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City Residents Head DowntownBy Tammy Daniels
11:32PM / Wednesday, August 22, 2007
 | The Mohawk's marquee announced the event and was a focal point on Main Street.
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NORTH ADAMS - The skies were gloomy but the atmosphere was festive as thousands of area residents descended on Main Street for the "social event of the year" - the 12th annual Mayor's Downtown Celebration.
Businesses, non-profit groups, bands, vendors and performers lined Main and Eagle streets for the nearly four-hour event. The music drew the crowd up and down the street as the sounds of swing, pop, country, classics and rhythmic drums filled the air - and sometimes competed for attention.
Along with the ubiquitous fried bread dough and hot dogs, restaurants, vendors and fundraising groups offered a wide range of fare. The tables were filled at the top of Main Street for Boston Seafoods' traditional barbecue chicken dinner and clam chowder; at the other end of the street, China Buffet offered sidewalk dining.
"We went through eight tubs of ice cream," said Tom Ralys, owner of Lickety Split. Ralys and his wife, Kathy, both born and raised in North Adams, said they had a good crowd for the free ice cream, even though the temperatures were cooler than last year's event.
On Eagle Street, Sandy Steuer was bopping to the beat of the band down the way as she held a sign urging people to help a cancer-stricken friend, Karen Mcgray. Mcgray's friends were holding a raffle - and showed off a box full of sold tickets as people lined up to buy more. A spaghetti supper and bake sale is set for Thursday evening, Aug. 23, at St. Anthony's Parish Center. Thirty people have volunteered to help, said Steuer and organizer Debbie Baker.
Keith Randall demonstrates how to carve a bear with chainsaw. |
All the proceeds are going to help pay Mcgray's medical bills and whatever else she needs, said Steuer as she resumed her dance. "The music's just so good."
The music and the food were good, but the connecting with friends seemed even better as people clustered in groups to catch up or called out to acquaintances passing by.
"This is just great," said Mayor John Barrett III. "I love this night the best. I get to see former students - and their children."
The annual event's origin was a quirk, he said. "We had just finished the downtown improvements and said 'let's throw a party.' Now, it's the social event of the year in North Adams."
David and Alice Racette of North Adams, who had stopped to chat with the Ralyses, have attended every Downtown Celebration but one.
"We went on vacation," said Alice Racette. "The mayor must have changed the date," quipped her husband, who added the best parts of the evening were food, music and people.
"Sometimes, it's the only time I get to see so many people," said Alice Racette.
Three Conte Middle School friends were trying out everything. Kelsey Ryan, Jennifer Marin and Casey Thomas, all 13 and preparing to enter eighth grade, were munching on french fries and cotton candy and sporting glow necklaces and other goodies.
"We've seen everybody in North Adams here," said Jennifer, who was wearing a blinking tiara. She and Casey said the food was best; Kelsey, her blinking "Nemo" necklace. All three really liked the free stuff being given away. Then they moved off to find more friends.
With 4,000 employees at its peak, Sprague Electric was once a city within a city, where many residents would see each other regularly, said Barrett. The Downtown Celebration fills that void to some extent.
"Everybody gets reacquainted," he said. "There's something here for everyone."
Even if there was not something for everyone, there was still a lot to choose from. Coyote Keith demonstrated how to sculpt a wooden bear with a chainsaw; there was information on the Red Cross and Reach Community Foundation and other service agencies; city firefighter and education officer David Simon shepherded children through the Kids Safety House; police were offering child identification kits; there was a chiropractor and business giveaways; face painting and free balloons.
A women's percussionist group from Mass MoCA kept the beat going. |
"The success of an event like this is in the planning," said Rod Bunt of the Mayor's Office of Tourism. "But you don't need a huge extravaganza to get a draw - it's the people. They're the draw."
As nine o'clock came and exhibitors and vendors began packing up, people lingered along the street, reluctant to leave. Kids ringed Johnny Mystic the magician as he performed a few final tricks. Then traffic returned to the main drag and the last event of the summer was over.
Tammy Daniels can be reached at tdaniels@iberkshires.com |
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