New Pizzeria Opens in North Adams

By Justin SaldoiBerkshires Intern
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NORTH ADAMS — A couple is hoping to duplicate their South County success with the opening of Christo's Famous Pizza today at 20 Holden St.

The proprietors of the eatery, Christo, 64, and Athina, 65, Grigoropoulos of Lenox, have more than 40 years experience in the pizza business, with several restaurants in South Berkshire, including Athena's Pizza in Lenox.

Pizza is a competitive industry in this area, with four other pizzerias and another soon to be opened within walking distance of the newest establishment, but the Grigoropouloses are not worried.

"We have been doing this successfully in the Berkshires for a long time," said Christo Grigoropoulos. "What people in the area want is good food at a good price and that's what we have always offered."

"We are a more traditional establishment that offers more than just pizza," he continued.

Christo's is also Greek restaurant that serves everything from calzones and grinders to more traditional fare like pasta and salad. It also offers gourmet pizza with toppings such as kalamata olives, pesto, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes and feta and ricotta cheese. In addition to the usual assortment of salads, sandwiches and wraps, the eatery offers dinners including New York sirloin strip, prime rib and house specialities.
Christo and Athina Grigoropoulos have opened a pizza and Greek restaurant on Holden Street.

Formerly the North Adams Pizza Co., the Grigoropouloses purchased the business three months ago from owner Christopher Tremblay and have been doing renovations and redecorating. The site had also been the home of Hickory Bill's Barbecue.

"You got to go by the books and take no shortcuts to succeed," said Grigoropoulos.

The restaurant is fully staffed; the Grigoropouloses searched through more than 200 resumes for suitable employees. It offers eat-in and takeout service.

"I like when kids are looking for work," Grigoropoulos. "It says good things about an area when young people are motivated."

He said the staff has trained for the last three weeks to ensure they will be ready for the workload and are now ready to serve the public.

The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday from 10:30 to 10, Friday and Saturday from 10:30 to midnight and Sunday from 10:30 to 10. For more information or to place an order, call 413-662-3500.
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MCLA Graduates Told to Make the World Worthy of Them

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff

Keynote speaker Michael Bobbitt was awarded an honorary doctor of fine arts. He told the graduates to make the world worthy of them. See more photos here.  
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Amsler Campus Center gym erupted in cheers on Saturday as 193 members of class of 2026 turned their tassels.
 
The graduates of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' 127th commencement were sent off with the charge of "don't stop now" to make the world a better place.  
 
You are Trailblazers, keynote speaker Michael Bobbitt reminded them, and a "trailblazer is not simply someone who walks a path. A trailblazer makes one, but blazing a trail does not happen alone. Every trailblazer is carrying tools made by somebody else. Every trailblazer is guided by stars they did not create. Every trailblazer stands on grounds shaped by ancestors, teachers, workers, neighbors, friends, and strangers."
 
Trailblazing takes communal courage, he said, and they needed to love people, build with people, argue with people, and find the people who make them braver and kinder at the same time.
 
"The future will not be saved by isolated geniuses, it will be saved by networks of people willing to practice courage together. The future belongs not to the loudest, not to the richest, not to the most certain, but to the most adaptive, the most creative, the most courageous, the most willing to learn."
 
Bobbitt was recently named CEO of Opera American after nearly five years leading the Massachusetts Cultural Council. He stressed the importance of art to the graduates, and noted that opera is not the only art form facing challenges in this world. 
 
"Every field is asking, who are we for now? What do we, what value do we create?" he said. "What do we stop pretending is fine. This is not just an arts question, that is a healthcare question, a climate question, a technology question, a community question, a higher education question, a democracy question, a life question. ...
 
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