News & Notes: Fatal Snowmobile Crash Probed; Williamstown Restaurant Sold

By Larry Kratka
Berkshire News Network
10:14AM / Monday, April 06, 2009

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Adams Man Dies in Snowmobile Accident

ADAMS, Mass. — The investigation into Saturday morning's fatal snowmobile accident on Fisk Street has found neither of the passengers were wearing helmets.

Michael J. Bresett, 42, of Adams was killed in the crash, which was reported shortly after midnight on Saturday; Ryan Ziemelak, 22, also of Adams, was in stable condition at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield. Both had been transported by Adams Ambulance Service to BMC, where Bresett was pronounced dead.

Operating a snowmobile without protective headgear is violation of state regulations, as is operating the machine on a public way, according to state environmental police.

It was not clear who was driving the snowmobile. The accident is being investigated by the environmental and Adams police.

Motorized Wheelchairs and Motorists Don't Mix

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Motorized wheelchairs are on the increase in the Berkshires and, many times, the operators of the chairs have no choice but to ride in the road because of blocked sidewalks or no sidealks.

Two accidents involving motorized wheelchairs occurred along West Street in Pittsfield last week with no serious injuries and North Adams has had some close calls.

North Adams city councilors have been working for some time on regulations for operators of motorized wheelchairs or scooters, including the use of safety flags, that they remain on the sidewalk and use crosswalks

But sidewalks are not always there, curb cuts sometimes don't exist and, in some cases, motorized wheelchair operators find it easier to drive on the road.

Mezze Group Buys Le Jardin at Auction

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The former Le Jardin and its contents on Cold Spring Road was sold for $575,000 at foreclosure auction on Friday to the owners of Mezze.

Nancy Thomas and Bo Peabody, principals of Mezze Inc., which also operates Cafe Latino in North Adams and allium in Great Barrington, told The North Adams Transcript they had no immediate plans for the property. Their three restaurants are in leased spaces.

The restaurant and six-room inn was last operated as Jae's Inn but closed in June 2008. It was Le Jardin for three decades before being purchased by a partnership of restaurateur Jae Chung, Todd Lincoln and Luke Nugent. Original owner Walter Hayn joined the partnership after Nugent dropped out three years ago. Disagreements among the partners left Chung operating the restaurant as an extension of his North Adams business.

Area Students Visit Statehouse in Boston

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A group of area students got to travel to Boston last week and spend time in the State House with the Berkshire County delegation to see what their job is like.

Brittany Shepard and Susanna Grant from Drury High School in North Adams, Andrew Klem and James Henderson from Wahconah Regional High School in Dalton and Kendel Jester and Mary Salatino from Pittsfield High School hung out on Beacon Hill and watched lawmakers in action. They were part of a group of 400 students from across the state who took part in the program

Commission on Status of Women to Award Heroines

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women has named its Unsung Heroine award winners. Six are from Berkshire County and 100 in total across the commonwealth.

This year's winners from the Berkshires include Heather McNeice and Carolyn Valli from Pittsfield, Sandy Newman from Great Barrington, Margo Van Peterson of Florida, Inez Flinn from Sheffield and Jennifer Perelli of Cheshire. All six women will be receiving their awards at the State House in Boston on May 13.

Church Street in Lenox Getting Refurbished

LENOX, Mass. — Church Street in Lenox will finally get some long-awaited improvements. A $1.6 million bid for the project has been approved by Selectmen and work will get under way sometime in mid-April.

The project includes among several things replacing the water main, the installation of alternate parking, crosswalk upgrades and new streetlights. The project is being funded by the town community preservation and capital funds, but the town will look to appropriate an extra $200,000 at the annual town meeting in May.

N.Y. Court Overturns Murder Conviction of Stockbridge Man

HILLSDALE, N.Y. — A New York State appellate court has overturned the murder conviction of 26-year-old William Demagall, a former Stockbridge, Mass., resident.

Demagall was found guilty in 2006 of killing 56-year-old George Mancini at his Hillsdale home. Demagall had escaped from the locked psychiatric ward at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfiel, Mass., two days earlier.

The five-member court said Demagall will get another hearing before a new judge and jury and faulted both the judge in the case and the Columbia County prosecutor for failing to produce Dr. Stuart Kleinman, the first forensic scientist to examine Demagall during the trial.

Kleinman had determined that Demagall was not responsible for Mancini's murder by reason of insanity.

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