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The Plant Connector is opening on West Street in Pittsfield after holding a pop-up shop in the city over the holidays.

Plant Connector Opening Second Location in Pittsfield

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A North County plant shop is expanding to Pittsfield with a West Street location.

The Plant Connector recently announced its second location next to Thistle and Mirth following a pop-up on North Street over the holiday season. The shop is about a month away from opening, with a lease signed and staging underway.

Business owners Emilee Yawn and Bonnie Marks say the new location will be all about "plants, refills, and good times."

"Our 'inspo' is Victorian plant rooms where one can leisurely read, play cards, a place one can just enjoy living with plants," a Facebook post reads.

"Somehow we'll combine this with a feel-good space where community wants to join in creating:making: plant sharing and refillin'. We're also hoping to share this space with monthly art shows and popup vintage sellers (going back to our Eagle St. roots, which we've missed so much.)"


Inspiration photos on the post include moody but ethereal Victorian plant rooms as well as modern takes on the aesthetic.

Yawn and Marks opened the original location on historic Eagle Street in North Adams in 2020. Within two years, the shop outgrew the Eagle Street storefront and moved to a larger location on Main Street.

They offer classes and workshops, residential and commercial plant care, and sell various plants and related merchandise. They also offer personal and cleaning products that are green, sustainable and refillable.

The plant shop's new location is in the former expansion of Thistle and Mirth. Following a violent incident on Thanksgiving Eve, the bar and restaurant rebranded, reducing the footprint to the "old Mirth" on McKay Street, installing a pizza oven, emphasizing games and artsy community events, focusing on well-curated craft beer, and having earlier hours.

After more than a decade in business, Thistle expanded into the adjacent former print shop at 46 West St. in 2021 to offer a ramen menu and more seating. The light-filled space was filled with plants while it operated under this use, foreshadowing its future.


Tags: business changes,   plants,   

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Dalton Finance Makes Reserve Fund Transfers

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Finance Committee made two reserve fund transfers last Wednesday night. 
 
The reserve fund balance is currently $60,000. This is the first reserve fund transfer the town has made this fiscal year, committee clerk Karen Schmidt said. 
 
A transfer to the vocational education tuition account for $16,000 was approved. The original appropriation was $605,020 and the present balance is $4,527. 
 
It had been previously demonstrated that setting the budget for this account can be challenging due to the uncertainty about how many students will choose to attend vocational education programs.
 
The vocational education account was reduced by $90,000 during a September special town meeting; however, a spot opened up at a vocational program, so a student decided to transfer after the start of the second quarter. 
 
A transfer for the employee fringe benefits account was approved for $10,000. The original appropriation was $64,180. 
 
The present balance is $4,412.77 and is not sufficient to cover the vacation payouts and sick buy backs of the six employees who left this year. 
 
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