NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A history "queen" was the only inductee this year into the North Adams Women's Hall of Fame.

 

Justyna Carlson, longtime member of the Historical Society and chair of the city's Historical Commission, was posthumously honored with induction by Mayor Jennifer Macksey on Tuesday, during Women's History Month. 

 

"We recognize women who had a major impact on the community and been mentor and role model to others," she said during the City Council meeting. "We always look for women who have shown strength, wisdom and courage. These women have paved a way to a better tomorrow for all of us.

 

"This year I'm pleased to inducted Mrs. Justyna Carlson, who in my mind was the queen of history of the city of North Adams."

 

Carlson, who lost her battle with cancer on March 7, 2023, at age 78, was a 1962 graduate of Drury High School who would go on to earn a bachelor's in Spanish from Georgian Court College in Lakewood, N.J., and then a master of arts in education from the University of Massachusetts and a master's in Spanish from Middlebury (Vt.) College.

 

She first taught in Texas, before returning to the area to teach in Deerfield and then in the Mount Anthony School Union in Bennington, Vt. She also was an adjunct professor at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and the former Southern Vermont College. Macksey said she was a devoted Catholic lector and Eucharist minister and was an organist for 65 years at St. Elizabeth's Church as well as at the former St. Francis' and other churches. 

 

Carlson was a docent for the North Adams Museum of Science and History and spent many years on the Historical Commission, and her community efforts had been acknowledged in the past. She also, said Macksey, shared her love for North Adams with visitors at the Tourist Information Booth.

 

"Justyna took pride in serving her community, and serving her faith and academic communities as well and she was recognized for  this achievement," the mayor said. "Justyna was a friend to all of us, she was a pillar in our community." 

 

Carlson's husband of 44 years, Gene Carlson, also a local historian, and her daughter, Marissa, attended the event to receive the plaque on her behalf.

 

Macksey instituted the Hall of Fame in 2022 after being elected the first woman mayor of North Adams. Carlson is the 10th to be inducted, joining peers such as Gov. Jane Swift, airport founder Lottie Harriman, state Rep. Gailanne Cariddi and boxing pioneer Gail Grandchamp. 

 

In other business during the brief meeting, the council postponed a couple issues and filed an order about the gun range. Neighbors of the range on Pattison Road have for years complained about noise and users shooting outside of posted hours. 

 

The communication from Council President Bryan Sapienza dated from last fall regarding the complaints about the gun range was initially referred to Public Safety, then rescinded to refer to administration, and then rescinded to motioned to file, all by Councilor Lisa Blackmer, during discussion. 

 

Councilor Peter Oleskiewicz thought it should go to General Government to see if an ordinance could address the issue. 

 

Others pointed out that the Police Department has explained numerous times how it's handling the situation. 

 

"The police at this point don't really have a problem with what's going on up there," said Councilor Wayne Wilkinson. "We could set fines, we could do this ... [police] feel they're doing an adequate job up there. I know the neighborhood probably doesn't think so, everybody has their individual problems with it."

 

Councilor Ashley Shade said General Government would need to know the exact violations before it could address it, though it is working on a noise ordinance that could apply. 

 

Councilor Keith Bona asked if the complainant or the complaint was new; Sapienza said it was a individual who has made the same complaint in the past. 

 

"We would just be rehashing what we've done before. I'm not saying its wrong," he said. "But we'd be discussing something we've already discussed on the same complaint from the same person."

 

The mayor said she had received concerns about lead from casings in the soil leaching into wells and the ground and had since tested all the wells of those who wish and the soil. 

 

"The DEP is satisfied with what we've done," she said. As to shooting during off-hours and holidays, a cruiser is being sent up to secure the area. She said officers are monitoring the range closely but acknowledged it needs better signage and new keys; a camera is also being installed. 

 

"We've tried to be responsive. The reality is it one or two individuals who are complaining," she said. "I do think it provides a safe place for people to shoot in the community, which is important to us because we are having an uptick of private ranges popping up."