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Williamstown Interim Town Manager Candidates Named

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The former mayor of Springfield is among the two candidates seeking to be the town's interim town manager when Jason Hoch vacates the corner office this spring.
 
Robert T. Markel and Charles T. Blanchard will be interviewed by the Select Board in a special meeting on Monday. The board already has set an April 5 special meeting for the purpose of selecting a temporary replacement for Hoch.
 
Up first in the virtual hot seat on Monday will be Blanchard, whose interview is set to get underway at 6:30.
 
Blanchard brings more than 35 years of experience in municipal management, most recently as the town manager of the Western Mass town of Palmer in the Springfield suburbs.
 
Blanchard led the town hall in Palmer (population 12,500) for eight years, starting out as an interim town manager in 2011 and retiring in June 2019.
 
Prior to his time in Palmer, Blanchard was the first town administrator in Paxton (population 4,800) in Worcester County.
 
Blanchard also brings experience in the volunteer side of municipal management. He served on Select Board and Water and Sewer Commission in Sturbridge. His service on that town's Select Board covered 18 years, from 1987-94 and from 1996-2005.
 
Markel spent four years as mayor of the commonwealth's third-largest city. He led Springfield's city government from 1992 to 1996 after serving on the City Council for more than a decade.
 
Markel made headlines last summer when he helped introduce then-candidate Joe Biden on the final night of the Democratic National Convention. Markel and Biden were classmates at Archmere Academy in Delaware.
 
After serving as mayor in Springfield, Markel spent 14 years as the chief executive officer in three New England communities: Norfolk (population 12,000), Ipswich (13,000) and Kittery, Maine, (10,000).
 
He spent the last eight years working as a part-time interim manager in six different Massachusetts communities, including Becket, where he was the interim town administrator from January 2018 to 2019.
 
Currently, Markel is the town administrator in Hampden, a town of 5,100 near East Longmeadow in Hampden County.
 
Markel's Monday interview is set to begin at 7:45.
 
Both interviews will be held via Zoom; the public will be allowed to observe via Zoom or on the town's public access television station, Willinet, but the members of the Select Board will conduct all the questioning.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Friday Front Porch Feature: A Cozy Place to Be

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Are you looking for a move-in ready home close to the downtown area? Then this just might be the house you're looking for.

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 193 Cold Spring Road.

This 1950 single-family has four bedrooms and two bathrooms. The house is 2,184 square feet on a little less than an acre of land. The price is $469,900.

The house not only comes with a 3.5-car basement garage but also a detached two-car garage with additional storage space above. The house includes the kitchen appliances like the dishwasher, range, and refrigerator, and has a fireplace, screened porch, and back deck. The home is also generator-ready.

We spoke to Suzette Lyons with Burnham and Gold Real Estate, which has the listing.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

Lyons: Location, location, location!! This property is a short distance from downtown Spring Street. It's nestled conveniently away from the road and provides substantial privacy. Plus, the home has a well-maintained exterior and interior.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home? 

What a gem! The workmanship is lovely and shows the home has been loved. There is an abundance of space with four bedrooms for family or work/home office space.

The opportunities are endless.

Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history? 

The home was built in the mid-1950s by the owner of Yeadon Farm Dairy on the edge of the farm, now the Thornliebank/Buxton Hill neighborhood, with lumber cut from the property.

Along with thick plaster walls and ceilings on the first floor, quality craftsmanship is abundant throughout.

The house has been owned by the same family who built it and the grandson has made every effort to match the original design and style with all of the renovations, including custom-milled natural woodwork for the private second-floor primary bedroom suite. Family pride in ownership is evident in every space of this well-constructed and maintained house now waiting for a new family to call it "home."

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for? 

This home appeals to many buyers. There are four bedrooms sufficient for a full-time family, singles or second homeowners. Opportunity for in-law suite. Also, ample room for a home/office business. Lots of storage space with 3 1/2 garages and additional storage space above the oversized two-car garage.

Are there any standout design features? 

Lots of personal touches with natural woodwork throughout, freshly painted light colors to maximize natural light, new flooring in several rooms. Spacious four-season room for relaxing or home/office use. Also, offers a beautiful primary suite on the second floor.

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space? 

A peaceful retreat in the woods. Cozy up to the fireplace on winter nights, enjoy the morning coffee on the back porch or the four-season sunroom. Spend the afternoon gardening in your beautiful yard and connecting with nature. A pet-friendly home offering a fenced yard and durable flooring. A family friendly home directly on the school bus routes.

How would you describe the atmosphere or feel of this home? 

The home has a welcoming feel with natural elements offering a place of comfort and belonging.

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

 
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