Parade Kickoff the Place to Be

By Tammy Daniels08:03PM / Sunday, September 30, 2007Print Story | Email Story

Drury band instruments await use.
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NORTH ADAMS - Hundreds of hours of fundraising, coordinating, scheduling and planning, and it all comes down to this: A parking lot. It's not just any parking lot. On the Sunday before Columbus Day each year, the Wal-Mart lot becomes ground zero for the Fall Foliage Parade. It was a place of controlled chaos hours before the 52nd annual parade began Sunday as bands, politicians, firefighters, veterans and Shriners arrived by the bus and carload. Some 140 units and banners were scheduled to march. Volunteers shooed units into line along both sides of Curran Highway and tried to explain as politely as possible to irritated Wal-Mart shoppers that once they went into the parking lot they weren't getting back out anytime soon. North Adams Teachers Association members were trying to decide how to attach their signs to an antique car they were using as part of the parade theme of "Transportation: Then and Now." (Teachers being a "vehicle to education and bright futures," according to one sign.) "We're ready. Thank goodness, it's not raining," said Jane Farnham, a teacher at Sullivan School, referring to last year's wet parade day. The car, which belongs to her stepfather, Richard Ramsdell, was going to be driven by her stepbrother, Kenneth. On the other side of the highway, Drury cheerleaders were practicing with pompoms as Glinda the Good Witch (also known as Sharon Foehl) arranged herself on the back seat of a convertible. The rest of the Drury Drama Team, dressed as their characters for the upcoming "Wizard of Oz" production, waited for the signal to start moving. Bands were warming up in the parking lot and Shriners were ducking into Wal-Mart and Dunkin' Donuts for a quick snack. Near the parking lot entrance, local politicos were lining up to buy hot dogs and soda under a tent. Rod Bunt of the Mayor's Office of Tourism was in charge of this year's event, which is produced by the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce. Radio in hand, Bunt checked in with high school band directors, drivers and police. "Looks like it's going to be a parade," he said, surveying the long line of floats and cars down the highway. "Somebody always comes up and says, 'What position am I in?' and we don't have them on the list," he said. "We find a place for them. It happens every year." Volunteers began arriving at around 9 a.m. as did the floats, including the massive Chamber of Commerce float created by Bruce Hayden. The Halloween-themed float had a giant witch riding a broom and a bat with a 22-foot wingspan. The highway had to be partially shut down as the float "moved at minus 5 mph," said Bunt. A slightly frazzled Kathy Keeser was trying to round up enough volunteers to carry all the sponsors' banners, finally resorting to having them carry two at a time. Herb and Betty Randall of Cheshire had prime seats - a retaining wall across the street from where the local legislators were gathering. The Randalls, who "will never see 80 again" according to Herb, had parked their car farther up the road and biked down to avoid traffic. They've coming every year and haven't missed a parade in at least 20 years, said Herb Randall. Dr. Richard Ziter, this year's grand marshal, was all smiles and eager to get on the road. "I've some of my Florida home's sunshine," he said as the sun cut through the light cloud cover. His friend Larry Vaber was going to drive Ziter's 12-year-old Jaguar convertible with the grand marshal's banner as Ziter walked alongside. "He was going to sell that car and I told him not to," said Vaber. "Now it's in the parade." Ernie Purpura said this was going to be his last parade. "I'm 98 you know. I might not be here next year." Purpura was sitting in his 1998 Corvette, Mayor John Barrett III's banners hanging on the doors. He's been driving the mayor's parade car for more than 20 years: "Ever since he's been mayor." Barrett, who's running unopposed for a 12th two-year term in November, said Purpura had called up and volunteered to drive two decades ago - and never stopped. It may (or may not) be Purpura's last parade but it was Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray's first. The former Worcester mayor arrived shortly before the parade began with his wife, Tammy, and daughters Helen, 2 1/2, and Katerine, 1 1/2. "Mayor Barrett has been telling me about this parade for as long as I've known him," said Murray. "I had to check it out so I came with my family." The Murrays had been at a Democratic breakfast in Hadley and, after the parade, were headed to the Big E in Springfield. The girls were going to visit the petting zoo and chick hatchery, said Murray, and would be in bed long before "American Idol" winner Taylor Hicks took the Big E stage Sunday night. The lieutenant governor chatted with state Sen. Benjamin B. Downing and state Rep. Daniel E. Bosley before joining the mayor for the two-mile stroll to Main Street. U.S. Rep. John W. Olver grabbed a red, white and blue baseball cap from his car to cover his head from the now brightly shining sun. Then the police lights were on and the parade stepped off, taking nearly two hours to empty the parking lot and surrounding area as it headed down Curran Highway.

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Friday Front Porch Feature: A Charming House Like New

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:57PM / Friday, December 19, 2025

The home prior to renovations.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Are you looking for a newly renovated home with great space? Then this might be the perfect fit for you!

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 100 Autumn Drive.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom split level was built in 1965 and is 1,396 square feet on 0.32 acres.

The house was completely renovated recently. It includes a one-car garage, and comes with appliances including a dishwasher and stove/oven, and other major appliances.

The house is listed for $359,500.

We spoke with owners Michael Zeppieri and Chris Andrews, who did the renovations. Zeppieri is an agent with Alton and Westall Real Estate Agency.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

Zeppieri: I purchased this home to do a full renovation flip and saw tremendous potential in this mid-century split level home that had not been updated since it was built in the 1960s, in a great North Adams neighborhood.

Andrews: The house was a much different house when we first purchased it in 2022 (photo attached is from about 2010.) The interior was painted all in dark colors and we brightened it up with neutral colors. The transformation makes you feel like you are in a totally different house.

What were the recent renovations, any standout design features?

Zeppieri: The house has had a complete reconfiguration including new kitchen with high-end appliances, ceramic tiled baths, hardwood floors, new windows and roof ... just to name a few. All a buyer has to do is move in and enjoy.

Andrews: Yes, we renovated the entire house. New windows, new roof, all new custom black gutter system, new blacktop driveway, hardwood floors were installed through out the house. New kitchen and bathrooms as well as painting the exterior and interior of the house. New paver patio in the back yard.

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

Zeppieri: The buyer for this home could be a first-time homebuyer or a retiree ... the location is close to attractions in North Adams ... and the property is located in Autumn Heights, which is a very small residential development with several long-term owners.

Andrews: This home is truly ideal for a variety of buyers. Whether a first-time homebuyer, a small family or even someone looking to downsize from a larger home.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

Zeppieri: The location, price and move-in condition of this home make it a true market leader in the North Adams Market.

Andrews: This house is completely renovated and in a desirable location of North Adams. The natural light in the home really makes the interior pop. And with all the upgrades the home stays quite cool in the summer months.

Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history?

Zeppieri: This home was built for the Gould family in 1969 and they lived there till 2010. It was always a family home during that time in which the Goulds had two children ... and Virgina Gould managed Mohawk Forest Apartments and was a very active resident of North Adams.

Andrews: Built in about 1965.

What do the current owners love about this home?

Zeppieri: As the current owner it was a fun project to transform this home and get it ready for its next adventure with a new family to enjoy for many years.

Andrews: No one has lived in the house since we purchased the home. The new owners would be the first to live in the house since the renovations have been completed.

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

Andrews: I would suggest seeing the house either on a sunny day or at twilight to really get a vision of how special the home feels.

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

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