Medical Facilities Still Open in North Adams

The Ambulatory Care Center will remain open; the Doctors Building to the right, owned by the hospital, will close.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The issues surrounding the closure of North Adams Regional Hospital do not affect the following facilities, which remain open:

Williamstown Medical Associates

Northern Berkshire Pediatrics

Hillcrest Dental

Dr. Robert L. Van Uitert's office

Advanced Eye Care

Orthopedic Associates of Northern Berkshire

Practices that operate in the Ambulatory Care Center will not close and neither will the building.

Although often referred to as the Doctors Building, the care center is a separate building connected to the Doctors Building and hospital but which is not owned by the hospital. It was built in 2001 by a separate company unaffiliated to Northern Berkshire Healthcare.

The only practices affected by the closure are those three owned and operated by Northern Berkshire Healthcare: Northern Berkshire Family Practice, Northern Berkshire OB/GYN and Northern Berkshire General Surgery.

The family practice and OB/GYN doctors are working with Berkshire Health Systems for administrative support and reportedly will attempt to remain functioning in new locations. They will close by next Friday. VNA & Hospice of Northern Berkshire will also close next week; there are reports that a South County VNA may take over patients.

Please email us at info@iberkshires.com to be added to this list.

New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction. 

 

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

 

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

 

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

 

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

 

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

 

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.