Berkshire Organizations Awarded Fourth of July Grants

03:31PM / Thursday, July 10, 2025Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — The governor awarded the Adams Theater, Sheffield Historical Society, and Stockbridge Library Association grants to support initiatives and events commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

"The enthusiasm for MA250 is visible all across the state, with exciting events and exhibitions happening every day and visitors from across the country and the globe coming to town to take part. With this round of MA250 grants, we're reinforcing our investments to tell the story of Massachusetts, from our revolutionary roots to the vibrant, inclusive state we are today," said Governor Maura Healey. "These projects honor our shared history while telling the stories that have been left untold for too long, strengthening local economies and shaping a statewide celebration of our values and our future."

The Governor's administration announced $2 million in grants to 59 organizations across the state to support initiatives and events commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

In Berkshire County:

The Adams Theater was awarded $15,000 for their Massachusetts 250 Festival project.
The Sheffield Historical Society was awarded $7,500 for their Revolutionary Pathways: Southern Berkshire's Fight for Freedom project.
Stockbridge Library Association was awarded $5,000 for their A Day in Revolutionary Stockbridge project.

From historic battlefield memorials and museum exhibits to cultural festivals and innovative public art, these efforts bring Revolutionary history to life in cities and towns statewide.

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Adams Zoning Board Talks Signage Bylaw

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
02:47PM / Saturday, August 29, 2026

ADAMS, Mass. — For more than a decade, the Zoning Board has deliberated over several matters involving its "restrictive" sign bylaw.

Now, the board is developing a proposed amendment that would make the bylaw less constraining for businesses while preserving the town’s character and protecting neighboring properties.

The current bylaw has been in effect since around 1986, and for the past 10 to 15 years, it has sparked controversy nearly every year when a new sign is proposed for installation in town, said board member David Rhinemiller.

When it was developed in the 1980s, the goal was to preserve the town’s 1950s and 1960s-era character, he said.

As part of the process, the town surveyed residents about their vision for the community, and the overall feedback favored maintaining that aesthetic, which was then reflected in the zoning bylaws, including restrictions on internally illuminated signs, Rhinemiller said.

The board hopes to make the baseline of the bylaw more realistic and acceptable to modern businesses while ensuring it protects the safety and comfort of the surrounding area, board members said.

"The way our current bylaws are written, virtually anything that somebody might want to do to change the sign regulations to accommodate their business is subject to meeting the requirements of a variance, which we all know is very difficult to do," board member Raymond Gargan Jr. said.

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