Updated June 26, 2015 06:14PM

Berkshire Battalion Hockey Moving From North Adams

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
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Battalion owner William Dadds said he'll provide bus service for fans when the team lands in either New York or Connecticut.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Less than two weeks after saying the Berkshire Battalion would return for the 2015-16 season, the club's new owner said on Friday that he is taking it to Connecticut or New York. 
 
"Thank you Battalion fans. Moving to new location," read a post on the team's Facebook page. "But I will make sure we provide bus service for several games."
 
It is unknown whether the North Adams fan base will enjoy a bus ride to Danbury, Conn., or Brewster, N.Y., the two towns Battalion owner Bill Dadds identified in a text on Friday answering a request for comment.
 
Earlier this month, Dadds said the Battalion definitely would return and popular coach Darin Lane would be behind the bench despite the legal troubles that cost Lane his job managing the Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans Memorial Rink, home of the Battalion in its inaugural Federal Hockey League season last winter. 
 
A few days later, Lane told the fan base via social media that he would not be back. 
 
On Friday, Dadds said Lane's absence helped drive the decision to take the team south. 
 
"It's a business decision," Dadds texted. "And administration with what was going on with Darin. Without him in this town. Wouldn't be the same."
 
One of the Battalion's potential landing spots already has a mixed history with the FHL. After last season, the city of Danbury kicked out the FHL's Danbury Whalers after a dispute over nonpayment of rent.

 


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Macksey Updates on Eagle Street Demo and Myriad City Projects

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

The back of Moderne Studio in late January. The mayor said the city had begun planning for its removal if the owner could not address the problems. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Moderne Studio building is coming down brick by brick on Eagle Street on the city's dime. 
 
Concerns over the failing structure's proximity to its neighbor — just a few feet — means the demolition underway is taking far longer than usual. It's also been delayed somewhat because of recent high winds and weather. 
 
The city had been making plans for the demolition a month ago because of the deterioration of the building, Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the City Council on Tuesday. The project was accelerated after the back of the 150-year-old structure collapsed on March 5
 
Initial estimates for demolition had been $190,000 to $210,000 and included asbestos removal. Those concerns have since been set aside after testing and the mayor believes that the demolition will be lower because it is not a hazardous site.
 
"We also had a lot of contractors who came to look at it for us to not want to touch it because of the proximity to the next building," she said. "Unfortunately time ran out on that property and we did have the building failure. 
 
"And it's an unfortunate situation. I think most of us who have lived here our whole lives and had our pictures taken there and remember being in the window so, you know, we were really hoping the building could be safe."
 
Macksey said the city had tried working with the owner, who could not find a contractor to demolish the building, "so we found one for him."
 
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