Letter: Thanks for a Successful North Adams Library Book Sale

To the Editor:

On Sept. 16 and 17, Friends of the North Adams Public Library held our annual book and bake sale. This sale not only raised money to improve the library and provide programming for children and adults, but was a great community event for the citizens of North Adams and our neighboring communities.

At this time, we would like to thank the City of North Adams, especially Mike Cirullo and his crew, as well as the Trial Court Community Service program supervised by Shawn Wright for their commitment to transport boxes of books to St. Elizabeth's Center.

Dedicated workers and volunteers cleaned, sorted, packed, moved, set up and dismantled the sale. A special thanks to
those who donated books, shopped and helped at the sale.

Although it is a tremendous yearlong job to coordinate and put this event together, the results speak for themselves. Books of every genre found new homes and our library patrons continue to enjoy ongoing benefits from robust sales.

We look forward to seeing all of you next year and hope you consider donating books starting in the spring of 2023.

Many thanks,

Friends of the North Adams Public Library

Submitted by Stephen Smachetti
Stamford, Vt.

Vermont National Guard Members Depart From North Adams

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
04:20PM / Friday, June 05, 2026

About 50 people waved flags to the see the Guardsmen off on their bus. The members were staying in North Adams because of a lack of hotel rooms in Bennington, Vt.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Residents came together Friday to see some Vermont National Guard members off.

 

The American Legion Riders organized a send off for a group of 75 or so Guard members who were staying at Hotel Downstreet.

 

"We are going to escort them to the Bennington Armory," Riders President Mike Lewis said. "They are going to gear up there, and then I am not sure where they are going. I don’t even know if they are all going to the same place."

 

Fifty or so people met in the Hotel Downstreet parking lot to show their appreciation. They waved flags and held signs. A bagpiper was also present.

 

The Riders contacted the Fire Department who helped organize the send off. North Adams Police cruisers and Northern Berkshire EMS were also on site to help see the bus off.

 

Lewis said there was not enough rooms in Bennington for the National Guard members. He added because of the trend to use vacant hotel rooms as low-income housing, the group had to look toward North Adams.

 

It's not clear where these Guard were off to, but about 500 members of 3-172 Infantry Battalion were expected to go to the Middle East with U.S. Central Command. According to Vermont Digger, this deployment was scheduled prior to the strikes on Iran.