North Adams Hosts Menorah Lighting on Sunday

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The annual menorah lighting for Hanukkah will be held at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 28.  
 
"Hanukkah is a celebration of light in dark times, and of the miracle of discovering that we have enough — we are enough," Rabbi Rachel Barenblat said. "Jewish tradition teaches that a candle is not diminished when it lights another flame. When we come together, our light is more than the sum of its parts. Join us as we kindle the first lights of Hanukkah in North Adams — bring the light of your presence, and together we'll shine in the darkness." 
 
The public is invited to attend this ceremony, which will be held in Dr. Arthur Rosenthal Square on West Main Street across from City Hall with Barenblat sharing a few words to mark the start of the Chanukah. Children attending will receive a small treat of chocolate gelt.
 
"I have been proud to partner with Rabbi Barenblat, the congregants of Congregation Beth Israel and the Jewish community of North Adams and the Northern Berkshires, and community members of good will to establish and sustain the menorah lighting tradition in the City of North Adams," Mayor Thomas Bernard said. "Kindling lights against the darkness – and the miraculous hope that accompanies this tremendous act of faith and belief there always can be brighter days ahead – is a theme shared among many traditions. I look forward to sharing the light, hope, and miracle of Hanukkah with our community again this year."
 
The lights of the menorah, lit during the eight days of Hanukkah, represent the miracle of restoring light to the Temple in Jerusalem as it was rededicated during the second century B.C.E. Today the lights of Hanukkah are a reminder of light and hope during dark times.

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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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