News & Notes: Dalton to Decide Senior Center, Lenox Wants Elms
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DALTON, Mass. — It looks like voters will be making the final decision on which Senior Center plan to implement. On Monday night, the Senior Center Feasibility Study Committee made its final recommendations.
They are (1) to build a new 4,200-square-foot building on town-owned land behind the old Dalton High School for $1.3 million; (2) to renovate the ground floor of the Dalton Youth Center behind Town Hall for $743,000 or (3) to expand space currently available at the W. Murray Crane Community House, which currently houses the Council on Aging offices. The cost of the third option is unknown.
Voters will have to approve one of those recommendations at a special town meeting.
Lenox Seeking Donations for Elm Designation
LENOX, Mass. — The town of Lenox has been invited to be one of 1,000 communities to receive the Liberty Tree Memorial designation.
The award is given by the nonprofit Elm Research Institute in Keene, N.H. Town officials say the designation will help make it possible to restore the elm trees that once graced the town's streets. The town is accepting donations to help make this happen.
Donations of any amount are being welcomed at Town Hall. The Elm research Institute will donate a 14- to 19-foot tall American Liberty elm for public planting.
North Adams Man Charged with Drug Sale
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A North Adams man, who was arrested for allegedly selling drugs in Pittsfield, was arraigned in Berkshire Superior Court on Monday.
Mahadi Shadi Thompson, 28, of 74 Bracewell Ave., appeared before Judge John Agostini. Thompson pled not guilty to one count of distribution of cocaine, second offense. Agostini released him on $500 cash or $5,000 surety bail.
The charge stems from the sale of cocaine in Pittsfield on Oct. 1, 2008.
Adams Town Charter Under Review
ADAMS, Mass. — The town of Adams' charter is coming under review. Selectman Chairman Donald Sommer has put together a group of nine residents to go over the charter, to determine what might have to be tinkered with. The current town charter was instituted in 1983.
The committee will be meeting with various other town committees and boards to solicit any changes. A written report will be given to the Selectmen for review next April.
Mezze Moves Offices to Former Le Jardin
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Mezze Inc. offices and Mezze Catering have moved into the former Le Jardin restaurant and inn at 777 Cold Spring Road.
The Mezze group owns Mezze Bistro and Bar on Water Street and allium in Great Barrington. A third restaurant, Cafe Latino on the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Arts campus in North Adams, closed this week at the end of its lease. Mezze Catering had been operating out of Cafe Latino.
The partnership of Nancy Thomas and Bo Peabody purchased the Cold Spring Road property this past April for $575,000. It last operated as Jae's Inn but closed in June 2008.
Lanesborough Earned $15,302 in Credits
By Al Hartheimer
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Lanesborough earned $15,302 in insurance premium credits on its workmen's compensation and property casualty insurance costs. The town earned the credits through its participation in the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association loss prevention and risk-management activities programs. MIIA is the town's insurance provider.
Member municipalities earn incremental insurance credits through proactive and voluntary participation in MIIA training activities over the course of the year and by implementing loss-control measures and instituting management policies and procedures that reduce injuries, accidents and property damage.
MIIA is the non-profit insurance arm of the Massachusetts Municipal Association and insures nearly 400 cities, towns, and other public entities in Massachusetts.
