Repairs Being Done on Notre Dame in North Adams

Notre Dame steeple towers over the trees as seen from the bottom of Willow Dell.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Workers from Five Star Building Corp. of Easthampton have a commanding view of the city on Friday as they make repairs to the steeple on Notre Dame Church.

Repairs to portals on the steeple, including the prominent louvered sides, and replacement of the rear portions of two of the church's roofs are being done through a matching grant of up to $100,000 from the Massachusetts Historical Commission awarded in late 2008. Reinhart Associates of Agawam is the project engineer for the estimated $95,000 project.

The cross atop the steeple was removed two years ago along with other religious items.

The city purchased the Notre Dame complex nearly two years ago in an effort to preserve the buildings. The rectory was sold to Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and the school has been optioned by Arch Street Development of Needham, which is currently rehabilitating the Clark Biscuit mill for housing. The city received $25,000 from the Diocese of Springfield for roof repairs as part of the purchase agreement.

Work began nearly two weeks ago. On Friday, a crane towered above steeple, a distinctive part of the city's skyline from its eastern gateway, wth the bucket holding the workers dangling from it.

North Adams Students Taste Test for Input on Lunches

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
08:00AM / Sunday, January 18, 2026

Chef Kyle Zegel talks to the children about the food they will be trying on Friday. He will be bringing recipes each month for them to try.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Pupils at Brayton Elementary got to taste test a new side dish as chef Kyle Zegel passed out cups cider-glazed carrots on Friday for the children to try. 

 

Zegel, a food literacy facilitator, said his goal is teach children about farms and how to grow food, and to have a deeper relationship with their food system.

 

"There's this increasing separation between the natural world and ourselves, and there's this increasing separation between the food system and ourselves," he said. "And we really see that with our students, and with the increasing prevalence of technology and ways that just separate us from interacting with how our food grows. ...

 

"I think it's just really important to make sure that we're giving students accessible opportunities for experiential learning."

 

Zegel will be highlighting a "Harvest of the Month" in the North Adams Public Schools through the Massachusetts Farm to School program.

 

The district last year received a state-funded MA FRESH (Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health) grant toward scratch cooking with more local ingredients. A little less than $7,000 of the $30,000 grant the district received in December will go to Harvest of the Month program.

 

Director of Food Services Thomas Lark said it was important to connect the children to food that is grown locally. The district is sourcing through Marty's Local in Deerfield.