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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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.
This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.
The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.
DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.
"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths.
"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."
Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.
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