image description — Carr Hardware is the only business in Massachusetts to make it to the quarterfinals of the "Independent We Stand Small Business of the Year Award."

Carr Hardware In Quarterfinals For Small Business Of Year Award

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
11:51AM / Thursday, December 07, 2017Print Story | Email Story

Vote for the Independent Small Business of the Year Award here.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Carr Hardware is the only business in Massachusetts to make it to the quarterfinals of the "Independent We Stand Small Business of the Year Award."

And, if it wins, the local company plans on donating that money right back into the community.

Carr Hardware says the small business organization Independent We Stand is giving out $5,000 to this year's winner. If Carr gets it, it will be donated toward building a new splash pad at Clapp Park.

"It is perfect for the kids. It gives them a safe and healthy place to go to," said Director of Marketing Geoffrey Webb. "This is just another way to give back to the community."

A customer had previously nominated Carr Hardware for the award and on Nov. 20, the Berkshires-based business found out it was in the top 25 of 249 businesses across the country after a first round of voting.

"I am very proud of our team members, at each of our six locations, which were instrumental in helping us be recognized by Independent We Stand by their commitment to providing superior service to our customers," said Vice President Bart Raser in a statement.

"I encourage folks to log onto the website often and vote for Carr, if we do receive the Indie Award I have committed to donate 100 percent of the cash proceeds towards the rebuild the new Splash Park project in Pittsfield."

Webb said the contest puts a lot of emphasis on what small businesses do for the community. Carr Hardware next year will be entering its 90th year since it was founded and prides itself on being a community partner. It operates stores in Pittsfield, Lee, Great Barrington, and North Adams in Massachusetts, and stores in Avon and Enfield, Conn.

"This year's quarterfinals represent the independent businesses from across the country who go above and beyond to support their local economies," said Bill Brunelle, co-founder of Independent We Stand in a statement. "This award is our way of honoring the contributions they've made to their communities."

The splash park project is part of an ongoing effort to revamp Clapp Park. Both the Rotary Club and the Buddy Pellerin Field Committee are supporting a number of park improvement projects eyed for the park. Carr Hardware is a member of the Rotary Club, which has specifically eyed the creation of the new splash pad.

"It is one of the causes the Rotary Club is behind," Webb said.

The voting for the contest is open to the public. But one can only vote once a day. Voting ends on Dec. 10 and is done online here.

Tags: contest, small business,

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Lanesborough Hopes for Continued Talks on Mall Sale

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:41PM / Wednesday, November 11, 2026

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Select Board is optimistic that talks for the Berkshire Mall sale will continue.

Chair Deborah Maynard and Vice Chair Juli Baker were to meet with mall owner JMJ Holdings, the Baker Hill Road District, and proposed buyer Cypress Equities on Tuesday to discuss next steps. As of Wednesday, iBerkshires had received a "we are optimistic" from Maynard on the talks. The Berkshire Eagle reported a response from a Cypress representative saying talks will continue.

Baker had updated the Select Board on Monday about the status of the sale and the efforts being undertaken by the renamed Baker Hill Economic District.

Cypress Equities pulled out of a purchase-and sale-agreement with mall owner JMJ last week for the following reasons.

Not enough water service/pressure to the property to support redevelopment without constructing costly water tanks.
The current septic system and former treatment facility is not acceptable for a project of the scale and magnitude proposed.
There is existing asbestos and bad soil from the treatment system that needs to be remediated off site.
And the current structure and tax assessment of the Baker Hill Road District.

Baker has been working with what is now being called the Baker Hill Economic District and said she and the district members are happy that Cypress has decided to leave the door open to more discussions and that they have been working hard to try and address the company's needs.

Last month, the town had asked state Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. John Barrett III to support the state Department of Transportation taking over the Connector Road, funding for a mall connection to Pittsfield's wastewater treatment plant and a connection to the town's water main.

Baker said an amendment has been drafted to cap the district's taxes to not grow more than 2.5 percent a year. She noted that, historically, taxes have not grown by more than one percent per year, so it won't be difficult to meet that cap.

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