| |
What's PlayingBazaarsNov. 21
St. Stanislaus School benefit, 9 to 4 in Kolbe Hall, Adams. Bake sale, snack bar, games, Chinese auctions, money raffle, crafts, and pierogi.
Blackinton Union Church, 1373 Massachusetts Ave., North Adams; 10 to 2. Crafts table, bake sale, Chinese auction, the Christmas table, and kid's grab bag. Lunch $4, $2 kids.
First Congregational Church, North Adams, 9-2.
Nov. 28
Becket Federated Church, Route 8, holiday bazaar from 9-3. Lunch, crafts, baked goods, holiday and other items. Information: Mary Peltier, Parish House, 413-623-5217.
Dec. 5
Holiday Fair at First Congregational Church, 25 Park Place, Lee, from 10 to 3; handcrafted items, raffles, children's shop, bake sale, cut Christmas trees and lunch from 11 to 1. Includes angel-themed goods from SERRV. Information, 413-243-1033 or www.ucc-lee.org.
Dec. 12-13
North Adams Country Club, crafts 9-4; food from That's a Wrap from 11-2. Information: Sheryl Morehouse at 413-822-3329.
Planning a bazaar this season? Submit information to info@iberkshires.com to have it listed here. |
Sales FliersDaily DigestMammography Dispute
The government's issued controversial new guidelines stating that women shouldn't get annual mammograms until age 50, rather than age 40.
iBerkshires will be meeting with local medical experts Monday. Have a question you'd like answered on this issue? Send it info@iberkshires.com with "mammogram" in the subject line. |
ObituariesSportsMedia PartnersElection
Trying to remember who won what and why? All the information is right here. |
Related Stories |
| |
Eagle Street Blaze Destroys Pet ShopBy Tammy Daniels
04:46PM / Monday, January 21, 2008
NORTH ADAMS - Dozens of birds and small animals perished in a morning fire at Tropical Gardens Pet Center on Eagle Street.
A small leopard gecko was rescued by Animal Control Officer Melissa Wilkinson; quite a few fish survived the fire but their long-term prognosis was unknown.
Firefighters battled the smoky blaze in frigid temperatures as the thermometer hovered below 20 degrees. Heavy smoke could be seen rising from the back of the building from the Center Street parking lot.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known Monday.
The fire started in the back of the building on the first floor, according to Fire Director Stephen Meranti, then worked its way up through the back stairs to the second floor and into the roof.
No one was in the building at the time of the fire, which was called in shortly before 9 a.m. by an employee of Moulton's Spectacle Shoppe. The back of the Main Street shop looks out on an alleyway that runs behind the pet shop. The employee said she could smell the smoke before she saw it.
The pet shop didn't open until 10 a.m. and many of the offices in the neighborhood, including the Adams Cooperative Bank down the street, were closed because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Moulton's worker speculated that the fire had been burning for some time and might have been noticed sooner if it hadn't been a holiday.
There were initial concerns that someone was in an apartment above the shop, but building co-owner Peter May said no one lived in the building. An electronics shop operated on the second floor, he said.
He said the pet shop is owned by Terry Blair.
"There's nothing I can do. Nobody got hurt. Nobody lives here. It didn't damage anybody else's property," said May. "But this was [Blair's] livelihood. She must be freaking out."
Blair had arrived at the scene early but did not stay; she could not be reached for comment.
The concrete-block building is separated from the Persnickety toy store on its right by an alleyway and attached to the brick building at 19 Eagle St. to its left. That building was not damaged but firefighters opened the windows on the top floor to ventilate it because of the smoke.
It took about two hours to bring the fire under control; firefighters had to chop holes in the roof to reach some of the hot spots.
Meranti said there were still some hot areas and that the building would be on a 24-hour watch.
"There are a lot of birds, maybe 20 small animals and a lot of fish," said Wilkinson after inspecting the smoke-darkened premises. While many of the fish survived, "it got so hot in there I don't know if they can survive the temperature changes."
A blue tarp covered several cages with dead birds that had been taken from the building early on. The gecko and his aquarium were stowed in Wilkinson's vehicle.
Eagle Street was closed until around noon; the Center Street parking lot also was closed off because hose had to be run across it from a hydrant near Holden Street.
