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The Jones Block is envisioned by town officials as a cornerstone to downtown revitalization.

Work Resumes On Adams' Jones Block

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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Photos courtesy of Polonia Restoration.
Recent work has included insulation, planning and inspections.
ADAMS, Mass. — Work on the Jones Block has resumed after town officials recently voiced concern over its progress.

According to Director of Community Development Donna Cesan, the developer sent an email to the town outlining a schedule for future work.

The outline, which is expected to be updated in two weeks, calls for the upstairs apartment to be completed by the end of May and the entire building to be renovated by the end of the year.

"He's really focused on trying to finish it up," Cesan said on Friday. "We conveyed to him a number of times that we want him to finish it."

Town officials were concerned with the project because work had stopped and the town was losing contact with developer Gerry Sanchez, president of Polonia Restoration.

Two years ago, the town used a $1 million grant for exterior work on the Park Street building, envisioning the historic building would be vital to its downtown revitalization plans — leaving some with a fear that the investment had gone to waste.

However, the Monday email has changed things in Town Hall. Cesan said the delays were caused partially in regard to finances. The local bank the developer was using had new personnel working on the project, she said, and they were sorting out finances with him.

"I've heard there has been a lot of talk with the bank," Cesan said.

In Monday's email to the town, Sanchez said he was scheduled to meet with the town building inspector to approve insulation and a vapor barrier so wallboard could be installed in the apartment.

He also outlined a series of interior work that has been completed since the last time he met with town officials. Sanchez was in a conference on Friday and could not elaborate on the work.

The completed work includes plumbing, insulation and vapor barriers in all of the first floor and preparation for the completion of the apartment.

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New Clothing Thrift Store Opens in Adams

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Carlo is honoring her late partner, Tom Bradley, who loved to thrift with her.
ADAMS, Mass. — Trisha Carlo took the leap to turn her online secondhand clothing business into a storefront on Summer Street. And named it in tribute to a loved one. 
 
Two T's Thrifting stands for Trisha and her late partner, Tom Bradley, who died in 2022. 
 
"We loved thrifting together, so I thought it was a way that I could honor him, and then also a way I could give back to the community," she said. 
 
Carlo has been selling clothes she's thrifted from her Facebook page for the past couple of years. She found the building at 64 Summer St. about two months ago and opened on Jan. 11.
 
"There's not many stores here. And I figured being downtown like this, people could walk in, especially in the summertime," she said. "I know there's a ton of people in the area that love to thrift so I thought this would be a really good idea for Adams."
 
Carlo also wants to make an impact on the community, donating clothing to children in foster care, unhoused people, and those who have lost their belongings, such as in a fire.
 
High school students sometimes do their community service hours with her, packing clothes bags for these individuals.
 
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