Fall Foliage Bed Race In The Making

By Jen Thomas10:43AM / Friday, August 03, 2007Print Story | Email Story

The Fall Foliage Charity Bed Race Logo

North Adams - We may be suffering through the dog days of summer now, but before you know it, these hot and humid 90-degree days will meld into a brisk, beautiful Berkshire autumn. And, at least one city resident is already gearing up to make sure this year's Fall Foliage Festival is one for the record books. Brian Flagg is prepared to introduce the City of North Adams to a growing American hobby - bed racing. DOWNLOAD APPLICATION HERE (pdf) "It's such a blast," Flagg said. According to Flagg, bed races are used throughout the country to fundraise for various charities and organizations as well as to build a sense of community. Logistics Consisting of a bed and five racers, the races pit two beds against each other in a speed-determined race, interrupted by a "drill." Four bed pushers and one rider (wearing pajamas of their choice) must stop at the mid-point of the race, while the rider gives his pajamas to a pusher and takes his place. Flagg said the drill is intended to slow the speed of the race, both for safety purposes and to give an additional element of fun to the event. Set to take place on Sept. 29, The Fall Foliage Charity Bed Race will give 48 teams the opportunity to try their luck at navigating the Main Street Course. At noon, two beds will start off the festivities with a face off in a head-to-head match that begins at the crosswalk in front of Moulton's Spectacle Shop, heading west. The "drill" stop will be designated at approximately 85 Main St. and racers will cross the finish line at the crosswalk in front of the Cup and Saucer. Each race is elimination style. "The winner moves on; the loser goes home," said Flagg. A Busy 60 Days The Board of Directors for the Fall Foliage Charity Bed Race have already selected the recipients for this year's proceeds. "Both of my parents passed in the last couple of years and they received outstanding care from North Adams Regional Hospital, so I began to wonder how I could show my gratitude," said Flagg. All of the money raised from the event will be donated to Northern Berkshire Healthcare - NARH's parent company. The Board of Directors includes Flagg and his wife, Janeen Flagg, Jill Drummond, Sarah Kline and Ed Joy. "There's a lot of work to do in the next 60 days," Flagg said. Beginning early next week (August 6-10), registration forms will be available from the Mayor's Office of Tourism and through all of the event's corporate sponsors. They are: - Central Radio, Appliance, & Bedding Inc. - 1 Roberts Dr., North Adams - Beck's Printing Co - 121 Union St., North Adams - OTDSports.com, Clarksburg - Miss Toni's Dance Corner, 86 Summer St., Adams - Flagg's Bronco Entertainment - UnitedWeDesign.net Registration will also be available on iBerkshires.com or by emailing foliagebedrace@hotmail.com . Flagg hopes to have a sample bed available on August 22 for the Mayor's Downtown Celebration. Interested parties can also register at a table there. More Plans First place in the bed race receives a trophy and other prizes will be available for the best themed bed, so Flagg encourages creativity in bed creation, as long as specific bed construction guidelines are followed. (Those, too, are available with registration forms.) Flagg is also seeking volunteers. With plans to create T-shirts and have a pre-show concert with singer Lita Williams, Flagg said he has big hopes for the first of what could be many annual bed races. "This is the first one and I want to make sure it goes off without a hitch," he said. "The key is that everyone remembers to wear clothes under their pajamas." Jen Thomas may be reached via email at jthomas@iberkshires.com or at (413) 663-3384, ext. 23.

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Friday Front Porch Feature: A Charming House Like New

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:57PM / Friday, December 19, 2025

The home prior to renovations.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Are you looking for a newly renovated home with great space? Then this might be the perfect fit for you!

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 100 Autumn Drive.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom split level was built in 1965 and is 1,396 square feet on 0.32 acres.

The house was completely renovated recently. It includes a one-car garage, and comes with appliances including a dishwasher and stove/oven, and other major appliances.

The house is listed for $359,500.

We spoke with owners Michael Zeppieri and Chris Andrews, who did the renovations. Zeppieri is an agent with Alton and Westall Real Estate Agency.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

Zeppieri: I purchased this home to do a full renovation flip and saw tremendous potential in this mid-century split level home that had not been updated since it was built in the 1960s, in a great North Adams neighborhood.

Andrews: The house was a much different house when we first purchased it in 2022 (photo attached is from about 2010.) The interior was painted all in dark colors and we brightened it up with neutral colors. The transformation makes you feel like you are in a totally different house.

What were the recent renovations, any standout design features?

Zeppieri: The house has had a complete reconfiguration including new kitchen with high-end appliances, ceramic tiled baths, hardwood floors, new windows and roof ... just to name a few. All a buyer has to do is move in and enjoy.

Andrews: Yes, we renovated the entire house. New windows, new roof, all new custom black gutter system, new blacktop driveway, hardwood floors were installed through out the house. New kitchen and bathrooms as well as painting the exterior and interior of the house. New paver patio in the back yard.

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

Zeppieri: The buyer for this home could be a first-time homebuyer or a retiree ... the location is close to attractions in North Adams ... and the property is located in Autumn Heights, which is a very small residential development with several long-term owners.

Andrews: This home is truly ideal for a variety of buyers. Whether a first-time homebuyer, a small family or even someone looking to downsize from a larger home.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

Zeppieri: The location, price and move-in condition of this home make it a true market leader in the North Adams Market.

Andrews: This house is completely renovated and in a desirable location of North Adams. The natural light in the home really makes the interior pop. And with all the upgrades the home stays quite cool in the summer months.

Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history?

Zeppieri: This home was built for the Gould family in 1969 and they lived there till 2010. It was always a family home during that time in which the Goulds had two children ... and Virgina Gould managed Mohawk Forest Apartments and was a very active resident of North Adams.

Andrews: Built in about 1965.

What do the current owners love about this home?

Zeppieri: As the current owner it was a fun project to transform this home and get it ready for its next adventure with a new family to enjoy for many years.

Andrews: No one has lived in the house since we purchased the home. The new owners would be the first to live in the house since the renovations have been completed.

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

Andrews: I would suggest seeing the house either on a sunny day or at twilight to really get a vision of how special the home feels.

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

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