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General manager and owner Derek Dubie, left, and service manager Norm Haskins in front of a lifted truck in their expanded service center.

North Adams' K-M Toyota Expands Service Center

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
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The service center is located next to the main building at 51 West Main St. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — K-M Toyota has revamped its old body shop on West Main Street to better accommodate the service needs of its customers.
 
The body shop was closed down a few years ago, and has been used intermittently since, said Dennis Dubie, owner of K-M Toyota.
 
He decided it would be a great service area because it has enough room to be able to work on bigger vehicles. That took some investment and renovation.
 
"We had to take and change everything in the body shop to make it desirable for a service area," Dubie said.
 
He explained that Toyota had historically manufactured smaller automobiles but models and the brand have changed during the 62 years K-M Toyota has been in business in the county.
 
"Years ago Toyota was all small cars and now they've grown to very large cars so we knew that we had to make a change," he said. "We decided rather than just have it as a regular area to go in and service your Corolla, so to speak, we had a lot of room in there and the thing to do was to probably set it up for full-size vehicles."
 
A new heavy duty lift, new compressor, and two cranes have been installed. It also has more space for technicians to work around trucks and sport utility vehicles.
 
"With the equipment that we put in there, it is designed right now where we not only can do big engine and transmission repairs we can replace engines, we can replace transmissions," Dubie said.
 
The new equipment and space will help technicians work on bigger-sized trucks and SUVs regardless of the make or model whereas before the service area was limited. 
 
The space also has new scan tools to diagnose vehicles, new tire machines to accommodate bigger tires, and upgraded garage doors.
 
With these upgrades and the expansion, said Dubie, K-M will be able to help more customers and service more vehicles.
 
"We want to hang around for a while, we want to be here and we want to continue to service cars," he said. 
 
The service center is located at 51 West Main St. and the dealership is located at 1300 Curran Highway. Contact the service center at 413-663-7406 or schedule an appointment online. Contact the sales office at 413-663-5731.
 

Tags: automotive,   

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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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