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Becky Duprat, Daily Grind's new owner, flips bacon for her favorite meal — breakfast.

Daily Grind's New Owner Has Familiar Face

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
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The Daily Grind has been a staple on Park Street for 28 years. 
ADAMS, Mass. — The Daily Grind may have a new owner but her face is a long time familiar one to customers. 
 
Becky Duprat has worked at diner for about 18 years and officially became the new owner on Jan. 1. She purchased the Park Street business on Jan. 1 from Ben Acquista, who operated it for 28 years. 
 
She said the town has been really supportive and happy for her.
 
"Everyone in town has been really really sweet," Duprat said.
 
Duprat said she and Acquista used to joke about her taking it over, and that it was a dream she'd had for awhile. 
 
"I think it was the way it was supposed to happen that I was going to take it over," she said.
 
She loves talking to the people who come in, one of the main reasons she wanted to own the place.
 
"It seemed like the right thing to do. I love the customers. I don't want to go get a desk job. I like to talk to the old people. I like to have them and I don't want to be in a closed kitchen," said Duprat.
 
The eatery has been a staple on Park Street since 1997. Acquista's wife, Nancy, first opened it at 57 Park and a decade later, they moved down the street to larger quarters at 37 Park, doubling the number the seats. 
 
Duprat has no big changes in mind — outside of some furniture upgrades — and said she wants to keep it the way it is.
 
 
 
"The food is the same, we didn't do anything. We bought some new chairs, we bought some new tables that's it," she said. "Don't fix what ain't broken and it's not broken. Ben did a wonderful job for 28 years and I'm not going to change it."
 
The Daily Grind has specials named after people and one of the most popular is the "Greg," buffalo chicken wrap with bacon, cheese, and tomato.
 
But Duprat says her favorite is "The Angry Reuben" which is a Reuben with a lot of horseradish.
 
But her favorite food to make and enjoy is breakfast.
 
"I think breakfast is the best. I'm a breakfast person. I'm all about going to breakfast so I think that everybody should eat breakfast all the time," Duprat said.
 
The Daily Grind is open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and closed at noon on Sundays.
 
Duprat has been happy with all the support and says she is excited to continue the Daily Grind.
 
"I just want to continue … it doesn't get better. We enjoy coming to work," she said.

Tags: business changes,   restaurants,   

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Cheshire Speed Limits Reduced, Code of Conduct Mulled

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Some streets will soon be slower for cars with the Department of Public Works replacing the speed limit signs in response to community concerns.

The town adopted Chapter 90, Section 17C to reduce some local road speed limits to 25 mph. Twenty-three streets are approved by the state; signs are ordered from the state Department of Transportation and should arrive within a couple weeks.

DPW Director Corey McGrath told the Selectmen at last Tuesday's meeting that the department had received concerns from residents wanting people to be slower on the following streets:

  • Church Street 
  • East Main Street 
  • portions of Wells Road 
  • Main Street 
  • Furnace Hill Road
  • Flaherty Road
  • Pit Road
  • Prospect Street 
  • Dean Street 
  • Richmond Street 
  • School Street 
  • Railroad Street 
  • Depot Street 
  • Richardson Street 
  • 5th Avenue
  • Meadowview Drive 
  • Wood Lane
  • Dean Street Extension 
  • portions of Ingalls Road 
  • Devonshire Drive 
  • Yorkshire Drive
  • Berkshire Drive 
  • Wilshire Drive 

Chair Michelle Francesconi asked McGrath to look into the signs solar-powered "slow down" signs. She also spoke about increasing problems with electric bicycles and similar devices.

Young people are going 30 to 40 mph, often on sidewalks, weaving between cars, cutting through private property and town property and riding in the road, she said, and brought up how other towns are creating bylaws to address these problems. Francesconi thought the board should look into it as well as a matter of public safety.

The state is currently revising related laws, so the board will see what the Legislature passes and then model bylaws on other communities.

Francesconi also said that since there is limited police coverage at night during most of the behavior, she suggested shifting some patrol hours to evenings to address youth riding behavior.

Later in the meeting, Francesconi also brought up code of conduct for town employees as she has been receiving numerous reports regarding professionalism, boundaries, confidentiality, and internal relationships and communication among town hall staff, department heads, and with the public.

She said town counsel has recommended adopting a code of conduct as well as providing training. After some discussion, the board decided to get a catalog of training options and identify mandatory and optional trainings. Members are also thinking of doing them in-person.

In other news, the Fire Department's rescue boat missing from the water because motor is broken and is in the process of being replaced.

There are two applicants in the running for the police chief position who will be doing the assessment center on Aug. 17. The Selectmen will get their resumes afterward and decide on interviews.

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