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North Adams City Council, 7:30 p.m.
■ Increase in FY2010 budget, Planning Board appointment, sick time policy, sewer fee |
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ObituariesSales FliersWhat's PlayingBazaarsNov. 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.
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Mayor's Downtown Celebration Brings Area Residents TogetherBy Melanie Rancourt
Special to iBerkshires
10:49PM / Wednesday, August 19, 2009
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Main, Eagle and Holden streets were bustling with excitement as the 13th annual Mayor's Downtown Celebration once again grew large crowds of people celebrating the end of summer.
A tradition in late August, downtown streets are closed to traffic while vendors and local organizations line the streets to offer delicious food, hold contests and giveaways, play games with children, and distribute valuable information about their organizations.
"Isn't it great that the raindrops teased us late this afternoon and then went away," said Mayor John Barrett III. "This is a great night in the city of North Adams and once again we have a great crowd."
Barrett said the crowd was a little late in coming downtown this year because of the light rain that fell late in the afternoon, but once the threat was gone and blue skies appeared, the crowd quickly grew.
"In this down economy, this is the type of event where families can come out and enjoy an affordable night together," said Barrett. "They can socialize with friends, enjoy something to eat and have fun."
Entertainment was offered around every corner as people enjoyed live bands, student performances, line dancing, and theater performances. A number of businesses offered free popcorn, cotton candy, ice cream, water and sno-cones, which certainly made the night affordable, Mayor Barrett said, for local families. (iBerkshires and BerkshireJobs were among those handing out popcorn.)
Casey Finnegan attended the event with her baby and fiance.
"This is something to do other than sit at home and it gives me a break from school," Finnegan said. "I take online classes through the University of Phoenix, majoring in criminal justice, and I was looking forward to taking the baby out for a nice walk and having a fun time."
Children's activities were located at the entrance of Steeple City Plaza (near the L-shaped mall). Children played games, made name signs, drew chalk pictures on the sidewalks, got their face painted and waited in line to enter the Fire Department's smoking Kid's Safety House.
Firefighter Dave Simon explained the importance of the Kid's Safety House and his hope that children take away some knowledge of fire safety that they can teach their families at home.
“This is not a carnival ride, it is an educational drill," said Simon."The Kid's Safety House is always a big hit and sometimes the line of eager children is hard to keep up with but spreading the word about fire safety to children is so important."
One mother who waited in line for her family to enter the house was Lorie Bolte.
"This is a great family day," Bolte said. "You get to see friends, listen to music and the kids have so much fun." As Conner, age 7, exited the safety house he said in an excited voice, "Oh my God, there was smoke in my eyes, but we all got out safely."
Children's activities were provided by the Elizabeth Freeman Center, the Fire Department, Big Brother Big Sisters, BFaire, the Lead Poison Prevention Program, Head Start and Northern Berkshire Neighbors.
The Mayor's Downtown Celebration also marked the opening of the mayor's campaign headquarters on Ashland Street, across from the post office. Volunteers passed out stickers reading "Keep the Mayor, mayor," and bumper stickers to people in support of re-electing Barrett.
The 13-term incumbent is facing a challenge by City Councilor Richard Alcombright, whose own supporters were easily identified Thursday night by their green T-shirts. Headquarters for the evening for the green team appeared to be Cup & Saucer. Council candidates also were out and about slapping stickers touting their campaigns on passersby and handing out pins. Some also went the T-shirt route - Michael Boland's crew in white sporting "Boland Backers" in blue.
Stephanie Bosley, daughter of state Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams, is volunteering with the Barrett campaign until she returns to college at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst this fall. Bosley offered stickers to the crowd with the help of her friend Kaytee Ameen, a student at Anna Marie College.
"I am pretty hopeful in the outcome of the election," Bosley said. "Lots of people have come out to show support for Mayor Barrett and, hopefully, people will see that this is only one thing that the mayor does for the city."
Rod Bunt, director of the Mayor's Office of Tourism and organizer of the annual event reiterated the tone of everyone in attendance, "This was once again a great night."
