North Adams City Hall Getting Insulation

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — City Hall will be in a bit of disarray as a project to insulate the 1970s building with spray foam is completed. 
 
Mayor Jennifer Macksey said at Tuesday's City Council meeting that the work will take approximately two weeks. 
 
"We received a grant through the Green Communities to do half of the building last year, and we're doing the other half between April 14 and Sept. 25," she said. "During this time, the second-floor offices will be either temporarily closed or relocated. Most of the staff will be operating remotely."
 
She expected minimal disruption on the first floor but the second floor will be inaccessible and no meetings will be held there.
 
"City Hall will remain open and operational, but visitors may notice some unusual odors on the first floor due to insulation materials," the mayor said. 
 
She also asked citizens to report potholes to the City Yard at 413-662-3157. 
 
"Currently, our road crews have been hauling material from West Sand Lake (N.Y.), which is about a three-hour round trip, which limits the amount of blacktop we can pick up each day," the mayor said. "The good news is that the Pittsfield supply center is expected to open around April 15. Once it does does, we'll be able to accelerate our repairs significantly. So we appreciate your patience."
 
Macksey also announced the retirement of Community Development Director Michael Nuvallie at the end of this fiscal year. She had previously announced the retirement of another longtime employee, City Treasurer Beverly Cooper. 
 
"We thank Mike for his 37 years of dedicated service to the city of North Adams. We know his countless contributions have been invaluable through the Community Community Development Office, and he will be greatly missed," said the mayor. "As we prepare for this transition, we are actually strategizing what our next steps are for that entire department, as well as filling the treasurer's role."
 
In other business during the brief meeting: 
 
The council passed to a second reading and publication an amended traffic ordinance that will remove the "no turn  on red" sign at the east end of Center Street at Holden and remove references to "Artery Street," which no longer exists.  
 
• The proposed Animal Control Commission ordinance was postponed to first meeting in May and an ADU ordinance was referred to a joint public hearing with the Planning Board.
 
• Macksey informed the council that she had appointed Virginia Riehl to the Planning Board with a term to expire Feb. 1, 2030, and Anna Salmeron and Dawn Nelson to the Mass MoCA Commission with terms to expire Feb. 1, 2028.

Tags: green communities,   potholes,   

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North Adams Jewelry Store Has New Owner

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Cheryl Coppens put out a call for someone to take over the jewelry business she began last spring  — jewelry maker Alexandra Padilla answered the call.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Artful Jeweler has a new owner who is looking to expand its offerings.

Cheryl Coppens opened the jewelry store in May, showcasing local artists, offering fine jewelry, and jewelry repair.

But a new grandson in Texas, and the difficulties in flying back and forth to see him, had her looking to move closer to him.

Last month, she posted on the business's Facebook that she wanted someone to take over the space and continue the venture. Alexandra Padilla reached out to her and Coppens said she met all her criteria she was looking for in anew owner.

"You have to really want to be in retail. You have to want to be in this community, priced where people can afford it. Alex is native to North Adams. Her husband, she's got two great kids, so it just felt like they would be able to continue the store," Coppens said. "So the criteria really was somebody that would work the store, not somebody that would just come in and hire employees. I didn't want that."

Padilla started taking over the store in the beginning of December. She has been selling jewelry for about three years, and has an online shop, and has worked in wholesale jewelry for about 15 years.

"I always wanted to have my own thing on it, and I wanted to bring something new, and I want to involve my family, my kids do something, and I want to be independent," she said.

Now Padilla showcases her jewelry in the Ashland Street store and plans to keep some of the local artists' items, like stained glass made by Coppens' mother.

Padilla customizes jewelry and tailors pieces to her customers.

She plans to work around her job at Berkshire County Head Start so she can open store for more hours. 

She also plans to redesign the store a little bit and bring in a couple more lines, like more rings and pearls. 

The store is open on Saturdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays 9 to 2, Fridays 9 to 6, and Sundays 9 to 3. The store has also been open on Mondays 10  to 5 and Tuesdays 10  to 3 for the holidays. 

Padilla thanks Coppens for trusting her and hopes customers continue to support the Artful Jeweler.

"Thank you for trusting me. I'm going to try and do my best and work hard to make it happen," she said. "This is our first time selling retail, so we hope the community supports us in here."

Coppens will be helping Padilla until she is comfortable operating the store on her own. She said it will continue to be a space of community support.

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