Trustees Tour Conditions at North Adams Library

Building Inspector William Meranti led a tour of the library — from basement to belvedere — last week and pointed out ongoing, new, and addressed maintenance items.

Marchetti Wants to Continue Providing 'Professional Leadership' to Council

City Council President Peter Marchetti feels he's brought "professional leadership" to the city and he wants to continue doing so. Marchetti is again seeking re-election to the council - it'll be his ninth campaign for council and 10th for elected office - in the last two decades. He's had what he calls a "political rollercoaster" when it campaigns - he's either one of the top voter getters or he loses - since his first unsuccessful run for council in 1999.

Suffrage Centennial Committee Kicks Off Yearlong Celebration

About 75 people filled The Manor on Saturday afternoon for the kickoff event of a yearlong celebration of Susan B. Anthony and the 100th anniversary of women winning the right to vote.

Jack's Hot Dog Contest Crowns Local Champ, Raises Charity Funds

Kevin Strahle traveled all the way from his home in New Jersey to compete in the Jack's Hot Dog Stand eating contest on Eagle Street on a sweltering Saturday. But because of some late intestinal distress, he did not take the title home with him.

Adams Appoints Two More Police Officers

New appointments have been a regular event in the past year after the town dissolved the cumbersome Civil Service that limited who the town could hire.

Moon Looks to Bring Diverse Views to Council in Re-election Bid

At a ward meeting, Helen Moon was elated to see a young woman in her 20s take a seat in the audience. At ward meetings and at the polls, it is often the same group of people making their voices heard. But this woman wasn't someone Moon had heard much from in the past so it made her happy to see more and more people involved.

New Williams Inn Opens on Spring Street

The $32 million, 64-room hotel at the bottom of Spring and Latham streets replaces the 100-room original hotel at Field Park that closed on July 31. The older inn, purchased by Williams College in 2014, was considered outdated and energy inefficient for an institution that's committed itself to sustainabilility.

Youth Works Participants Honored in Pittsfield

The program is intended to provide coaching and mentorship to help young people take the first step in their careers. It has been ongoing in Pittsfield for 15 years, and for the last six Guardian Life Insurance has contributed.

Cultural Pittsfield This Week: Aug. 16-22

The next Food for Thought Dinner at Hancock Shaker Village will feature local author Jim Shepard. The critically acclaimed fiction writer will discuss his first work of non-fiction, The Tunnel at the End of the Light, which explores the way the movies have shaped our understanding of ourselves as Americans, for better or for worse. 6 p.m.

Adams-Cheshire Committee Interviews Superintendent Finalists

The full committee on Thursday interviewed superintendent candidates Aaron Dean, principal of Pittsfield's Crosby Elementary School, and Beth Choquette, principal of Northampton's Bridge Street School. Both have previously worked for Adams-Cheshire.

Mazzeo Presses Tyer On Capital Projects Never Completed

The cracked and worn steps to City Hall stood between two mayoral candidates Tuesday night. Councilor At Large and mayoral candidate Melissa Mazzeo and Mayor Linda Tyer sparred during the City Council meeting over the lack of repairs to those steps. In 2015, a storm led to significant flooding in the basement of City Hall and damaged records.

OLLI Forum Delves Into Issue of Ageism

At one point, Ashton Applewhite's biggest fear was that she'd end up "drooling in an institution" when she got old. She was worried about memory loss. She didn't want to live a depressed life. Getting old was not something she wanted to even think about. But something changed when she embarked on a project writing about people over the age of 80 and still working.

BCC Hosts Pittsfield Ward, Mayoral Debates for Preliminary Election

Berkshire Community College is hosting the Pittsfield's Ward 5 and Ward 6 debates on Monday, Aug. 19, at 6 p.m. in the Koussevitzky Arts Center, Room K-111, at its main campus, 1350 West St.

Pittsfield Council Continues Discussion On Downtown Parking

For the third time in four months, the City Council said it wants to have a full conversation about downtown parking. But it still hasn't determined how to do that - whether that means hiring a consultant or doing it internally. On Tuesday, the council agreed to have the city solicitor craft an order to have the newly constructed Summer Street surface lot have 90 minutes of free parking instead of the current 30 minutes. But not before many councilors pled for a wider examination of the overa

New Owners of Chick's in Adams Plan Reopening

The Selectmen's License Subcommittee reviewed an all-alcohol license transfer for the bar on Wednesday that would allow the new owners of 128 Colombia St. to re-establish the pub.

Pittsfield City Council Accepts Increased Chapter 70 School Spending Plan

City Council approved a spending plan for the nearly $1.3 million Chapter 70 increase that will improve the district's alternative school and fill staffing gaps.

Woman Killed in Two-Car Crash in Richmond

A two-car crash on Route 41 at Dublin Road at about 5:30 on Wednesday evening resulted in the death of a 73-year-old woman.

Two Will Be Interviewed For Adams-Cheshire Superintendent

Only two candidates will be interviewed Thursday for the Adams Cheshire Regional School District superintendent position with candidate Martin McEvoy withdrawing his name from consideration.

Former Great Barrington Assistant Tax Collector Charged With Embezzlement

Adams Parks Commission Sets Fall Season Field Uses

The Parks Commission on Monday took care of most of the fall requests for field usage. Four separate groups were represented and although a few issues cropped up, all requests were approved.

North Adams Happenings: Aug. 14-19

Incumbent Tyer Seeks to Build 'Strong City' in Re-election Bid

Linda Tyer feels her administration has begun building a strong city and is looking for it to be stronger. The incumbent mayor is seeking re-election to the post as she wraps up her, and the city's, first four-year term. The mayor previous served as a ward councilor and city clerk prior to being elected.

Pittsfield Schools Launching New African-American Studies Courses

Mabel Hamilton remembers when stories of the African American history wasn't just passed down from family to family, it was reinforced in schools. The city school system had offered African American studies classes, delving into the history and contributions of the black community as part of the American story. But a few decades ago, the school district cut the class and that history faded from the curriculum.

Cheshire Elects Francesconi, DeAngelis to Select Board

Michelle Francesconi and Ron DeAngelis won the special election Tuesday to fill two newly created seats on the Board of Selectmen.

North Adams Peebles Store Changing Name, Focus

Peebles Department Store in the downtown is going to be turned into a Gordmans, a discount retailer, early next year.