BArT Hosts World Cube Association Competition

ADAMS, Mass. — On Saturday, January 24, Berkshire Arts and Technology (BART) Charter Public Charter School is hosting the first World Cube Association Competition in Berkshire County in almost 10 years. 

The all-day competition, open to the public for viewing, will consist of up to 75 competitors from across the country racing against the clock to solve different types of cubing puzzles. Challenges include solving a standard Rubik's Cube while blindfolded and solving a pyraminx — a four-sided puzzle similar to a Rubik's Cube but instead shaped like a pyramid. 

The World Cube Association is a global nonprofit that puts on official competitions to solve mechanical puzzles, such as the famous 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube. 

BArT's own Gordon Holey, a mathematics teacher who runs BArT's Cubing Club, will also be competing. Holey has competed in World Cube Association competitions across the country.

Adams Town Meeting OKs Budget, Nixes Citizens' Petitions

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires.com
07:30PM / Monday, June 22, 2026

The annual town report was dedicated to retired Police Chief Richard Tarsa, above. 

ADAMS, Mass. — Town meeting members approved 23 of the 25 articles on the annual town meeting warrant. 

 

The gymnasium in the Memorial Building was filled with 104 town meeting members who voted to approve the authorization for a number of spending articles making up a budget of approximately $21 million during a meeting that lasted 50 minutes. 

 

Of that, members approved, Article 5, an operations budget of $10,650,057, of which $8,074,370 is made up of personnel and $2,642,107 for operating expenses. 

 

"This is a level of services budget from one year ago," Town Administrator Nicholas Caccamo said. 

 

The amounts budgeted are reflective of what it takes for an organization, pay employees, provide health insurance, and all the ancillary costs, he said. 

 

The town has not yet finalized union contract negotiations with the police and clerical unions and still has open positions. So, there will be a special town meeting in late September or early October to adjust the budget based on the salaries and health insurance.

 

The positions have been conservatively budgeted at previous rates, maintaining each staff member's prior step or grade, as if the roles were filled full time.