Williamstown Fire Department sent two vehicles, including a ladder truck, and firefighters; Adams firefighters were also on the scene. Clarksburg firefighters covered the North Adams station. North Adams Ambulance Service also assisted.
Tropical Gardens has been in the city for about 30 years, first operating on Marshall Street. May and Eric Rudd purchased the Eagle Street building in 1996 for $75,000 from the Lampron family, according to the Registry of Deeds. May said the building is insured.
Editor's note, Jan. 23: The fire was reportedly sparked by a faulty coffeepot cord. |
God bless Terri and the animals. I hope the turnout at her spaghetti dinner is substantial.
This is the wrong forum for this, but ctrem is still blurting out false statements with little knowledge.
The pizza shop with the undersized dumpster in back of Terri's place has been instructed by the health department to increase their pickup frequency many times, especially in the summer months. The city has never had to remove any containers, garbage, or debris generated from the project next door. When containers are in use, a permit is on file with the health department.
"By skirting every rule" ctrem must mean the owner is using the highly reputable contractor who I hear also did the bakery, hiring an architectural firm to draw up plans and assess the structural needs of a hundred year old building, and passing the numerous inspections scheduled. This does not seem like skirting. The architects and contractors are responsible for permitting projects of this size. The owner has little to do with it. There is an active permit on file with the city. The building is not condemned because of unpermitted structural work. The big orange X is in place for a very specific reason, to let firemen know the building is unoccupied and under construction in case they need to enter it in order to put out a fire.
I have never heard the owner complain about doing things the right way. You must be thinking of someone else. This one is not a landlord. They have been waiting for repairs to be completed in order to move in, not rent it out. I can't afford to buy a building and put $65,000 into it every year until it is restored. But some people have the means and vision to take on projects like this instead of just letting an old building crumble. They didn’t have to buy it, they chose to. I think the biggest challenge they faced was finding the right crew of workers. Now that most of the demolition and structural issues have been addressed, things seem to be moving along. Once it is out of condemned status, it will probably remain so for another hundred years.
I think that project is motivated more by the love of old buildings and mill towns rather than strict financial gain. Let’s face it, there is little to be made in North Adams real estate. Even more so if the property requires $300,000 in renovations and isn’t actively producing income through rentals. I wish I didn't have to drive by the big orange X every day but I know a lot of time, energy, and money has been spent there. The city won’t approve cosmetic work on the outside of any building until all of the structural needs are met inside. This is not some slumlord evading responsibilities. The owner is trying to make the best out of unforeseen structural issues by pouring every dime they can into it. It sounds like ctrem has an axe to grind. Who knows with who.
| | from: | on: 02-07-2008 |
|
I know poor Terri must be so hurt and if there is anything I could do all she has to do is ask.. I love animals too much and many may not think this is a horrid loss but those creatures were life and should not be dismissed as if they were of no account.. Terri our prayers are with you..
B."Cat" Goodell | | from: B. Goodell | on: 01-25-2008 |
|
I didn't know Terri, but I was so sorry for her losses. I know a lot of people relied on her for their "tropical" pets. I have a small pet supply store (Bark N' Cat) on Eagle St. in Persnickety Toys and I, too, hate to see another devastated building on Eagle St. I am hopeful that all of our downtown small businesses will thrive and be supported by this community. And, if this community wants Tropical Gardens back, then we should all support that!
| | from: Christa Abel | on: 01-24-2008 |
|
| the building next door is condemed because it is a pblic safety and health hazard...many times the building department has had to remove dumpsters full of trash from the rear of the building...the building is condemed because the owner made un permitted structual changes to the building...this guy has skirted every rule the city has worked hard to implement to protect neighborhoods, public safety and asthetics....i don't think the building currently has a valid building permit...out of town owner comes in removes structural members of the building then complains because he has to do things right...if it's good for in town landlords it better be the same or more stringent for those who come in and attempt to take advantage of our "small town" feel...hopefully the new blue ribbon commission will be able to address the carol and daniel borer's that have come here and caused great harm to the hard work that many in our city have done to improve on our housing stock.... | | from: ctrem | on: 01-24-2008 |
|
| Terry is doing fine.She is a great person and loved these animals.She is hopping to reopen.She has been a part of Tropical Gardens for over 20 years and enjoys working and owning it.Lets let her know we want her back and need her here.To loose her friend keto ,the bird, by her register was a very painful thing for her to go through.She had hand fed him as a baby ,he was about 10-12 yrs. | | from: Gail | on: 01-24-2008 |
|
| As a former owner of the Tropical Gardens Pet Store, I want to see that I am absolutely devastated by Terri's loss. I know Terri to be the kindest person to all the animals in her store. I know that she will come back and rebuild. All of us need to get behind her and back her for whatever she wants to do. | | from: Claire LaMere | on: 01-24-2008 |
|
I sure hope the inside of the condemned building on Eagle St. is a lot better looking then the outside.
