12/8/2005 - North Adams, last stop in Massachusetts!

For reasons that I cannot entirely fathom, North Adams has a tremendous web presence. Therefore, it is with little difficulty that I tell you

• that I am 800 feet above sea level,
• that the town has existed for 127 years or
• that there are close to 16,000 folks in town.

I could reel off the major employers in town, or the choice of majors for the 1400 students who attend the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

But I choose not to, so that I can get to what really fascinates me about this town, which is Joe Manning. Joe is a fellow from Connecticut, who having fallen in love with the town, moved near it. From what I can tell, he moved near it and not into it so as to protect his image of the town from those slings and arrows of civic ineptitude that cities cannot avoid. He is a jack of many trades which he has parleyed into a series of artistic endeavors, many 0f which aim to shower affection back on the town.

A wonderful find in a wonderful town.

14,000 poetic steps today. Cheers,