More Candidates Appear for North Adams Election

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A few more names have been entered as potential candidates in the November election. 
 
Rachel Branch, who has run three times before for the corner office, has taken out nomination papers for mayor. She has a long history in public service and advocacy and has been a respite foster-care parent. 
 
Former City Clerk Joshua Vallieres has thrown his name out for City Council. Vallieres had been elected to the School Committee but had to resign because of his position in City Hall; he left the clerk's office last month. 
 
Also taking out papers is Alyssa Tomkowicz for a four-year term on the School Committee. Tomkowicz was elected to the committee in March by the City Council and School Committee to complete the last year of Vallieres' partial term. 
 
Returning papers so far are incumbents Mayor Jennifer Macksey, School Committee member Tara Jacobs and McCann School Committee member William Diamond, and City Council candidate Robert Cardimino.
 
Incumbents who have not taken out papers yet include City Council incumbents Jennifer Barbeau, Lisa Blackmer, Marie T. Harpin, Michael Obasohan and Wayne Wilkinson, and School Committee member Karen Bond. 
 
Candidates who have taken out papers to date (*incumbent):
 
Mayor (1): Jennifer Macksey*, Rachel Branch
 
City Council (9): Colin Bain, Keith Bona*, Robert Cardimino, Emily Johnson, Deanna Morrow, Peter Oleskiewicz*, Bryan Sapienza*, Ashley Shade*, Ronald Sheldon, Joshua Vallieres
 
School Committee (3): Cody Chamberlain, Tara Jacobs*, Alyssa Tomkowicz*, Eric Wilson
 
McCann School Committee (3): Peter Breen*, George Canales*, William Diamond*

Tags: election 2023,   


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Mass MoCA Commission Approves Mental Health Practices as Tenants

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Mass MoCA Commission on Thursday approved three new tenants for Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. 
 
Kimma Stark, project manager at the museum, gave the commission the rundown on each of the new tenants. 
 
Eric Beeman is a licensed mental health counselor who uses art in his therapy. He holds a master's degree in expressive arts and arts therapy from Lesley University, where he's also taught graduate-level practices and principles of expressive art therapy.
 
He integrates creative arts based interventions into his clinical work including drawing painting, poetry, writing, brief drama and roleplay, movement and sound. Beeman works one-on-one and with small groups and said he mostly works with adults. 
 
He will be operating as Berkshires Expressive Arts Therapy on the third floor of Building 1. 
 
Beeman said Stark has been very helpful. "It's different than just renting a space and she's been very helpful and personable and accessible," he said. 
 
Mary Wilkes, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist, works with individuals with severe mental illness, with attachment and relationship issues and needing support navigating major life transitions. She works with teenagers, college and students and adults. 
 
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