Ta Bellas in North Adams Under New Management

Anthony Donovan II has taken over the management of Ta Bellas on Main Street in North Adams along with Tim Lanfair.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Italian restaurant Ta Bellas is under new management.

Anthony Donovan II and Tim Lanfair will manage the Main Street Italian restaurant, which has seen several incarnations over the years, most recently as Mediterra.

Owner Fahri Karakaya reopened the location as an Italian restaurant in April but after conflicts with his chef, he decided to close.

Lanfair said they were looking for a location and found Ta Bellas last minute.

"It was an 11th hour thing," Lanfair said. "Fahri was in need of some help, and it came down to us, and this is a no-brainer. We both have long backgrounds in business and the location is outstanding."

Donovan said Karakaya agreed to lease them the space and let them run the restaurant. He said most things will remain the same.

"We call all of the shots, and he stays home and collects his money," Donovan said. "We are keeping the name and the theme, but we are making it much more organized."

Donovan has managed three different restaurants: the Cobble View in Cheshire, Village Pizza in North Adams and the Adams Ale House.

Donovan explained that he felt it was important for North Adams to have an Italian restaurant.

"We looked at Red Sauce, and we thought this town needs Italian, that's it," Donovan said of the now closed eatery on Ashland Street. "I am Italian, I love Italian food and to eat anywhere good I have to drive 30 or 40 miles."

Donovan said he planned to have a soft opening this past weekend after they finish their construction. They look to have a grander opening next week.

Donovan said that he wishes to work with the other restaurants in the area.

"We should all work together, and if you want good burger I have no problem making a recommendation," he said. "We serve stuff that they don’t have, and it is a family neighborhood."

Donovan said he and his partner will be the chefs and they are ready for the summer season.

"We are going to kill in the kitchen and take it from there," he said. "We are going to hit the beginning of the season with good beer and good food."

Cost, Access to NBCTC High Among Concerns North Berkshire Residents

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
06:15PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Adams Select Chair Christine Hoyt, NBCTC Executive Director David Fabiano and William Solomon, the attorney representing the four communities, talk after the session. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Public access channels should be supported and made more available to the public — and not be subject to a charge.

 

More than three dozen community members in-person and online attended the public hearing  Wednesday on public access and service from Spectrum/Charter Communications. The session at City Hall was held for residents in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg and North Adams to express their concerns to Spectrum ahead of another 10-year contract that starts in October.

 

Listening via Zoom but not speaking was Jennifer Young, director state government affairs at Charter.

 

One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly. 

 

"I don't know if everybody else feels the same way but they have a monopoly," said Clarksburg resident David Emery. "They control everything we do because there's nobody else to go to. You're stuck with with them."

 

Public access television, like the 30-year-old Northern Berkshire Community Television, is funded by cable television companies through franchise fees, member fees, grants and contributions.

 

Spectrum is the only cable provider in the region and while residents can shift to satellite providers or streaming, Northern Berkshire Community Television is not available on those alternatives and they may not be easy for some to navigate. For instance, the Spectrum app is available on smart televisions but it doesn't include PEG, the public, educational and governmental channels provided by NBCTC.