North Adams Hosts Fifth Annual Motorama on Sunday

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city of North Adams will host its fifth annual Motorama on Sunday, Aug. 30, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Main, Holden and Eagle streets will be closed to all but pedestrian traffic as downtown North Adams fills with cars, trucks, motorcycles, snowmobiles, tractors and more. Anything with a motor is welcome.

In addition to looking at meticulously restored and maintained vehicles, attendees can enjoy live music, 50/50 raffles, food, and shopping.

In addition, the car corral and live auction, sponsored by Cariddi Auto, is also back again. The live auction will take place at approximately 10:30 AM in the Steeple City Plaza parking lot.

Also, Paul Mennett is cruisin’ into town with his “Circle of Champions” classic car display and his television crew will filming an episode for his hit TV show, "Cruisin’ New England," with Paul Mennett on NESN. For more than 20 years Mennett has also been the publisher of Cruisin’ New England Magazine along with producing some of the best auto events in the northeast.

Last year’s Motorama brought more than 400 vehicles to the streets of North Adams, and this year the city hopes to draw closer to 500. Those interested in exhibiting their vehicles can register beginning at 7:30 a.m. the day of the event. The cost to enter a vehicle is $10 pre-registration, and $15 registration on Sunday, but the public can enjoy the event free of charge.

Cost, Access to NBCTC High Among Concerns North Berkshire Residents

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
06:15PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Adams Select Chair Christine Hoyt, NBCTC Executive Director David Fabiano and William Solomon, the attorney representing the four communities, talk after the session. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Public access channels should be supported and made more available to the public — and not be subject to a charge.

 

More than three dozen community members in-person and online attended the public hearing  Wednesday on public access and service from Spectrum/Charter Communications. The session at City Hall was held for residents in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg and North Adams to express their concerns to Spectrum ahead of another 10-year contract that starts in October.

 

Listening via Zoom but not speaking was Jennifer Young, director state government affairs at Charter.

 

One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly. 

 

"I don't know if everybody else feels the same way but they have a monopoly," said Clarksburg resident David Emery. "They control everything we do because there's nobody else to go to. You're stuck with with them."

 

Public access television, like the 30-year-old Northern Berkshire Community Television, is funded by cable television companies through franchise fees, member fees, grants and contributions.

 

Spectrum is the only cable provider in the region and while residents can shift to satellite providers or streaming, Northern Berkshire Community Television is not available on those alternatives and they may not be easy for some to navigate. For instance, the Spectrum app is available on smart televisions but it doesn't include PEG, the public, educational and governmental channels provided by NBCTC.