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People can continue to bring their returnable cans and bottles to the redemption center at 1000 Massachusetts Ave. to redeem them for themselves, or they can donate the proceeds of their returnables to BFAIR.

BFAIR Purchases Redemption Center in North Adams

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Berkshire Family and Individual Resources has purchased the bottle and can redemption center at 1000 Massachusetts Ave.

The center was acquired from David Moresi of Moresi & Associates, with whom BFAIR had been working for several years while the agency managed the customer service portion of the business.

"When the redemption center became available for sale, he approached BFAIR," BFAIR CEO Rich Weisenflue said. "We are grateful for this opportunity to continue to provide employment for individuals with disabilities while also playing an important role in north Berkshire."


Theresa Gelinas, BFAIR's senior vice president of Day Services, said the center has been an integral part in offering employement opportunities to the agency's clients.

"The employees acquire customer services skills with the support of BFAIR's Employment Program staff, assisting the general public redeeming cans and bottles, as well as playing a positive role in our community with respect to the environment by reducing waste and promoting reuse of containers," she said. "Our redemption center also serves as a great stepping stone for people with disabilities acquiring work skills moving on to competitive employment."

People can continue to bring their returnable cans and bottles to the redemption center at 1000 Massachusetts Ave. to redeem them for themselves, or they can donate the proceeds of their returnables to BFAIR, a nonprofit agency that provides adult family care, residential, in-home clinical services, employment and day services for adults and children with developmental disabilities, and acquired brain injury, autism and homecare services for older adults.

 


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Macksey Updates on Eagle Street Demo and Myriad City Projects

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

The back of Moderne Studio in late January. The mayor said the city had begun planning for its removal if the owner could not address the problems. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Moderne Studio building is coming down brick by brick on Eagle Street on the city's dime. 
 
Concerns over the failing structure's proximity to its neighbor — just a few feet — means the demolition underway is taking far longer than usual. It's also been delayed somewhat because of recent high winds and weather. 
 
The city had been making plans for the demolition a month ago because of the deterioration of the building, Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the City Council on Tuesday. The project was accelerated after the back of the 150-year-old structure collapsed on March 5
 
Initial estimates for demolition had been $190,000 to $210,000 and included asbestos removal. Those concerns have since been set aside after testing and the mayor believes that the demolition will be lower because it is not a hazardous site.
 
"We also had a lot of contractors who came to look at it for us to not want to touch it because of the proximity to the next building," she said. "Unfortunately time ran out on that property and we did have the building failure. 
 
"And it's an unfortunate situation. I think most of us who have lived here our whole lives and had our pictures taken there and remember being in the window so, you know, we were really hoping the building could be safe."
 
Macksey said the city had tried working with the owner, who could not find a contractor to demolish the building, "so we found one for him."
 
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