Recent Grants and Donations to BAAMS

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Berkshires' Academy for Advanced Musical Studies, Inc., (BAAMS) announced it has recently garnered support from several donors and foundations, all contributing to the expansion of its mission and increasing its ability to serve more young music students from Berkshire County and beyond.
 
A donation was received from Michelle Daunais and Rick Seto of Weymouth, double matched by Takeda Pharmaceutical, as well as funds raised through Network for Good, and funds were also donated in Memory of John T. "Jack" Gould, of North Adams, who passed away in December, 2022, made possible by the family of Jack Gould and the Flynn & Dagnoli Funeral Home.
 
BAAMS also received a grant from the William J. and Margery S. Barrett Fund, for young music students from Adams, Cheshire, and Savoy, as well as a grant from the Guardian Life Insurance Company, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to support scholarships and reduced tuition for its students.
 
According to a press release, the number of the region's school children who may learn from BAAMS will be increased by taking part in a music-educational experience, as the Massachusetts' Cultural Council has recently approved three STARS' Residency Program grants for BAAMS. 
 
The state agency has granted funds for BAAMS Faculty to conduct STARS Residencies for students in Grades 4-8, set to take place in Spring 2023 in the following schools: Greylock Elementary School, Gabriel Abbott Memorial Elementary School, and Clarksburg Elementary School. 
 
Additionally, the Gateway Fund and Pauline Young Music Fund, through the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, has provided an award to further support these STARS' Residencies, leveraging what BAAMS' faculty will be able to provide for students who participate from North Adams, Clarksburg, and the town of Florida.
 
The Cultural Council of Northern Berkshire, a local cultural council which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, has also chosen to support BAAMS' after-school music education during the federal fiscal year 2023. 
 
In other important news, support has been pledged from the Pittsfield Educational Enrichment Fund, through the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, for approximately eight low-income students residing in Pittsfield to attend the 5th Berkshires' Summer Jazz Band Day Camp in August, 2023. 

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Friday Front Porch Feature: A Charming House Like New

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

The home prior to renovations.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Are you looking for a newly renovated home with great space? Then this might be the perfect fit for you!

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 100 Autumn Drive.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom split level was built in 1965 and is 1,396 square feet on 0.32 acres.

The house was completely renovated recently. It includes a one-car garage, and comes with appliances including a dishwasher and stove/oven, and other major appliances.

The house is listed for $359,500.

We spoke with owners Michael Zeppieri and Chris Andrews, who did the renovations. Zeppieri is an agent with Alton and Westall Real Estate Agency.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

Zeppieri: I purchased this home to do a full renovation flip and saw tremendous potential in this mid-century split level home that had not been updated since it was built in the 1960s, in a great North Adams neighborhood.

 

Andrews: The house was a much different house when we first purchased it in 2022 (photo attached is from about 2010.)  The interior was painted all in dark colors and we brightened it up with neutral colors. The transformation makes you feel like you are in a totally different house.  

 

 

What were the recent renovations, any standout design features?

 

Zeppieri: The house has had a complete reconfiguration including new kitchen with high-end appliances, ceramic tiled baths, hardwood floors, new windows and roof ... just to name a few.  All a buyer has to do is move in and enjoy.

 

Andrews: Yes, we renovated the entire house.  New windows, new roof, all new custom black gutter system, new blacktop driveway, hardwood floors were installed through out the house. New kitchen and bathrooms as well as painting the exterior and interior of the house.  New paver patio in the back yard.

 

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

 

Zeppieri: The buyer for this home could be a first-time homebuyer or a retiree ... the location is close to attractions in North Adams ... and the property is located in Autumn Heights, which is a very small residential development with several long-term owners.

 

Andrews: This home is truly ideal for a variety of buyers. Whether a first-time homebuyer, a small family or even someone looking to downsize from a larger home.

 

 

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

 

Zeppieri: The location, price and move-in condition of this home make it a true market leader in the North Adams Market.

 

Andrews: This house is completely renovated and in a desirable location of North Adams. The natural light in the home really makes the interior pop. And with all the upgrades the home stays quite cool in the summer months.

Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history?

Zeppieri: This home was built for the Gould family in 1969 and they lived there till 2010. It was always a family home during that time in which the Goulds had two children ... and Virgina Gould managed Mohawk Forest Apartments and was a very active resident of North Adams.

 

Andrews: Built in about 1965.

 

What do the current owners love about this home?

 

Zeppieri: As the current owner it was a fun project to transform this home and get it ready for its next adventure with a new family to enjoy for many years.

 

Andrews: No one has lived in the house since we purchased the home. The new owners would be the first to live in the house since the renovations have been completed.

 

 

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

 

Andrews: I would suggest seeing the house either on a sunny day or at twilight to really get a vision of how special the home feels.  

 

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

 

 

 

 

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