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The Board of Selectmen granted Donald Sommers the town's last available all-alcohol license on Wednesday.

Adams Selectmen Grant Final All-Alcohol License

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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ADAMS, Mass. — A former selectman was granted the town's one remaining all-alcohol liquor license on Wednesday pending town counsel review.

Donald Sommers, who is opening Haflinger House in the former Harrington's Restaurant on Commercial Street, was the only application the town received after four separate businesses inquired about the license. Town officials then contacted each of the businesses at once when they realized that one was available; Sommers was the first and only application in.

The board approved granting the license to Sommers pending attorney review of the application. The town wants to make sure the application will also be accepted by the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.

The application was delayed somewhat when Town Counsel Edmund St. John III asked for additional information. Sommers has submitted the information but St. John had not yet to reviewed it.

According to Town Administrator Jonathan Butler, all of the parties were notified at the same time but one decided not to apply and the other two said they were delaying their applications — leaving only Sommers.

In other business, board members raved about last weekend's Thunderfest, the winter festival that was organized by the Pro Adams group to go with the historic Thunderbolt Ski Run. The Board of Selectmen are estimating that there were consistently 400 people at the Saturday afternoon event. The ski race, alas, had to be canceled for lack of snow.

Chairman Arthur "Skip" Harrington suggested adding another event in the fall while others joked about hosting one on a monthly basis.

"It's definitely one of the most special days I've had as a town administrator," Butler said.

The board also approved allowing a sign to be placed on Summer Street for a new barber business and a name change for Alternative Motor's license. The board delayed taking action on a request from Environment Massachusetts to support legislation regarding solar power.

Tags: liquor license,   Thunderfest,   

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Cheshire Town Meeting Oks Budgets, Debates Potential Prop 2 1/2 Override

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Moderator Carol Francesconi, left, and Anne Marie Furey were presented flowers in memory of the Rev. William Furey, their brother and husband, respectively. The town report was dedicated to him. 
CHESHIRE, Mass. — Town meeting on Monday approved all 35 articles on the annual meeting warrant, including a total spending for fiscal 2027 of more than $8.5 million. 
 
Some 77 of the town's more than 2,500 registered voters filled the Cheshire Community House meeting room, debating on a number of articles during the meeting that lasted nearly three hours
 
The town dedicated its annual report to the Rev. William David Furey, longtime pastor of First Baptist Church and more recently Berkshire Union Chapel in Lanesborough. Furey died last year at age 77.
 
His wife, Anne Marie Furey, and his sister, Town Moderator Carol Francesconi, were presented with a bouquet of flowers in tribute to him. 
 
He was an exemplary member of the community who left a lasting impression in each and every life that he touched, said Town Clerk Whitney Flynn. 
 
Voters approved several warrant articles that make up an operating budget of $3,840,314 for fiscal 2027. Of this amount, $1,642,481 is allocated for the general government budget, which was approved after clarification of a few questions.
 
One item was the administrative assistant's salary. Prior to the annual meeting, the town eliminated the executive assistant salary of $54,309 in favor of a part-time administrative assistant salary of $27,155, to reduce costs considering the financial constraint the town is in. 
 
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