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Shelley Strizzi has taken over the former Joanne's Luncheonette on Elm Street. She and her boyfriend David Amuso say the diner is a family affair.

Shelley's Kitchen Continues Community Atmosphere on Elm Street

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Shelley Strizzi found her way back to the space that started her restaurant career but this time around, she owns it.
 
Strizzi and her boyfriend, David Amuso, opened Shelley's Kitchen in the former Joanne's Elm Street Luncheonette. 
 
Joanne's had been part of the community for nearly a half century, developing a strong patronage and a connection with the community. 
 
For Strizzi, the former diner became part of her journey helping her ignite her passion in the food industry. 
 
She started working for Joanne at the age of 14, when she would walk to the establishment after school and spend her Saturdays washing dishes. She went on to work at a variety of restaurants including Cim's Tavern, Luau Hale, and The Soda Chief and jumped around positions, including waitressing and  bartending, learning the industry. 
 
"I've worked in the restaurant business for 40 years and I've always loved it … it's just fun. You know, it's family. My nanny always told me it's family, friends, good food and good times," Strizzi said. 
 
The Pittsfield native wants to give back to the community that made her who she is today. 
 
"This is where the dream started for her. She never really lost it. Just never thought she was able to come. Very rarely does somebody end up owning the place where they started," broker Steve Ray said.
 
"She was fortunate enough to go out and work for some of the best in the industry at what they do and take a page from each one. There's no doubt she'll do well."
 
Strizzi often told Amuso of her desire to own a restaurant of her own but never thought in "a million years" that dream would turn into reality.
 
The hometown eatery vibe that the community has come to love still runs deep in the foundation of the new Shelley's Kitchen. Although they have only been open three weeks, they already have regulars, Strizzisaid. 
 
The restaurant is family run with some of the staff being Strizzi and Amuso's parents, kids, or grandchildren. 
 
"We've got four generations on the weekends working here. That's pretty amazing," Amuso said.
 
Other staff and patrons have also become part of the Shelly's Kitchen family. Some of the patrons who choose to make the diner a regular part of their day have had their meals named after them.
 
Although Joanne Longton retired in January, she still comes into the diner and helps out whenever they need her, Strizzi said. 
 
Strizzi is continuing with the same community that Longton cultivated, Ray said. 
 
"It's more of a little community place here and that's what Joanne obviously had. She knew that Shelley would keep that going and that's why I think she was so happy to see that it was Shelley," he said. 
 
The diner serves up eggs, pancakes, sandwiches, homemade pie, and other classic meals Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 6 to 2 and Saturday and Sunday from 6 to 12:30. 
 
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Tags: new business,   restaurants,   

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PHS Air and Water Quality Within Accepted Levels

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Air and water quality testing at Pittsfield High School came back within acceptable levels, and the administration is open to additional testing. 

Last week, the School Committee accepted test results on the facility that has sat on East Street for nearly 100 years.  The report was done in collaboration with Atlas Technical Consultants and the Pittsfield Water Department. 

Readings were "acceptable" in all tested locations, and there are recommendations for monitoring humidity, replacing equipment, and additional air monitoring when needed.  Some retesting needed to be done, and a couple of sink faucets were removed in the process. 

"If you want every room sampled, we can do it," Mayor Peter Marchetti said in response to Ciara Batory's concerns about air sampling in only a handful of rooms. 

"This is the report that came back, and this report does not show that children are in danger."

Limited indoor air quality readings were done in rooms 102, 103, 104, and 116 on June 31.  Air quality testing was also done two years ago. 

Humidity levels were slightly above American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers guidelines in rooms 103 and 104; monitoring and dehumidification are recommended. 

The report says that mold spores captured in rooms 103 and 104 likely originated from an indoor source.  Custodial deep cleaning was done right before samples were taken, and a retest showed levels within an acceptable range. 

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