PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The smell of homemade soup, stuffed cabbage, and kielbasa fill the small yet lively Eastern European deli as patrons send Maria Sekowski off on her journey in retirement.
Sekowski announced on her Facebook page in early October that she would be closing her doors at the end of the year with plans to retire.
Patrons expressed their congratulations but were greatly saddened by this loss to the community. Many customers said they are going to miss her welcoming and energetic personality.
The curtains will close on Sekowski's impromptu musical numbers and karaoke sessions. Music by Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Michael Bublé, and many others are fading and her new symphony into retirement begins.
Although Sekowski is going to miss her customers she is looking forward to spending time with her family. She is making plans to visit her daughter, who lives now in Kansas City, Mo., and her brother in New Jersey.
Her son is also expecting another child so she plans on helping him take care of her grandson as well as continuing to fulfill her responsibilities as the legal guardian of a 12-year old.
Unless the store receives an offer to buy the business, there will be another empty storefront on North Street.
"The store will close unless there's someone that would be interested in buying the business," Sekowski said in the post. "I want to thank you all for supporting my business throughout the years. Please support your local small businesses as there are too many empty storefronts.
Although someone had inquired about purchasing the store, she had not heard back earlier last week so its fate is unclear.
Although the idea of saving the store from closure is nice, she said there is nothing drawing people to North Street aside from the few popular attractions.
Foot traffic is not the only obstacle North Street business owners have to face, she said. Parking is a major issue that drives away patrons who become frustrated and give up after being unable to find a space.
Those who are able to find a parking space on North Street then have to avoid walking into the flowerbeds, she said.
In December 2007, Sekowski's husband, Krzysztof "Kris" opened Maria's European Delights in Great Barrington after being let go from Rising Paper Co., where he worked as a beater operator for 20 years.
During this time she continued working at Brazabra Corp. in Lee and would help out on weekends until May of 2008. She quit her job and joined him.
The duo ran the restaurant together building relationships with customers and, in 2013, they moved the business to Pittsfield.
Kris died a year later. Since then, Sekowski has been running the business on her own.
"It would be nice if somebody had bought it and continued," she said but added it is a lot of work for a single person.
"[It would] be a nice thing for a couple. For one person that's, that's too much. Would be nice for a family and it would prevent another storefront from being empty on North Street."
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Biz Briefs: Dream Green Expands, Marie's Closes, Advice for Retiring Docs
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
Dream Green Offers Secure Data Destruction
ADAMS, Mass. — Dream Green Recycling is now certified to destroy secure data, opening up possibilities for local municipalities and more to recycle their electronics locally.
Owners Patrick Kennedy and Kyle Danforth said this will help them reach new facilities.
"It allows us to do a lot more, municipalities, government contracts, hospitals, big corporate offices, stuff like that, where they need that badge to do the data destruction and know that, it's done the right way, and it's totally wiped out or destroyed," Danforth said.
The certification took about a year to obtain. Dream Green is one of few facilities in the New England area that has the certification, making it easier for customers to recycle their computer devices locally instead of shipping it outside the county or state.
"With us being able to do it locally reduces the carbon footprint and the emissions. A lot of people are like, 'Oh, we're recycling, but we're shipping it all the way to Rhode Island or New Jersey or out of the state.' And it's like, yeah, you're recycling, but you're really not lowering the carbon footprint because you have that tractor trailer truck or the 18 wheeler that's going over the trail and burning up all those emissions," Danforth said. "So yeah, you're recycling, but in the long scheme of things, you're creating a larger footprint trying to do the right thing,"
The team plans to expand on their certification to include on-site data destruction as well as solid state scrubbing to be able to upcycle the product.
"As we grow, we just listen to what the community lacks and try to fulfill those issues and stuff like that, help solve problems along the way. So this was someone who came to us and said something about how it was hard to do stuff with the E waste, and that's why we diversified in it," Danforth said.
Dream Green is EPA Section 608 certified, which means they are also able to handle refrigerants like refrigerators and air conditioning units.
"Our end goal is we want to be the facility like your scrap yard or your transfer station, where we are the one stop shop for recycling," Danforth said.
Kennedy agreed, "our job is to divert as much material from a landfill as possible. We try to divert as much trash from going to a landfill as possible. That's our main objective of Dream Green Recycling."
Dream Green Recycling opened in late 2023 and provides local drop-off and pickup from its locations at 15 Print Works Drive, Adams, and Downing Industrial Park in Pittsfield. It recycles mattresses, tires, televisions and more.
Marie's Closes on North Street
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Marie's North Street Eatery and Gallery closed its doors for the last time Friday, Feb. 27.
Co-owners Neil Davis and Ashley Marie announced their closure on the Facebook on the following Sunday.
"Bringing Marie's to life every day brought us incredible joy, from renovating the space, to opening a gallery, and of course, to preparing wholesome and tasty food for you, which is what we did best. We truly thank you so much for being a part of it."
The gallery held its ribbon-cutting two years ago at its space at 148 North St. The eatery and gallery had grab-and-go breakfast and lunch items.
The two had opened their eatery in the former Maria’s European Delights, paying homage to her through their name and certain menu items.
Financial Planner Specializes in Health-Care Professionals
WYNANTSKILL, N.Y. — Nate Tomkiewicz, a certified financial planner, specializes in providing fiduciary investment management and comprehensive financial planning, with a primary focus on health-care professionals within 10 years of retirement.
Established in May 2025, Tomkiewicz Wealth Management is a registered investment advisory firm.
"I founded Tomkiewicz Wealth Management to cut through the noise and provide the kind of specific, high-level guidance that health-care professionals deserve," said Tomkiewicz. "These are people who spend their careers — their lives — caring for others. My goal is to care for their financial future, ensuring they can transition from a high-stress career to a comfortable retirement."
After nearly a decade working in the financial services industry, Tomkiewicz founded his own firm to offer personalized, client-first experience. Tomkiewicz Wealth Management was built to address the unique complexities faced by doctors, nurses, and medical professionals who often juggle demanding careers with intricate benefit packages, including 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans, he said.
The firm operates as a fee-only fiduciary, meaning it is legally bound to act in the client's best interest at all times. These services include strategies for retirement income, investment management, benefit optimization, tax planning, and planning for health-care costs.
Tomkiewicz Wealth Management serves clients in New York's Capital Region, Berkshire County, and virtually across the country.
For more information visit tomkiewiczwm.com or call 518-219-7323.
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