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BFAIR members took advantage of the sunny mild weather Friday morning.
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BFAIR employees helped clients find veteran's graves throughout Southview
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This is one of the many volunteer efforts BFAIR helps with.

BFAIR Helps Place Flags on Veterans' Graves in Southview

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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BFAIR members had bundles of flags on hand to decorate veterans' graves.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Members of Berkshire Family & Individual Resources (BFAIR) spent Saturday morning placing flags on veterans' graves in Southview Cemetery
 
"This is absolutely wonderful that we were able to get some of our people out to help with the flags," Community Based Day Services (CBDS) Assistant Director Kristin Neep said. "... A lot of people give to us and a lot of people support us in many different ways…so this means a lot."
 
Neep said they take on most volunteering efforts the community throws at them. They have sold poppies for the VFW as well as participated in Wreaths Across America, Meals on Wheels and Adopt a Highway.
 
Neep said the volunteer program helps build employment skills for BFAIR clients.
 
"We want to get our people ready for work with a lot of volunteering," she said.
 
Neep said members of the program really enjoy participating in things like this and although they may not totally understand the importance of what they are doing, they are happy to give back to the community.
 
"They love it, and we love doing it. These volunteer opportunities are very important to us ... any way we can help," she said. "They may not understand completely, but it is our job to help them understand why we are giving back to veterans who fought for our country."

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North Adams Council Gives Initial OK to Zoning Change

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council wrapped up business in about 30 minutes on Tuesday, moving several ordinance changes forward. 
 
A zoning change that would add a residential property to the commercial zone on State Road was adopted to a second reading but met with some pushback. The Planning Board recommended the change.
 
The vote was 5-2, with two other councilors abstaining, indicating there may be difficulty reaching a supermajority vote of six for final passage.
 
Centerville Sticks LLC (Tourists resort) had requested the extension of the Business 2 zone to cover 935 State Road. Centerville had purchased the large single-family home adjacent the resort in 2022. 
 
Ben Svenson, principal of Centerville, had told a joint meeting of the Planning Board and City Council earlier this month that it was a matter of space and safety. 
 
The resort had been growing and an office building across Route 2 was filled up. 
 
"We've had this wonderful opportunity to grow our development company. That's meant we have more office jobs and we filled that building up," he said. "This is really about safety. Getting people across Route 2 is somewhat perilous."
 
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