Hinds Secures $29.7M for Local Projects in State Capital Bill

Staff Reports06:36PM / Thursday, February 08, 2018Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — State Senator Adam G. Hinds, D- Pittsfield, has been able to place $1.2 million toward design and engineering for a new North Adams public safety building, $4 million toward a Pittsfield Police station, and $500,000 toward a new roof on Clarksburg School.

The funds were secured in the $29.7 million in capital spending authorizations for local projects in S. 2279, "An Act providing for capital facility repair and improvements for the Commonwealth," a bond bill engrossed by the state Senate.

"Securing these spending authorizations is critical for timely and much needed capital investments in our local schools, housing stock, public safety facilities and downtown infrastructure," said Hinds.

The bill also includes $6 million for the Columbus Avenue Parking Garage in Pittsfield, an amount previously earmarked in a 2014 capital bill that has not been released. The entire cost of replacing the structure was pegged at $9.4 million four years ago.

During its formal session the state Senate voted to authorize up to $3.65 billion in bonds for repairs and improvements of capital facilities across the commonwealth. Spending authorizations in the bill include bonds for state university and community college campus improvements, public safety and security facilities and clean energy and efficiency programs.

North Adams has been seeking a solution to its outdated and dilapidated public safety building for a number of years. The city is under an order by the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve the 60-year-old structure's noncompliance with the U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act.

Clarksburg, last fall, rejected a $19 million renovation and rebuild of its outdated school. A group of volunteers, in cooperation with school and town officials, is hoping to rectify the most egregious building issues by providing free labor. The roof and heating system have been targeted as priority items.

Hinds secured capital spending authorization for seven local infrastructure projects located in his Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden District:

$12 million for renovations at the Central Berkshire District Court in Pittsfield;
$6 million for the replacement of the Columbus Avenue Parking Garage in downtown Pittsfield;
$5 million for repairs, renovations and improvements at the Turnure Terrace housing complex in Lenox;
$4 million for the engineering, design and siting of a new police station in the City of Pittsfield;
$1.2 million for the engineering, design and siting of a new public safety facility in the City of North Adams;
$1 million for the construction of a new public safety complex in Heath; and
$500,000 for roof repairs at the Clarksburg School.

Further, S. 2279 includes authorization for the Office of the Trial Court to begin roof, masonry and window work at Pittsfield Superior Court.

A bond bill is different from a budget bill, as these spending authorizations are not equal to actual appropriations. Instead, spending authorizations signal to the Executive Branch that the Legislature has approved and prioritized capital spending on these projects in the state’s capital plan.

In addition to Hinds' local projects, S. 2279 authorizes the issuance of bonds for the improvement of capital facilities and for general government operations, including:

$680 million for general state facility improvements;
$675 million for trial court facility improvements;
$500 million for public safety and security facilities;
$475 million for state university and community college campus improvements;
$475 million for the University of Massachusetts system campus improvements;
$193.4 million for a municipal facility improvement grant program;

$150 million for the Accelerated Energy and Resiliency program, which develops and implements energy and water savings projects statewide; and

$85 million for the Clean Energy Investment Program to improve the energy efficiency of state-owned facilities.

The bill also increases previous spending authorizations for University of Massachusetts, state universities and community colleges campus facilities and increases several project control and supervision, design and construction thresholds for the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM), to keep pace with current costs of construction in Massachusetts.

The bill will now be reconciled with a version recently passed by the House of Representatives.

Tags: bond bill, Hinds, state officials,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

RIBCO Supply

Check out our great lineup of Boss Plows, and spreaders. 2 Locations Clarksburg & Pittsfield!

ribcosupply.com

Apply Today!

0% APR* Introductory Rate for 12 months for new cardholders. Click to learn more! Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

North Adams Jewelry Store Has New Owner

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:34PM / Thursday, December 18, 2025

Cheryl Coppens put out a call for someone to take over the jewelry business she began last spring — jewelry maker Alexandra Padilla answered the call.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Artful Jeweler has a new owner who is looking to expand its offerings.

Cheryl Coppens opened the jewelry store in May, showcasing local artists, offering fine jewelry, and jewelry repair.

But a new grandson in Texas, and the difficulties in flying back and forth to see him, had her looking to move closer to him.

Last month, she posted on the business's Facebook that she wanted someone to take over the space and continue the venture. Alexandra Padilla reached out to her and Coppens said she met all her criteria she was looking for in anew owner.

"You have to really want to be in retail. You have to want to be in this community, priced where people can afford it. Alex is native to North Adams. Her husband, she's got two great kids, so it just felt like they would be able to continue the store," Coppens said. "So the criteria really was somebody that would work the store, not somebody that would just come in and hire employees. I didn't want that."

Padilla started taking over the store in the beginning of December. She has been selling jewelry for about three years, and has an online shop, and has worked in wholesale jewelry for about 15 years.

"I always wanted to have my own thing on it, and I wanted to bring something new, and I want to involve my family, my kids do something, and I want to be independent," she said.

Now Padilla showcases her jewelry in the Ashland Street store and plans to keep some of the local artists' items, like stained glass made by Coppens' mother.

Padilla customizes jewelry and tailors pieces to her customers.

She plans to work around her job at Berkshire County Head Start so she can open store for more hours.

She also plans to redesign the store a little bit and bring in a couple more lines, like more rings and pearls.

The store is open on Saturdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays 9 to 2, Fridays 9 to 6, and Sundays 9 to 3. The store has also been open on Mondays 10 to 5 and Tuesdays 10 to 3 for the holidays.

Padilla thanks Coppens for trusting her and hopes customers continue to support the Artful Jeweler.

"Thank you for trusting me. I'm going to try and do my best and work hard to make it happen," she said. "This is our first time selling retail, so we hope the community supports us in here."

Coppens will be helping Padilla until she is comfortable operating the store on her own. She said it will continue to be a space of community support.

View Full Story