Letter: Supermarket Package License Would Affect Small Business

To the Editor:

I am writing this letter in response to a recent article on iberkshires.com ("Pot Shop Proposes Moving Into Adams Oasis Property" June 8). While the headline would lead one to believe that the most significant information in this story would be the opening of a marijuana store in the Oasis building in Adams, the article covers a far more complex topic. In this article we learn that the Adam's Hometown Market has requested a license to carry beer and wine, in addition to the request from Holistic Health Inc. to obtain a permit for a pot shop.

I support a new business opening in Adams and believe that it would generate much-needed business and revenue for the town. What I do not support is the request from the Adam's supermarket chain to carry beer and wine. There is far too little entrepreneurship in Adams as it is and cannibalizing small business will only exacerbate this issue. It is true that a business must be profitable to sustain. I believe that chain stores and corporations have strict guidelines that limit their ability to be flexible and creatively provide products to customers to help them survive in smaller communities.

While there are many who support the Adam's Hometown Market, they also seek to keep their individual expenses down so having the Super Walmart just over the town line with North Adams has made it difficult for the store to compete. Being able to get groceries at later hours and lower cost has reduced the sales of the smaller store and I believe this was a major factor in why Big Y was unable to sustain its business in the town.

Adam's Hometown Market's request would essentially create for the small-business owners the same situation that Walmart has created for the supermarket. I care greatly for this town and I think it is important that the grocery store thrives but not at the expense of other established local businesses within the Adams community.

Elizabeth LeSage
Adams, Mass.

Greylock 14Us Come Back to Win Greenfield Tourney Title

iBerkshires.com Sports05:56PM / Sunday, June 29, 2025

GREENFIELD, Mass. – Lydia Gaudreau hit a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth to give the Greylock Thunder 14Us a 7-6 lead en route to a 15-7, come-from-behind victory over the Vermont Rockets in the title game of the Mid-Summer Storm tournament.

 

The Thunder went 3-0 in bracket play on Sunday after finishing pool play with a perfect 3-0 record on Saturday.

 

In the championship game, the Rockets of St. Albans, Vt., jumped out to a 5-0 lead midway through the second inning.

 

Greylock came back to tie it with two in the second and three in the third, but the Rockets scored again in the top of the fourth to take a 6-5 lead.

 

Bayleigh Tatro started the winning rally with a one-out single, and Kyleigh Cooper followed with a single to put two runners on. After Izzy Chenail worked a walk to load the bases, Gaudreau ripped a line drive double to right to score Tatro and Cooper and give Greylock its first lead of the game.

 

Gianna Witek plated Chenail with an RBI groundout to give the Thunder a two-run cushion, and it scored four in the fifth to go ahead, 12-6.

 

Kendall Moran went 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs. Cooper, Marlene Eason and Avery Lane each had three hits in the win.