Cheshire Sells Depot Street Property

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen voted on Tuesday to sell a property on Depot Street for $20,000 to Berkshire Property Solutions.

The Adams development company offered the higher of two bids for the property that the last town meeting voted to take for back taxes. Another bid for $10,000 was submitted by Jeff Warner.

"They are the high bidder," Selectwoman Carol Francesconi said. "Good, the property is no longer ours."

This is the second time the property went out to bid. The first time it was attached to a minimum bid of $49,000. After receiving no offers, town officials said they would accept any bids.

Francesconi applauded the new Celtics Technology Lab at Cheshire Elementary School.

"It was great for Cheshire, and it was so well done by the Celtics organization,” she said. "It was unbelievable. It was all fantastic, and they did such a great job."

Last spring, Cheshire pupils wrote to various New England sports teams about their need for technology. The Celtics, along with Southern New Hampshire University, responded to the call and renovated the school's lab.

However, Selectman Robert Ciskowski questioned where the 30 laptops in the lab came from. Town meeting approved nearly $20,000 to be used to purchase 16 laptops for the school.

Francesconi said she was under the impression the Boston Celtics footed the bill because the town has yet to receive a bill for any laptops.

She said she would contact the principal to make sure.

"We were going to give them 16 but they got 30," she said. "We will have to find out, but that will be good. We won't have to complain about that."

If the Celtics paid for all of the computers, the money will return to the stabilization fund.

Town Administrator Mark Webber said he was notified by the state Department of Transportation about a change in emergency protocol and that any damages from emergency situations must be reported to the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance. That agency can help provide fund and give permissions before projects are sent out to bid.

Webber added that he has received an application for the posted water superintendent position, but it did not make the deadline. The Selectmen asked Webber to respond with a notice that the applicant missed the deadline.

"We do it right but we still get wrong answers," Francesconi said.

Water Commissioner Francis Waterman said there are a few applicants and interviews will be held soon.

Webber said Lanesborough has requested a "fowl call for help" and has asked surrounding communities to send any chicken bylaws they may have.

Francesconi said Cheshire does have one other than farm animals are not allowed in residential areas.

Webber said out of the 351 municipalities in Massachusetts, 22 have had their tax rate approved. Cheshire was number 11.

"Not too shabby," Webber said.  


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Hoosac Valley High School to Stage 'Suessical'

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Hoosac Valley High School will showcase their rendition of "Suessical," a musical based on the tales of Dr. Seuss by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.
 
The performances are scheduled for Friday, March 15 at 7 pm, and Saturday, March 16 at 2 pm and 7 pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online via the provided link. Prices are $8 for students and $10 for adults.
 
Directed by Rebecca Koczela and Amanda Watroba, the production features around 50 students participating as actors, pit band musicians, and backstage and tech crews. Notably, this year's cast includes several middle school students who have joined the high school production, marking their first experience performing on stage.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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