Three Businesses to Open in Adams' Mausert Block

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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Two restaurants and a dance studio are set to open in the Mausert Block later this summer.

ADAMS, Mass. — Three businesses have been approved to open in the Mausert Block by the end of the summer.

Owners REDPM were granted a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals allowing two restaurants and a performance arts school in the newly renovated building. A pizza place, hibachi grill and the arts school is expected to open after finish work is completed.

"By the end of the summer or fall, we hope to have everything up and running," said Stephen Stenson of REDPM on Wednesday.

The real estate development and management company has been working on the former Woolworth's building since purchasing it last year. The 90-year-old building had been vacant for several years.

Stenson expects that after an appeal period, the developers can begin working on the interior, which includes "substantial finishings," electrical and some structural changes. The work will take between four and eight months and will include a REDPM office, the three businesses and initial work on the upstairs apartments.

"The first step is to get our office up and running," Stenson said.

The company hopes to build 11 apartments on the upper levels and Stenson said he expect those to go on the market in summer 2014.



The building permits are all in place but the company does still need final site plan approval, Stenson said, adding he was is confident that those will be approved.

The pizza place, 21 Park Pizza, is planned to be a gourmet shop that sells pizza by the slice. At night, the place will have music and board games to become a destination for the younger crowd. The space will have 30 to 40 seats.

At 23 Park St., the restaurant Adams Fusion will serve Chinese and Japanese fusion, including hibachi. It will offer both takeout and seating for 40 to 60. The eatery will be in the spot with the "cafe style" windows that fully open to Park Street and outdoor seating that faces the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, which will provide an additional 40 to 60 seats.

The performing arts school will be in the rear of 21 Park St. and provide about 30 classes per week with most of its students from the local area. That location will also open up to the rail trail.

"We're happy that we've got some local businesses in there," Stenson said, adding that the business owners are from the county and REDPM has been working closely with the town and Adams Community Bank. "Everything was done on the local level."


Tags: Mausert Block,   new business,   Park Street,   

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Hoosac Valley Presents Academic Certificate, Talks Absenteeism

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff

Dean of Students JJ Choquette, left, high school Principal Colleen Byrd, middle school Principal Lisa Lesser and elementary Principal Chris Wenz explained their efforts to combat absenteeism. 
CHESHIRE, Mass. — Senior Anna Thurston is this year's recipient of the Superintendents' Certificate of Academic Excellence at Hoosac Valley High School.
 
The award was presented at Monday's School Committee meeting by Superintendent Aaron Dean, who said she has been involved "in anything that brought student voice to the table."
 
"She conducts herself in a professional way, but brings humor to the table. She's just really a joy to be around and a joy to work with," he said. "Congratulations on this great accomplishment and congratulations to your parents."
 
Thurston is an honor roll student and a recipient of a John and Abigail Adams Scholarship. She's been a member of the Portrait of a Graduate committee, the Leo Club, the school's Student and Adult Advisory Board and the National Honor Society. She was on last year's first-place team in the General Dynamics STEM Competition and is a medal winner for figure skating in the Bay State Games. 
 
Principal Colleen Byrd read letters of endorsement from Thurston's teachers, who described her upbeat attitude, intelligence and confidence, her curiosity, and the positive, can-do energy she brings to all her efforts. One teacher spoke of how she joined the engineering class during her free period to support the only girl in that class. 
 
"Of course, she accepted instantly, soon became one of the strongest students in the class and paved the way for other young women to flourish," the teacher wrote. 
 
In other business, the committee heard about efforts to stop chronic absenteeism from Byrd, Principals Lisa Lesser and Chris Wenz, and Dean of Students for the middle and high school JJ Choquette.
 
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