John Sheerin explains his plans for a cigar lounge to the Board of Health.
ADAMS, Mass. — The former Rascal’s Lounge is being eyed for a cigar lounge and humidor.
John Sheerin introduced himself to the Board of Health last week to present his plans for the North Summer Street building that he hopes will be a destination for cigar enthusiasts.
"For hundreds of years, local cigar lounges have served as a meeting place and common ground for both white-collar and blue-collar people to come together and spend a few hours together engaging in conversations and taking part in the time-honored tradition of smoking a fine cigar," Sheerin said told the board on Wednesday.
Sheerin said cigar smokers are often banished to basements or back porches and there are no local establishments where enthusiasts can enjoy their hobby.
"Unfortunately if I want to partake in my hobby, I have to go as far as Albany or Hudson and there are few places locally where you can purchase cigars but they are not really cigar shops," he said.
Sheerin said the lounge would only allow access to those age 21 and older. He said they will not serve alcohol.
The board asked Sheerin if people would be able to smoke marijuana in the lounge and Sheerin responded no. He said the lounge is purely for cigar and pipe smokers. He said it is a place for premium tobacco and not even cigarettes will be allowed.
He plans to install plenty of ventilation in the lounge and have a clear separation between the shop and the lounge so those who may want to purchase a cigar do not have to walk through a smoke-filled room.
Sheerin said he plans to stock newspapers from around the country as well as televise various sporting events in the lounge.
"Cigars and boxing actually go together quite well," he said.
Sheerin said there are many enthusiasts and if there is a cigar lounge in Adams, people will come and hopefully spend money in town.
"The camaraderie among cigar smokers is something that I can comfortably refer to as a sacred thing. Many of us travel great distances ... just to spend time with other enthusiasts," he said. "I'm not only looking to serve the needs of the cigar-smoking population of Adams but also establish a destination for enthusiasts from outside of our community."
The Board of Health was Sheerin’s first stop and being so early in the process, board members had few comments but said they will help guide him through various town protocols.
"We will look at the concept and see what else we need to know, what we need to know more of, and see what other agencies within the town government may need to be included," Board member Bruce Shepley said. "We will get back to you."
In other business, Building Inspector Gerald Garner informed the board that he plans to increase the standards for securing condemned buildings to arson standards.
"People can still get in there because all they are doing is putting plywood in the windows and doors," he said. "They can just pull back and get in and they have a place to stay for the night."
He said arson standards would mandate the used of 16-inch bolts, two-by-fours, and plywood that would shore up structures the town wants secured.
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Community Hero of the Month: Christine Hoyt
By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
Selectwoman Christine Hoyt, in green, came up with the idea of celebrating local business by having a ribbon cuttings with board members present.
ADAMS, Mass. — Selectmen Chair and 1Berkshire Director of Member Services and Christine Hoyt has been nominated for the April Community Hero of the Month.
The Community Hero of the Month series, in partnership with Haddad Auto, recognizes individuals and organizations that have significantly impacted their community. Nominate a community hero here.
Hoyt has been a valuable member of the Berkshire County community since moving to Adams in 2005 from central New York state.
With no friends or family in the area, she became involved with her new community by working with numerous organizations and serving on multiple committees.
She participated in the Berkshire Leadership Program through the then-Berkshire Chamber of Commerce. This started her on the path to working with nonprofit boards, so she started serving with Youth Center Inc. and then ran for election as a town meeting member. She has been on the Board of Selectmen since 2017 and is currently serving her second term as chair.
"[Berkshire County is] a welcoming community. So, when I moved here, I didn't have any friends or family, and I still felt like I was able to connect with people. I was able to get involved in a number of different initiatives," Hoyt said.
"So, I've always felt like this community just opens their arms and welcomes everybody into it. I try to do my part to extend those arms and welcome people into the conversation and into various groups and committees."
Selectmen Chair and 1Berkshire Director of Member Services and Christine Hoyt has been nominated for the April Community Hero of the Month. click for more
Specialty Minerals is expected to pay $299,000 for a discharge of calcium carbonate into the Hoosic River nearly three years ago in a consent decree with the Attorney General's Office. click for more
The Adams Beautification group, which has been quietly sprucing up the town since 2022, hopes to bring in more members of the community during a community cleanup day scheduled for Saturday, April 27. click for more
Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School history teacher Alla Chelukhova has been selected as the April Teacher of the Month. click for more
Desroches graduated from the Police Academy on March 22 in the top tier in his class. He's currently in the field training program and assigned to Sgt. Curtis Crane.
click for more