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North Adams celebrates New Year's with a ball drop in the Center Street parking lot.

North Adams Marks the New Year With First Annual Ball Drop

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
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Mayor Jennifer Macksey, left, and her sister, Libby Macksey, pose with the New Year's ball on Sunday night. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Several hundred people gathered in the Center Street parking lot to watch the ball drop on New Year's Eve. 
 
It was hours before midnight and took a double count to make its way down but cheers, whistles and tooting horns filled the air for an early welcome to 2024.
 
The event was the inspiration of "first sister" Libby Macksey. 
 
"My sister has a lot of crazy ideas," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey. "She said we need to have our own ball drop ... and ran right to Bud Sherman."
 
Forrest "Bud" Sherman and his crew at North Adams Sheet Metal took on the challenge, designing and building a lattice ball wrapped in rope lights and the 20-foot pole to drop it from. They donated all the labor and materials. 
 
"They made tonight possible," said the mayor, thanking their hard work from the flat bed set up with the pole. 
 
Libby Macksey said she had felt the city should have some kind of New Year's event and envisioned something bigger next year with maybe food trucks and activities. 
 
For Sunday night, there were horns and glasses and headgear being passed out for the family friendly event. People began to cheer as the ball made its way up the pole and then gave out a loud shout as the lights came on at the top. 
 
The mayor asked for a "slow roll" for the countdown at 8 p.m. to give the ball time to make its way down but the crowd was a little too eager. About halfway down someone shouted "nine" to restart the count and the ball successfully made its journey to the bottom. 
 
The crowd sang a chorus of "Auld Lang Syne" before breaking up to head for parties or home. 
 
The mayor said at the start of the event that she doesn't like New Year's but seeing all the people who came "makes me love New Year's and love the job I do even more."
 
"I want to thank all of you for coming out," said the mayor. "This is hopefully going to become an annual tradition for us. We're going to have bigger and better every year. But this is a fantastic crowd."

Tags: happy new year,   

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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

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