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The former Regions space will reopen as Uncorked.

Otto's Set To Take Over Wine Bar In Downtown Pittsfield

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new wine bar is set to open in downtown Pittsfield.
 
Luke Marion, owner of Otto's on East Street, is in the process of opening Uncorked in the location of the now-closed Regions Bar & Nosh. Marion is in the process of applying for a liquor license and hopes to open the Crawford Square lounge in September.
 
"We're going to kind of reimagine it a little bit. We are obviously going to focus on wine, probably about 20 wines at a time available. We are going to try to get as much stuff as possible that you can't get in stores," Marion said.
 
The former Regions is a small location inside Crawford Square with an outside entrance on Depot Steet. Marion envisions doing both wine and craft beers in the small, less than 900 square-foot space, and snack foods. The small snack menu included, cheeses, and small meats.
 
"We are going to refinish the bar a bit, make it more durable. We're going to throw some paint up to kind of make it our own. We are going to refurnish it — just kind of make it our style," Marion said.
 
He's also looking to have a little fun in the space. He's looking for hosts to do trivia and considering have music.
 
"I want to do Cards Against Humanity every Saturday. It will be really awesome to get a group of strangers in a building, maybe 20-30 people, get them a couple glasses of wine and let them loose on the most inappropriate game that I know," Marion said.
 
Marion has just signed a three-year agreement with building owner Steve Oakes. Marion said Oakes had approached him about finding somebody to fill the space and after a few days, Marion decided it was a good opportunity for him.
 
"I think we can make it a draw," he said.
 
Marion said his wife Lindsey will be taking over the management of Uncorked while he remains at Otto's. He expects to hire another bartender and possible some part-time help.
 
Uncorked will operate as its own wine bar and not so much an extension of Otto's. It is eyed to be open from 4 p.m. until midnight Tuesday through Saturday.
 
"The only thing we are doing that is a crossover is the smorgasboard that is on our bar menu here. We're going to carry that over there. That's really just a craft plate. It is a plate with pickles, meats, cheeses," Marion said.
 
Throughout March, Marion plans to spruce the location up while the liquor license is being processed. Marion said he is on the Licensing Board's agenda this month and then the timeline will depend on the state Alcohol Beverage Control Commission. 
 
"I'm really hoping by Labor Day but we'll see," he said.
 
Regions was open for about two years and only recently closed.
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North Adams Regional Reopens With Ribbon-Cutting Celebration

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

BHS President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz welcomes the gathering to the celebration of the hospital's reopening 10 years to the day it closed. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The joyful celebration on Thursday at North Adams Regional Hospital was a far cry from the scene 10 years ago when protests and tears marked the facility's closing
 
Hospital officials, local leaders, medical staff, residents and elected officials gathered under a tent on the campus to mark the efforts over the past decade to restore NARH and cut the ribbon officially reopening the 136-year-old medical center. 
 
"This hospital under previous ownership closed its doors. It was a day that was full of tears, anger and fear in the Northern Berkshire community about where and how residents would be able to receive what should be a fundamental right for everyone — access to health care," said Darlene Rodowicz, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. 
 
"Today the historic opportunity to enhance the health and wellness of Northern Berkshire community is here. And we've been waiting for this moment for 10 years. It is the key to keeping in line with our strategic plan which is to increase access and support coordinated county wide system of care." 
 
Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, under the BHS umbrella, purchased the campus and affiliated systems when Northern Berkshire Healthcare declared bankruptcy and closed on March 28, 2014. NBH had been beset by falling admissions, reductions in Medicare and Medicaid payments, and investments that had gone sour leaving it more than $30 million in debt. 
 
BMC was able to reopen the ER as an emergency satellite facility and slowly restored and enhanced medical services including outpatient surgery, imaging, dialysis, pharmacy and physician services. 
 
But it would take a slight tweak in the U.S. Health and Human Services' regulations — thank to U.S. Rep. Richie Neal — to bring back inpatient beds and resurrect North Adams Regional Hospital 
 
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