Cumberland Farms Starting Remodel, Donates to Fire Department

By Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
07:15PM / Saturday, September 19, 2009

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Cumberland Farms division General Manager Jeff Cutting, left, Fire Chief Craig Pedercini and the chain's regional manager Tom Colpack hold a big check. More photos will be posted Monday.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Need milk in the middle of the night? Or a cup of coffee to keep you going into the wee hours?

Then you've probably been waiting impatiently for the town's only 24-hour convenience store to reopen. Good news: You've only got about 30 more days to wait.

That's the estimate of Cumberland Farms executives who presented a $250 check to the Williamstown Fire Department on Saturday in thanks for its qick efforts in saving the Main Street building back in March.

A fire in the ceiling area near a lighting fixture sent flames through the store in the early morning hours. No one was injured but the gas station and store have been closed for six months.

"We're starting next week and it will be done in 30 days, to maybe 45 days," said Jeff Cutting, division general manager of the Cumberland Farms chain who drove down from Maine to present the check. "It will be completely redesigned to be more 'foodcentric.'"

Fire Chief Craig Pedercini said he was appreciative of the donation and the news the stores will open soon.

"A lot people come through my office asking when it's going to reopen. It's been a big loss," he said. "They'll be excited to know it's going to open. So am I."

The Police Department was fitting children with free bike helmets received through a grant.

The donation was made at the annual Public Safety Block Party hosted by the Fire Department, Police Department, Forest Wardens and Village Ambulance at the Williamstown Elementary School. The town's Department of Public Works also joined in by parking a couple pieces of its big equipment for the kids to sit in.

Pedercini said most of the donation will likely to go to fund to the free food - hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn and cotton candy — being doled out to residents by emergency response personnel. The refreshments and games at the fair are a way to attract families

"The more people we can get here the more kids we can get through our Smoke House," he said, referring to a trailer that helps the department teach children what to do in case of smoke and fire. One side of the trailer offers a clear view of for showing how a sprinkler system can put out a fire.

Besides food and the Smoke House, children could play in a bouncy-bounce house, try their hand at putting out paper "fires" with a pump action hose and take a spin on the wheel for prizes.

The Police Department was fitting children with bicycle helmets. Liz Haight, the department's administrative assistant, said 125 helmets were ordered through a grant.

As to Cumberlands, a waste roll-off already parked at the site. Cutting said the building will be completely renovated in line with the convenience chain's new design. Two remodeled stores opened recently in Amherst, said regional manager Tom Colpack. "We had some training there with the employees. They were just blown away by [the remodel].

The new store will offer a wider variety of fresh meals-to-go, including pizza and flat-bread sandwiches, said Cutting. He described the look as somewhat like the Panera bakery chain in concept and said it will continue to operate 24/7.

He said hopefully everyone who was working there will return.

"We always try our best to retain all our employees," said Cutting, a 32-year veteran of the convenience chain. "It's a very good company to work for."

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