Several factors indicate a resurgence of the Great Josh Billings RunAground Sept. 15

12:00AM / Wednesday, August 21, 2002Print Story | Email Story

Look for a resurgence of the Great Josh Billings RunAground Sept. 15, with a new director, the acceptance of kayaks for the first time, a category for â€œancientâ€ iron people and perhaps a post-Sept. 11 desire for New Yorkers to sweat away depressing memories. Patty Spector of Lenox, a veteran Josh competitor and committee worker, is the latest of a long series of directors (including me in the second through seventh Joshes) to assume the sometimes awesome task of seeing that more than 500 four-member teams and various individuals and pairs get through the 28-mile bike leg, the five-mile canoe portion and the six-mile run to the Tanglewood finish line. In the past decade, the number of competitors has dwindled somewhat, but that is true of many sporting events, and while the Josh, the first such triathlon in the Northeast, if not the nation, had numerous imitators, most gave up after a few years. Spector, who in recent years was the matchmaker for people looking for canoe partners, or even a team, announced recently that for the first time, there will be a kayak division. There will be just one kayak category, whether involving one or four persons. Then, with the maturing of the iron people into still muscular old timers, Spector added a 55 and over iron person division, which should be great news for 61-year-old Fred Thompson of North Adams, who cleans up the medals at state, regional or national senior events. Thompson, a very busy lawyer, stays in top shape year round and last April won the 40 and over division at the Sugarbush Triathlon, which boasts that it is the only triathlon with four events. Fred biked with runner Larry Jowett, skier Terry Coyne and canoeists Al Ross and Paul Petrusky. Jowett and Coyne are also North Adams residents and in their twilight years, but still shining brightly when the starterâ€™s blast goes off. Thompson, who played football in college and flirted briefly with tennis before concentrating on the endurance events, also harvested four gold medals in the 2001 Massachusetts Senior Games and won two bronze medals and a silver at the 1999 National Senior Games at Disneyâ€™s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, as well as a host of other medals throughout his senior years. Four Berkshire seniors have competed in every single Josh. They are George Darey of Lenox, the Bay State Fish and Game czar; Attorney F. Sydney Smithers of Dalton, Steve Dudziak of Hinsdale and Steve Moore of West Stockbridge. It is presumed they will be back in action Sept. 15. But each year sees rookies enrolled, and clinics are offered by the Josh committee. In fact, the canoe/kayak clinic will be Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Stockbridge Bowl. And the cycling clinic will be Saturday at 9 a.m., starting at the Bowl and conducted by international bike racer Sean Nealy of Pittsfield. Incidentally, the areaâ€™s toughest bike race, from downtown North Adams to the summit of Mount Greylock, will be again sponsored by The Spoke in Williamstown Sept. 22. Call 458-3456 for details. The Josh, which starts in Great Barrington with the bikers, requires hundreds of volunteers. Contact 637-6913 or www.joshbillings.com. Originally conceived by then Berkshire Hills Conference Executive Director Alan Marden, the Josh began with bikers at Mount Greylock Regional High School in Williamstown with a route down North and South Streets in Pittsfield. The start was shifted to Great Barrington a few years later. And the name honors the late humorist and writer Josh Billings, who was born in Lanesborough (where he is buried) and attended the former Lenox Academy. His real name was Henry Wheeler Shaw and his line, â€œto finish is to win,â€ is the competitionâ€™s slogan. And the first three events were won by the Berkshire Outfitters of Cheshire, led by owner Steve Blazejewski, who began selling bikes from his home when the Josh began. Steve, a canoeist, then added canoes to his stock and just this year opened a major addition to his business, now located on Route 8, just south of the Adams line. Blazejewski, whose major line is cross country skis, no longer competes in the Josh. When the Josh was first announced 26 years ago, there were many runners, a few bike racers and hardly any canoeists. Since then the Berkshires have become a hotbed of top level bikers and canoeists, with the canoeists making their mark in a big way recently at the U.S. Flat Water Championships on the Connecticut River at Hanover, N.H. Bikers and runners can get by on sheer power and determination, but canoe racing requires considerable skill or finesse. Berkshire Outfitters offers canoes for sale or rent, and Steve Blazejewski can offer plenty of tips. Biking is the most dangerous and the start of hundreds of bikers at the Kmart Plaza in Great Barrington is a hair-raising event. Just turning the front wheel two inches off track can bring several bikers to the pavement. I donâ€™t know anyone personally who suffered serious injuries running or in canoes, but at least two of my longtime friends suffered permanent and severe injuries. Wear a helmet, of course, but never relax at high speeds or in traffic, even Green River Road in Williamstown. The same goes for motorcyclists, in spades, and I have several friends still in rehabilitation after crashes. On the subject, diving from slippery ledges or trying to scale cliffs are also good ways to meet the medics, and the X-Treme Games on TV this past weekend offered a foolâ€™s paradise of ways to get a fast ride to the emergency room. Amazingly, relatively few serious accidents make it to the TV screen. But as a former daredevil too unsteady to do more than walk after tennis shots and wear out the easy cruisers at the ski resorts, I still say, â€œTake it easy out there.â€ John Hitchcock of Williamstown writes frequently about the area sports scene. John Hitchcock photo

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Friday Front Porch Feature: A Charming House Like New

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:57PM / Friday, December 19, 2025

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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