North Adams Fire Department Opens Doors To Public

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Fire Department held an open house Wednesday during Fire Prevention Week to allow residents to meet their local firefighters and to promote fire safety.

Fire Director Stephen Meranti said the open house, which is sponsored by Papa Gino's and the National Fire Protection Association, allows the department to open the facility to the public for tours and to check out the equipment.

"We open up to the community and invite them to come down to see what we got for equipment and we let the kids check out the trucks," Meranti said. "It's a way for the community to see what we do and we talk fire safety."

Visitors were welcomed to pizza, refreshments, fire helmets, and were even allowed to spray the fire hose.

"I hope they take away from this a respect for the job some fire education ... This is more for the kids to get them down here so they can see what is going on. It is fun," he said. "But it's not just for the kids we hope the adults learn a few things too."

He said this year's theme is "Hear the Beep Where You Sleep: Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm." The program is focused on better educating the public about smoke alarms and the importance of having a working one in all bedrooms, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home.

Meranti said the open house also allows the community the interact with their local fire fighters.

"A lot of the times people see us when we are at our best and they are at their worst so this is a good time to come out and meet the guys and see what we have to offer," Meranti said.

On Saturday, Oct. 10, Adams Fire Department will hold its open house from 1 to 4 and Pittsfield from 11 to 2.


Tags: fire prevention,   fire station,   open house,   

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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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