No one likes to see a business suffer such a loss. Hopefully the support of the community will allow this store owner to rebuild her business. The North Adams community has a long history of exhibiting generosity when a member of this community is in need.
As far as the sad state of many Eagle St. properties - this is a wake up call. Improved buildings that are compliant with today’s strict codes often prevent such damaging fires. SOME of property owners of Eagle St. should take a lesson from what others have been doing / rebuilding in this community.
| | from: M | on: 01-23-2008 |
|
All this talk of condemned buildings is upsetting. People don't seem to have the facts or have their priorities straight. The building next door is condemned only because it’s unoccupied while being brought up to code. The owner has already spent $200,000 in renovations since the fall of 2005. It scheduled to be un-condemned in a few weeks.
These old buildings are in such disrepair, it’s tough to see where that kind of money went. A new rear staircase was just added and there are always people working there. I think the reason more people don’t restore hundred year old buildings is because it takes that much money just to see what there is to work with. If the owners don’t rebuild, maybe the lot would make a nice sitting area or access from the Mohawk, if they ever get that project off the ground. Thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by this tragedy including Terri, the other tenants, the owners, neighbors, and those who saw the worst of it, the animals.
| | from: | on: 01-23-2008 |
|
| For the person that was so worried about not needing " anymore vacant, empty buildings in this city" How about the fact that this woman just lost everything she loved, her business, and those animals. You're so worried about vacant builings in this city, run for city council, and well, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT...how rude to be so inconsiderate in such a sad time for this woman...it's not time to worry about vacant buildings, it's time to pray that Terri has the strength in herself and god that she re-builds, and gets her store back together!! Good luck Terri...don't let comments like that hold you down! Here's to hoping you come back, bigger, and stronger! | | from: | on: 01-23-2008 |
|
Dear Terri,
We are so sorry for your loss. If there is anything at all we can do for you please call us. Our prayers and thoughts are with you. We know how much you love your animals. | | from: Polly, Jimmy and Amanda | on: 01-22-2008 |
|
| It is an absolute tragedy for this to happen to the animals and the owner. I have been going to this store for a very long time. My thoughts and prayers go out to her. I do hope that she will reopen in the future after recouping. North Adams still needs a store like this in the immediate area for residents, so that we don't have to travel to Pittsfield for supplies and fish/animals. I hope others feel the same way and maybe try to help out too. | | from: A person kind to the animals | on: 01-22-2008 |
|
It's sad to see animals perish. This is another crushing blow to Eagle Street, with another building now in disrepair. I hope the the owners will act quickly and make a decision on what to do with the building to keep it from becoming another eyesore in the current collection. Its also troubling to see A longtime business owner having to rethink the 30 year investment on Eagle Street. I do hope that she is able to recoup something and consider reopening on the street.
In my mind, i would like to see Eagle Street closed to all traffic, with a walking path, art sculptures,green space.... this is my vision for Eagle Street!!!!!! | | from: dragonflii | on: 01-21-2008 |
|
| i doubt it will be rebuilt....if anything good may come of this is that the removal of that building, and the one next to it, could open eagle st. up to the parking lot and the rear of the mohawk theater....by doing that it may help to foster a rebirth of eagle st.... | | from: ctrem | on: 01-21-2008 |
|
| Let's hope that they rebuild and that this is not another eyesore for this street that has so much potential. We do not need any more vacant condemned buildings in the downtown. | | from: | on: 01-21-2008 |
|
|
Enter your email address below to receive our FREE iBerkshires.com Newsletter
|
|
