Cheshire Nomination Papers Available, Census Underway

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CHESHIRE, Mass. — Nomination papers for elected offices in the Town of Cheshire are available in the Town Clerk's office as of Feb. 3, 2026.
 
Offices on the May 4, 2026 Annual Town Election ballot will be 1 Selectman, 1 Assessor, 1 Board of Health Member, 1 Water Commissioner, 1 Cemetery Commissioner, and 1 Hoosac Valley Regional School Committee Member each for a term of three years, and 1 Assessor for a term of two years, and 1 Planning Board Member for a term of five years.
 
Candidates seeking to run for office should contact the Town Clerk's Office to pick up nomination papers by March 12, 2026. All signatures must be ink signatures; no electronic signatures are allowed. Completed nomination papers must be returned to the Town Clerk for certification no later than Monday, March 16, 2026. 
 
Questions regarding running for town office can be addressed by reaching out to the Town Clerk's Office at 413-743-1690 Ext. 104 or townclerk@cheshire-ma.gov
 
Also, The 2026 annual town census is underway in Cheshire. 
 
Census forms have been mailed to all residents. Residents are asked to review the form, make any necessary changes, sign and return it to the Town Clerk's Office in the envelope provided, even if
there are no changes.
 
There is a drop box located at the west end ramp entrance of the Town Offices.
 
Households with dependent children who are not listed on the census form should add their children and complete the information that pertains to each child.
 
Information regarding the children is not public record and is used by the schools for enrollment purposes, as well as emergency responders.
 
The census is mandated by the Massachusetts General Law, and it is important to have the correct residential count to apply for state aid, as well as grants.
 
Residents cannot register to vote or change party enrollment on the annual town census.
 
Any resident who is not registered to vote may register by mailing a voter registration form or visiting the Secretary of the Commonwealth's website.
 
Failure to respond to the annual census may result in removal from the active voters list.
 
Anyone who does not receive their census form or wishes to provide the information in person should contact the Town Clerk's Office at (413) 743-1690, Ext. 104, Monday-Wednesday from 9:00
AM to 5:00 PM or email townclerk@cheshire-ma.gov
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Hoosac Valley School Committee Holds First Meeting of Academic Year

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Hoosac Valley School Committee Monday reflected on the recent loss of a high school graduate and looked at the start of the 2026-27 school year.
 
"It's been a tough couple of weeks in the school," Superintendent Aaron Dean told the committee at its monthly meeting. "Our team has done a great job supporting the kids, supporting the family.
 
"It's a really tough thing to go through. It's not the way we wanted to start the school year in any way. Condolences go out to all who were impacted."
 
The committee heard that memorials on the middle-high school campus are being considered to recognize 2026 graduate Jayquan Williams. The district is planning to let his family and students be part of the process in deciding how to honor Williams.
 
A major part of the committee's first meeting of the school year was hearing updates from the district's three building principals about the start of classes.
 
The newest principal, Dwayne Chamble, told the panel that he is "laser focused" on building relationships at the middle school.
 
Chamble said he has made a point of being present during recess, lunch, pickup and dropoff and transition times in the hall.
 
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