Adams Free Library Hosting "The Places You'll Go" Summer Reading Celebration July 19

ADAMS Mass. – Adams Free Library is hosting “The Places You’ll Go” A Summer Reading Celebration by Davis Bates on July 19 at 6 p.m. as part of the 2022 Summer Reading Challenge “Read Beyond the Beaten Path.

Join the library in a participatory program with singing along and movement. Davis Bates’ performances are a mixture of family, Native American, international and regional songs and stories and speak of empowerment, history, spirit and the environment.

Bates has been telling stories for over thirty-eight years, in schools, libraries, and community settings around New York & New England and across the country. His recording Family Stories won a prestigious Parents Choice Magazine Gold Award, and received a starred review by the American Library Association’s Booklist magazine.

Davis lives in a small hilltown village in western Massachusetts, and when he isn't performing or collecting and learning songs and stories he spends his time gardening and working on various pollinator preservation projects.

“Read Beyond the Beaten Path” is sponsored by the Adams Free Library, the Massachusetts Library System, the Boston Bruins, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.  Funding is provided by the Friends of the Adams Free Library.

Families and children of all ages are invited to join the Adams Free Library for this presentation. An adult must accompany children under 8 years of age. Library events are free and open to the public. Attendance at library programs constitutes consent to be photographed; photos may be used in print or electronic publicity for the Adams Free Library. Questions? Call the Adams Free Library at (413)743-8345 or visit the library’s website www.adamslibraryma.org for more information.

Adams Firefighters Douse Blaze in Former Dance Studio

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
07:09PM / Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Firefighters check out the first story of the studio and exterior access to the second floor. 

ADAMS, Mass. — The former Berkshire Dance Theater went up in flames on Wednesday afternoon. 

 

Fire Chief John Pansecchi said he had some idea of where the fire started but did not wish to speculate until the state fire marshal could confirm the cause. 

 

The blaze was contained fairly swiftly but there were a number of hotspots firefighters were still dealing with an hour later.

 

Firefighters were alerted to heavy smoke coming from the roof of the building shortly before 5 p.m. The second floor of the long-vacant structure was fully involved, according to images posted to iBerkshires' Facebook page. 

 

"The first couple of guys got here they pulled a line out. The first few guys that were here really worked their tails off," said Pansecchi, adding he was surprised how short staffed they were at first because of the holiday. 

 

Cheshire and North Adams sent help and Savoy came down to cover the station. Northern Berkshire EMS provided rehab. 

 

Firefighters were working in difficult conditions — hot muggy weather in the 90s and a torrential rainstorm that turned Commercial Street into a river right after the call came in.