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Massachusetts Early Voting Runs Through Oct. 29

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A record turnout is expected for the 2020 election as states with early voting say they are surpassing numbers from just four years ago. The Washington Post reported that turnout is already at 70 percent of the total early voting numbers of 2016. Massachusetts on Tuesday has already seen more than 1 million early and mail-in ballots two weeks before the election; in 2016, the total for the election was 1,038,144.  
 
Voting in advance or by mail is being encouraged to reduce long lines and potential exposure to the novel coronavirus. Early voting in person began on Oct. 17. 
 
If you are mailing a ballot, the U.S. Postal Service recommends that it have been in the mail by Oct. 20 to ensure it arrives by Nov. 3. You can also drop off your mail-in ballot in person at your town or city hall and many have secure drop boxes for ballots so they can be returned at any time. Make sure the drop box is legitimate -- don't fall for cardboard boxes or handmade signs. 
 
Early in-person voting ends on Oct. 29. 
All ballots sent through the mail must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received no later than Nov.  6. 
Ballots being dropped off must be delivered by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3 and do not require a postmark. 
 
If you are voting on election day, find your polling station here.
 
If you wish to vote early, you can find the place and hours here. Here are some local locations: 
 
Adams Town Hall: 9 to 4 weekdays; noon to 4 on Saturdays; and 9 to 1 on Sundays. 
 
Cheshire Town Hall: 9 to 4 Wednesday & Thursday (Oct. 21 & 22) and 9 to 5 Tuesday through Thursday (Oct. 27, 28 & 29); 2 to 4 on Saturday; 10 to noon on Sunday. 
 
Clarksburg Community Center: 2 to 4 Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and also 7 to 8 p.m. on Saturday. 
 
Dalton Town Hall: 8:30 to 4:30 weekdays except Friday; 2 to 4 Saturday; and 9 to 11 Sunday. 
 
Great Barrington Town Hall: 8:30 to 4 weekdays; 2 to 4 Saturday; 10 to noon on Sunday. 
 
Lanesborough Town Hall: 8:30 to 1 weekdays except Friday; 2 to 4 on Saturday and Sunday.
 
Lee Town Hall: 8:30 to 4 weekdays; 2 to 4 Saturday; 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
 
Lenox Town Hall: 8:30 to 4 weekdays; 2 to 4 Saturday and Sunday.
 
North Adams City Hall: 9 to 4 Monday-Thursday; 9 to noon Friday; noon to 4 Saturday; 9 to 1 on Sunday. 
 
Pittsfield City Hall: 8:30 to 4 weekdays; 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday and 8 to 1 on Sunday. 
 
Williamstown Town Hall: 8:30 to 4:30 weekdays; 2 to 4 on Saturday; 10 to noon on Sunday. 
 
Votes will be cast for president, U.S. senator, U.S. representative, state senator, state representative,  and register of probate; and for two ballot questions, one on the so-called "right to repair" and one on ranked choice voting. Voters in Williamstown and Lanesborough will also be casting ballots for Mount Greylock Regional School Committee. 

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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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