Adams' Mausert Block Storefront Nearing Completion

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The owners of the Park Street building have been documenting the progress of the project on their Facebook page.
ADAMS, Mass. — Expect the plywood covering the front of the Mausert Block on Park Street to be removed in the next few weeks as the ground-floor part of the project is completed.

All but two storefronts on the first floor have been pre-leased with opening dates late this summer.

Braytonville Properties LLC purchased the dormant building last year.

According a statement from its development arm, RedPM, the facade of the building is nearly finished and the solid white oak front is being stained in preparation for a restaurant space at 23 Park St.

The windows on the left side of 23 Park will be able fully open during the warm weather for an urban cafe sidewalk setting. The restaurant will also open onto Armory Court in the back for a new outdoor seating area facing the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail.

The aluminum-clad storefront at 25 Park St., with the arched window, is an evergreen color to match the historical green color of the building windows and the predominant color of retail buildings in Park Street.

The former F.W. Woolworth storefront at 19–21 Park St. is clad in pebble gray aluminum to complement the historical sign band above. This Art-Deco band was retained at the request of the Massachusetts Historical Society and restored to the original red fascia and aluminum detailing. The columns were clad in bronze aluminum to complement the existing granite knee-wall below. The original Woolworth grilles will be cleaned, restored and, along with the red and brass trim of the sign band, refinished to maintain an historical connection to the iconic store.

Working in the colder conditions this winter behind the temporary plywood walls had been a challenge for the carpenters and storefront installers. A substantial portion of the storefront materials were funded through the Community Development Block Grant administered by the town of Adams for its facade program with building owner Braytonville Properties LLC paying for the remaining material, labor and permitting fees.

Local suppliers R.K Miles, Greenberg's and Carr's hardware and lumberyards were used to source the materials.

Included in the retail changes will be new storefronts facing the rail trail and a new entrance to the second- and third-floor apartments above.

The next milestone will be the approval of the building permits for the interior work for the remainder of the
project. As part of these proposals, building features are expected to exceed the state building code, including wider fire egress stairs, horizontal and vertical fire partitioning, additional smoke enclosures and a new life safety system. The residential portion of the $1 million project should be fully completed by spring 2013.

Tags: Mausert Block,   Park Street,   Woolworth,   

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Hoosac Valley High School is Moving and Shaking

There have been some major shifts within the Hoosac Valley Regional School District recently, all of which have focused on enhancing the student experience to make it a place where ALL students can find their path.
 
In 2023, Hoosac Valley High School was designated an Innovation Pathway School by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and has since restructured the Program of Studies, utilized creative scheduling, and expanded internship opportunities. Part of this transformation includes participating in a "Portrait of a Graduate" cohort alongside four other Berkshire County schools to determine a collective vision for student success, in partnership with the BARR Foundation.
 
The Innovation Pathways at HVHS are designed to give students coursework and experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as technology, engineering, healthcare, or life sciences. Currently, Biomedical Science & Healthcare and Environmental Studies have received official state IP designation. In addition to the IP designated pathways, HVHS offers programs in Engineering & Technology, Business & Entrepreneurship, Arts & Entertainment, Education, and Sports Medicine. The result is that students have an opportunity for a transformative experience – enabling them to build essential skills, gain awareness of future career opportunities, and make informed choices about post-secondary education in promising fields.
 
Principal Colleen Byrd notes, "What makes our program special is that entry into the Pathway of your choice allows a student to access Advanced Placement and dual enrollment college courses, as well as internships in the community to set them up for success after high school."
 
The Portrait of a Graduate initiative consists of a team of Hoosac educators and students who exemplify the essential skills, practices, and beliefs that define learning experiences across the district. They work to outline the competencies, values, skills, and knowledge that define our vision for student success – keeping in mind that not every student's pathway will look the same. The District's goal is to ensure that all students graduate as responsible people, prepared individuals, lifelong learners, global citizens, critical thinkers, and thoughtful communicators.
 
Another recent change district-wide in grades K-12 is the "Crew" culture. Teachers and students now have time each day to create positive connections and build authentic relationships with one another. Through Responsive Classroom at the elementary school and Crew at the middle and high schools, students and staff gather for 30 minutes each day to engage in meaningful experiences rooted in mutual and shared interests. 
The Crew block is a prioritized structure that allows staff to support all students socially, emotionally, and academically – anchoring them and promoting the Portrait of a Graduate competencies. Crew takes many forms at the high school, such as gardening, bird watching, yoga, and sports talk with visits to college games.
 
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