NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The path for Bohemian Road pointed north as the gift and novelty traveled from Adams to the city's downtown Eagle Street last month.
"I live in Adams and I love the town ... It is a beautiful town but my girlfriend and I would come to North Adams and go to Mass MoCA and eat at different restaurants and we noticed there were always a ton of people walking around," owner Randy Cormier said of his decision move from Park Street. "That is not the case in Adams and this was just a business decision."
Cormier, who used to operate Brighter Daze at the Berkshire Mall, said his new location is just about the same size as his Park Street store but the ceilings are higher so he can hold more product.
Brighter Daze was closed in 2006, a couple years after he purchased the Depot in his hometown of Dalton. After selling the Depot, the singer-songwriter had concentrated on his music and run a landscaping business with his brother.
He describes his items as "hippy/bohemian," a mix of colorful "world" clothing and items.
"Clothing and gifts from around the world ... we do a lot of women's clothing. Whatever is in season," he said. "Crystals are big, tapestries, incense, and a lot of gifty stuff."
The store has a media section and Cormier, a musician, has a large selection of used CDs and vinyl.
Cormier said he also sells CBD oil, or cannabidiol, a non-pyschoactive compound from cannabis plants that's become popular as a natural remedy.
"We started selling it in Adams because it is such a health and wellness thing ... We sell a lot of it and I stand behind it," he said. "We don't carry anything that isn't federally legal to sell and we are not a dispensary. We are mindful — even though I don't have to I don't sell to anyone under 21."
Cormier is excited to be next to Bird Song Gallery and said there is a natural synergy between the two stores.
"We carry some of the same stuff but nothing is exactly the same," he said. "When there are more stores like you in an area that is packed full like Eagle it's better. People stop there and then come over here. You have to be cool with your neighbors.
"The more business the better."
Cormier urged passers-by to stop in his shop and said he likes to really get to know his customers.
"We have a great knowledge of our products and for 20-something years we have always taken care of our customers," he said. "If I have returning customers who come in and always buy multiple records they are going to get a discount."
Bohemian Road is located at 48 Eagle St. and is currently open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 to 4. Contact information: 413-841-0616.
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Clarksburg FinCom, Select Board Agree on $1.9M Town Operating Budget
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The town is looking at an operating budget of $1,859,413 for fiscal 2025, down a percent from this year largely because of debt falling off.
Town officials are projecting a total budget at about $5.1 million, however, the School Committee is not expected to approve a school budget for two more weeks so no final number has been determined.
Town officials said they've asked the school budget to come in at a 2 percent increase. Finance Committee member Carla Fosser asked what would happen if it was more than that.
"Then we would need to make cuts," said Town Administrator Carl McKinney, adding, "I'm a product of that school. But at the same time, we have a town to run to and, you know, we're facing uncertain weather events. And our culverts are old, the roads are falling apart. ... ."
The assessment to McCann Technical School is $363,220, down about $20,000 from this year.
The major increases on the town side are step and cost-of-living raises for employees (with the exception of the town clerk at her request), the addition of a highway laborer, an increase in hours from 16 to 24 for the town accountant, and insurance and benefits that are about $70,000. There is a slight increase for employee training and supplies such as postage.
Select Board Chair Robert Norcross at Wednesday's joint meeting with the Finance Committee, said the town's employees are hard-working and that wages aren't keeping up with inflaction.
The closure was announced on the store's Facebook page late Sunday night, where it immediately drew comments of remembrance and well-wishing.
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Spring arriving in all its raucous and deliberate awakening is heralded by a symphony of vanguard spring peepers, hyla crucifer, that transform the cold and drear into a circus of vivacious trilling. click for more
The fate of the facility attached to Brayton School has been in limbo since the closure of the pool last year because of structural issues and the departure of the Berkshire Family YMCA in March.
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