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Children are served a hot meal on Thursday night at Brayton Elementary School.
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The program is open to any North Adams student under the age of 18.
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Officials hope to expand the program in time to allow parents to eat with their children. Now, teachers often stop by to socialize with students.
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Thursday's dinner was chicken broccoli alfredo; each meal also has a cold sandwich alternative.
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Children are seated by bus so they can sit with siblings.

Brayton Students Enjoy Free Supper Program

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Kids in North Adams have another reason to hang around after school: Dinner.
 
The hot meal program was introduced this year at Brayton Elementary School as part of its slate of after-school activities.
 
Cory Nicholas, the food service director, said about 185 students are now served dinner each weekday evening.
 
"We, from a food service standpoint, are trying to increase access," he said. "That's our goal. We have expanded with breakfast in the classroom and now supper."
 
Noella Carlow, the school system's 21st Century after-school and summer program site coordinator, who with Nicholas secured the grant, said the North Adams Public School District is the first in the county to take advantage of the pilot program.
 
She said it is open to all students in the district who are under the age of 18 but is specifically helpful to parents. 
 
"These kids have other evening activities so this helps parents because their kids can get a hot meal and then go to soccer, choral or dance," she said. "Even parents that are just here to pick up their kids stay a little longer and sit with them while they have dinner."
 
She added that in the future she hopes to open up the program to entire families.
 
Father of three Bruce All said he loves the program and looks forward to eating with his kids at the school.
 
"I think it is just a great program," he said. "They can get three hot meals a week and I wish they had it all of the time."
 
Thursday's meal was chicken broccoli alfredo with a roll, vegetable and fruit. There is always the option for a sandwich, too.
 
Carlow said students are seated by bus so they can sit with their siblings and it makes bus pickup easier.
 
She was also happy to see teachers, who stay after school, have been actually eating with their students. 
 
"Many teachers in the building that work at night come down and sit and talk with the kids," Carlow said. "I think it is really good for students to see their teachers outside of the classroom so they can just talk."
 
Nicholas said the program would not be possible without the dedication of his staff and the teachers, many of who stay after school to help clean tables and situate the students.
 
"We are fortunate to have a dedicated food service staff, and we really couldn't do it without the teaching staff, too," he said. "It is a great team and such a great asset and it makes it easy."
 
Kimberly Roberts-Morandi, director of curriculum, instruction and assessment, said the district plans to bring in more family based programming after securing a $20,000 After School and Out of School grant.
 
"We have a number of partners working with us like Berkshire Health Systems to extend some family and community outreach, especially focusing on nutrition and food prep," she said. "Things that families can do together."
 
She said the district will contain to look for funds to support more programming.

Tags: after school programs,   Brayton School,   food program,   

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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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