated, five-year age difference
  • Four counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14
  • Fourteen counts of aggravated indecent assault and battery on a child under 14
  • Nine counts of posing a child in the nude
  • Two counts of possession of child sexual abuse material
Callan attributed the lengthy sentencing to the egregious nature of the defendant's crime. In his sentencing memo, the judge wrote, "In fashioning this sentence I have also considered the Sentencing Guidelines, which were established by a Sentencing Commission created by our Legislature and consisting of prosecutors, defense counsel, public safety and correctional officials, and victim-witness advocates. 
 
"While not mandatory, these guidelines were designed, among other goals, to promote consistency in the sentencing process in our judicial system. The guidelines utterly fail in some circumstances and this is one of them."
 
Warner produced child sexual abuse material, otherwise known as child pornography. In doing this, the defendant raped and assaulted a child over a period of two years. Law enforcement uncovered hundreds of images produced by Warner.
 
"Justice was served today, but Warner's crimes are deeply disturbing. When a child in our community is harmed, it naturally causes us to reflect on how we can do more to protect our children. To the survivor and their [singular] family, this outcome cannot undo the trauma you endured; however, I hope it offers some comfort in knowing that your abuser has been held accountable under the law," stated District Attorney Timothy Shugrue. 
 
Chief of the Child Abuse Unit Andrew Giarolo, an assistant district attorney, represented the commonwealth and Ian Benoit the victim witness advocate on behalf of the DA's Office. The Adams Police Department led the investigation with support from the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit's digital evidence lab.  
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