Summer Street Festival Draws Hundreds to Adams
 Photos by Melanie Rancourt
People filled the street for the annual Summer Street Fair on Sunday night. |
"The original idea behind the street fair was to give merchants on Summer Street a chance to promote their businesses," said Roger Hassan, president of the association. "Many people tend to forget about Summer Street because most people do everything on Park Street."
For two years now, besides the merchants selling their merchandise in front of their stores, SSAM has invited other local businesses, organizations and children's groups to participate as well. Nonprofit organizations are allowed to set up their tables for free while other businesses such as Tupperware, Tastefully Simple and Avon pay a small vendor fee to participate. All the money raised is donated to charity by the SSAM.
"Last year we donated thousands of dollars to well-deserving charities including Shriners' Hospital, local animal shelters, the Elizabeth Freeman Center, and the Santa Funds of both North County and Pittsfield," Hassan said. "We plan to do the same with the money raised this year."
 The dealer takes a call from the bankers during the 'Hillbilly Deal or No Deal' game Tom Rotolo mulls his next move. |
"Hillbilly Deal or No Deal" was a huge hit. A winning ticket was pulled and the lucky contestant was given the chance to choose a toilet seat (yes, you read that correctly). Under the toilet seat was concealed an amount of money, raning from 10 cents to $150. Volunteers agreed to model the toilet seats throughout, the game which added to the amusement of the audience.
Tom Rotolo won $25 on the first game. However, if Rotolo stuck with his original toilet seat and decided not to switch with the two remaining seats at the end, he would have walked away with the big prize.
Another big winner of the night was Debbie Wojtaszek of Cheshire, whose name was drawn in the Live 95.5 Summer Home Give-a-Way. WUPE Radio personality Eric Greene said there are still many chances to win a key to a new home. WUPE will be at the Back 9 Bar and Grille in Pittsfield on June 29; at the Press Box in Pittsfield on June 30, at the Bass Water Grill in Cheshire on July 2 and at the Crown Plaza in Pittsfield on July 3.
The Hoosac Valley High School cheerleaders were on hand with their popular "Pie A Cheerleader" fundraiser. By the looks of the girls, the fundraiser was once again a hit.
"For $2 a pie, people could purchase a paper plate full of whipped cream and throw it at the face of a willing cheerleader," said Laura Daniels, mother of Maia Daniels, a sophomore at Hoosac. "We do this fundraiser twice during the summer. We will see everyone at Hi Jinks Night on Park Street very soon." Planning for next year's Summer Street fair will begin this Wednesday at the Grille. The association is thinking about ways of keeping the fair fresh each year so that people will want to come back to the annual event.
"Fairs that have specific themes is an idea that the association will consider," Hassan said.
Association leaders said they wanted to thank all the businesses and organizations that participated in making the event a success again this year. For more information about signing up your organization for next year's event, call Hassan at Colleen's Sweet Treats and Gifts at 413-749-0030.
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