North Adams Cemetery Commission Squares Away New Signage

The Cemetery Commission is working on new signage for the city's two cemeteries.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Cemetery Commission made progress toward finalizing the approval of new signage for both Southview and Hillside cemeteries.

Commissioner Roger Eurbin provided some sample renderings Tuesday afternoon during the panel's monthly meeting.

He proposed a wooden sign for Hillside similar to the one at Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans Memorial Skating Rink. Eurbin said he wanted a sign that would reflect the age of the cemetery.

"Hillside was established in 1798 which is pretty old…so I wanted to see something more rustic or colonial," Eurbin said.

He said the sign will be made out of wood. The cross bars will be nearly 2 inches thick and the letters will be routered into the wood and painted white. He said he anticipated that the wood will be stained a dark brown.

The name of the cemetery will be written in larger print on the top board, the second board will have the date the cemetery was founded, and the third board will indicate that the cemetery is a national historic landmark.

Eurbin said there will be two signs at Hillside, which is divided by Route 2.

Eurbin said rendering for the Southview sign is almost complete and after talking with the mayor, he thought it would be good to add Southview's date of establishment as well.

"Most people don't realize how old that cemetery is," he said. "It was founded in 1888."

He said the Southview sign will be double-sided and will be located at the main entrance. He said the proposed rendering has black lettering on a white background.

The commission has reached out to two possible vendors and will make final decisions once they have prices.

Although commissioners did not approve the final designs of the signs yet, it did OK their placement and the new signage for rules and regulations.

They agreed to place two signs in Hillside near both of the cemetery's entrances.

Southview will have a sign in a prominent place near every entrance.

The commission will make final decisions on signage during its next meeting.

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.