Crane Stationery Being Revived Under New Owner

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The venerable Crane Stationery is turning a page with its new owner. 
 
WP Strategic Holdings says it has completed its acquisition of 200-year-old company, according The Albany Business Review. 
 
Todd Kletter, managing partner of WP Strategic Holdings, told the Review that he expects it will restart operations on Friday.
 
About 90 percent of the employees abruptly laid off in February when its parent company Mohawk Fine Papers was acquired by an international firm are being told they will be rehired with the seniority and benefits intact. They expected to receive offer letters today. 
 
The Albany, N.Y.-based consulting and investment firm had Crane listed in its portfolio within days of its closure and stated its intention to acquire the company.
 
"We are thrilled to welcome Crane Stationery into the WP Strategic Holdings family," Kletter said in a statement to the Review. "Crane Stationery's unparalleled reputation for quality and craftsmanship aligns perfectly with our vision of supporting companies with a strong heritage and a dedication to excellence."
 
Mohawk Fine Papers of Cohoes, N.Y., purchased Crane Stationery in 2018 with plans to expand the operation. But it closed the North Adams plant in 2020 and laid off nearly 200 employees. 
 
Fedrigoni, a specialty paper and luxury packaging manufacturer based in Italy, acquired the paper company in February. Mohawk, family owned since 1931, had entered into a manufacturing agreement with Fedrigoni in 2022 and became its North American distributor last July.
 
Some Crane employees had been offered jobs in Cohoes, where the printing of Crane was to continue, and remotely. Those workers were abruptly locked out of the company's email and servers on Feb. 14.
 
Kletter told the Review that Fedrigoni had placed Crane's assets in a holding company while negotiating with his team and Crane will lease space in Cohoes from Fedrigoni. He said retired Mohawk CEO Thomas D. O'Connor Jr. had helped facilitate the deal but has no stake in Crane's revival. 
 
"We are excited about the possibilities that this acquisition brings," Kletter said in a statement. "This acquisition will enable Crane to maintain its growth initiatives, expand its reach, and continue the legacy of delivering premium stationery products to our discerning customers."
 
He also told the Review he has been assuring Crane's customers, who had been cut off with no explanation. The Crane website, which for weeks had a notice that the site was down for maintenance as "We are taking a moment to reflect" is back up. 
 
Kletter, who founded WP Strategic Holdings in 2020, had previously consulted for Crane and is currently the interim chief operating officer.
 
Offer letters to employees say the the transition will "unfold in several phases" but they can "rest assured that your wages and payment schedule will remain unchanged."
 
"Our goal is to make this transition as seamless as possible for you and keep benefits as closely aligned to what had been offered in the past. We appreciate your patience as we finalize these details."

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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

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