"We are exceptionally blessed in North Adams to have great businesses that make an event like this possible," Bunt said. "I would like to especially thank the Adams Co-Operative Bank, the North Adams Transcript, Mass MoCA, Legacy Bank, Greylock Federal Credit Union, who also helped with set up details, and the Hoosac Bank for sponsoring acts that performed for the crowds."
There are a few people on the planning committee Bunt wanted to mention and thank for their hard work: Laurie Babcock, Debbie Leveque, the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce's Cristine Hoyt and Sue Killam, director of performing arts for Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, and her intern Simon.
"The Mayor's Downtown Celebration is always a lot of fun," he said.
Who we saw downtown
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Look for more photos here.
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Editor: to the person who posted about 8:20 Friday morning, please post again. Your comment was accidentally deleted. It referred to no one speaking to Alcombright supporters; we covered an Alcombright campaign event here. We are committed to being as fair as possible in this election.
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That is what makes this country great. Parochial people taking a positive, community based event and branding it as politics.
Will someone please turn on the buffoon filter? | | from: Tech Support | on: 09-01-2009 |
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| BARRETT ROCKS!!!!!!!! We have a great support base, tons of people are ready to come out and vote for the greatest Mayor in Massachusetts. All you people who doubt us, prepare for Novmember! | | from: Scott | on: 08-20-2009 |
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| why name it the "mayor's" downtown celebration. What kind of ego maniac names a celebration after himself? | | from: out of towner | on: 08-20-2009 |
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Not a green shirt or balloon in any photo. I wonder why. It seems very strange with all the green that I saw out there??
Editor: I'm sure there are some. These were taken early; more pictures are coming. Check out the video - there's some in that. | | from: ?? | on: 08-20-2009 |
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| The baby looks a little afraid. | | from: Heh | on: 08-20-2009 |
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Let’s finally set the record straight, the idea for the Downtown summer celebration was not the “Mayors” It was begun by The Downtown Development Corp. Downtown Development was a group of local business people that wanted to make the downtown a friendly place for the local people to go and shop. (go look it up)
The planning of the first Downtown Celebration took a great deal of time and money and, of course the blessing of the Mayor, which isn’t easy to get.
It was very successful, and after a two years John Barrett approached my husband and board of the Downtown Development and said he wanted to call it the “Mayor “night. At the time they said no. He had done nothing and gave nothing to its’ support.
The other thing that the “Mayor” takes all the credit for is all the improvements to downtown. It was not his idea, it was the result of Hyatt-Palmer report which was authorized and paid for by the Downtown Development Corp. I have a copy if anyone would like to see it. Every improvement made to downtown North Adams came from that report.
In the interview of the “Mayor” the day of husband Jack Bond’s death he finally admitted that Jack and his group were responsible for much of the improvements to the area.
Jack Bond never did anything for the honor or glory. He loved North Adams and spent most of his life doing good for the Community. Yes, he was a downtown business man, and he wanted more than anything to see a thriving downtown where people could enjoy the atmosphere as in years gone by.
The Mayor has not finished the job. Downtown is not friendly. He is a menace to the small business owner. You cannot open a business in this City without his approval and a long list of what he wants. Your business hours are set by him. If on Main Street the hours He wishes you to serve liquor is subtly suggested. Open a burrito place on Ashland Street and he tells you must close at 8 p.m. I recently spoke to the owner and he said he can now stay open until 10 p.m. If a person wants to work 18 hours a day why should he be told he can’t.
His intimidation of the small business person will keep our Main Street with empty stores, But I digress from my initial intent of this Letter. The beginning of the Downtown Celebration was never his idea and credit should be given to those who began it.
| | from: Gabriella Bond | on: 08-20-2009 |
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| I'm not sure why it's named for the incumbent, especially when the event is conveniently scheduled near election time, and because city employees and outside participants do all the work. (OK, I do know why.) When they were soliciting help, however, it was only called the "Downtown Celebration," not the "Mayor's." Nevertheless, it was nice to see so many green balloons and green shirts at the event. | | from: Resident | on: 08-20-2009 |
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