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The collapse of the towers last year disrupted wireless and emergency communications.
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The new tower has 35-foot rock anchors.
Updated April 18, 2015 09:59AM

Verizon Set to Switch Service to New North County Tower

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The new cell tower in early February shortly after it was erected. It replaces to older ones that collapsed on March 30, 2014.

Update 10 a.m. on April 18: Verizon has completed its transfer to the new permanent tower on the Western Summit.

"The cutover from our temporary tower to the new permanent one is now complete," executive director for Network for Verizon Wireless Rich Enright said in a statement. "The process went according to plan and the Verizon Network Team will closely monitor it to ensure everything continues to work properly."


NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Verizon customers should be back to normal on Saturday morning once its service is switched to the new tower.

Mayor Richard Alcombright, in a statement released on Facebook and to media, said customers will see a disruption in service beginning at 6 a.m. on Saturday as the new antenna goes online.

North County communications were disrupted just over a year ago when high winds took down two radio towers on top of the Western Summit.

Described as a "catastrophic failure" at the time, the collapse cut emergency communications as well as cell service for Verizon and other wireless providers. The loss was a particular blow to North County, coming just two days after the closure of North Adams Regional Hospital.


Corydon Thurston, principal of North Adams Tower Co., received local permitting last June to install a single 195-foot tower to replace the the two older 150-foot and 160-foot towers that fell. The new tower will be supported with rock anchors drilled 35 feet for each leg, and be installed in-between the two older ones.

The tower was installed more than two months ago but the weather had delayed the inspection process. Antennae were installed over the past couple weeks.

The city will send out a Code Red alert to remind citizens of the disruption or if it goes longer than the expected 2 to 4 hours.

"Further notification will come as other vendors cut over to the permanent tower," said the mayor.


Tags: cell service,   cell tower,   communications,   

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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

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