PITTSFIELD - A Berkshire County business has been selected to receive an Award of Excellence from the Retailers Association of Massachusetts for the first time in the association's decadelong history.
Spice Restaurant has been honored with the 2007 RAMAES for Restaurant of the Year, for which it was nominated by state Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield.
This statewide recognition was based upon the nomination and a visit to the restaurant by association officials.
"Spice truly deserves this distinction," said Downing in a statement. "They serve great food and provide a sophisticated atmosphere that attracts a wide range of consumers to Pittsfield’s downtown. Most assuredly, Spice's success and presence on North Street has been a driving factor in the revitalization of the city's downtown."
Spice owner Joyce Bernstein expressed her delight by saying, "We are all very excited about the award. It's an honor and a validation of our efforts and a tribute to Pittsfield's renaissance."
Since 1998, the RAMAES awards have been granted to exceptional retail businesses across the commonwealth. The RAMAES have honored large and small, new and veteran retailers, local gems and national players. This year, the RAMAES will honored seven businesses in seven different award categories at a luncheon celebration on Tuesday, Nov. 13.
For a complete list of nomination rules or to download nomination papers for the next year’s RAMAES awards, visit the Retailers Association of Massachusetts website at www.retailersma.org or call 617-523-1900. The judging process begins in September and awards are typically given in November.
Spice is at 297 North St. and is open Tuesday through Saturday. Reservations can be made by calling 413-443-1234.
The following is the full text of Downing’s nomination, which led to Spice’s 2007 Restaurant of the Year RAMAES award:
Spice is the ideal candidate for the RAMAES' 2007 Restaurant of the Year award. The restaurant, located in downtown Pittsfield, has quickly established itself as a prime destination for area socialites, the seasoned wine-drinking crowd and those who appreciate fine food and service in Berkshire County.
More importantly, the success of Spice represents a rebirth that has come to define economic growth in Pittsfield, the center of Berkshire County.
Having renovated the previously unoccupied site of Besse Clark - a retail staple in Pittsfield's once great downtown, an upscale purveyor of clothing, sporting goods and general merchandise - Spice has become symbolic of the type of revitalization that is spreading quickly throughout the City and helping to fuel the region's growing creative economy.
The circa 1840s four-story building that houses Spice is widely considered a flagship building on historic North Street. Now newly renovated and sporting mahogany trim and welcoming bright red awnings, it is home to the region's ultimate destination for fine American food. The success of Spice - fine dining for blue-collar Pittsfield, truly shows that Pittsfield is back.
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
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