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The Flood House is currently owned by the city's Housing Authority and multiple organizations have shown interest in taking over the site.

Soldier On Seeking North Adams Expansion

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Soldier On is looking for city properties to open a veterans' community.

According to Soldier On CEO John "Jack" Downing, the nonprofit has asked city officials about available buildings to develop a community.

Soldier On works in collaboration with the Veterans Affairs to help homeless veterans back onto their feet. In North Adams, the group would be looking to open a veterans' community with limited equity housing like the one they opened in Pittsfield in 2010.

"We would like to be in North Adams because our veterans thrive in working class communities," Downing said recently. "We like to do things in Berkshire County because it's our home."

Soldier On is building communities in multiple states. Downing said there are about 15 capital projects in the works but a North Adams community would be only the second one in the county. The limited equity housing communities are built by Soldier On with state funds and then transferred to a holding company made up of the veterans that live there.

"We're not a burden on the taxes," Downing said. "I would love to do something in North Adams."


Soldier On owns the land but the community, in which veterans buy shares, owns the buildings, he said. The community is run by veterans and their rental fees go toward taxes and operating expenses. Any profit goes back to the veterans.

Downing was setting up tours of a couple sites in the city, including the former Flood House on Church Street. Housing Authority Chairman Marie Harpin had confirmed that the organization had shown interest in the house.

The Flood House is owned by the Housing Authority and Harpin said there are other organizations, such as the Brien Center, that have expressed interest in the site.

Downing said once he looks at a site and determines that it is feasible to develop, it will be up to the organization's development committee to sort out the funding and planning.
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

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