Market 32, Price Chopper Introduce 'Double Exchange Day'

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Market 32 and Price Chopper are inviting customers to turn their spare change into double the value, and to help keep cash transactions running smoothly. 
 
On Sunday, Nov. 16, the grocer will host a Double Exchange Day from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at all store locations.
 
During this one-day event, a penny is worth two cents when shoppers exchange them for a Market 32 or Price Chopper gift card twice their total amount. This means $10 in pennies could earn a $20 gift card, redeemable toward future in-store purchases.
 
To participate, guests simply bring their rolled or loose pennies to the Customer Service Desk, where the total will be counted and matched with a gift card reward on the spot. Exchanges must total a minimum of 50 cents (earning a $1 card) and may not exceed $100 (earning a $200 card).
 
With the U.S. Treasury planning to discontinue penny production in 2026, fewer coins are being minted and even fewer are recirculating into the economy. As a result, the nation's penny supply is shrinking, making it increasingly challenging for retailers to provide exact change for customers who prefer to pay with cash. Market 32 and Price Chopper are committed to delivering exceptional service, which includes ensuring every transaction remains smooth, seamless, and accurate.
 
"Cash transactions remain an important part of how we serve our customers, and for those who prefer to pay with cash, we want to make sure we can continue providing the same great checkout experience—right down to the penny," said Blaine Bringhurst, president of Market 32 and Price Chopper. "Double Exchange Day gives our customers an opportunity to partner with us in that effort, while being rewarded for supporting us in managing our coin inventory responsibly as the nation prepares for the phase-out of pennies. We also know a lot of families across our six-state footprint are facing hardships right now, and this is another unique way our team is working to provide support."
 
Double Exchange Day will also coincide with the kickoff of the grocer's Holiday AdvantEdge Rewards Doubler on November 16, a seasonal program that helps shoppers stretch their budgets even further while earning free holiday favorites. Later this week, Market 32 and Price Chopper will unveil additional Thanksgiving promotions also launching November 16, focused on pairing abundance with affordability for families across the Northeast.
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Flooding Leads Pittsfield ConCom to Bel Air Dam Deconstruction Site

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Bel Air Dam project team toured the site on Monday with the Conservation Commission to review conditions following a flooding incident

Work has been on hold for two weeks after melting snow and a release of water from Pontoosuc Lake led to water overtopping of the almost 200-year-old, abandoned dam. The project team says deconstruction is still on track to end in December. 

"They have plenty of time to finish the work, so they don't expect that they're going to need extra time, but we're all waiting," reported Robert Lowell, the Department of Conservation and Recreation's deputy chief engineer. 

"… it's unfortunate, but the high-water conditions in the spring, we did have in the contract that the site might flood, so there was supposed to be a contingency for it, and we're now dealing with the complications of that." 

DCR's Office of Dam Safety is leading the $20 million removal of the classified "high hazard" dam, funded by American Rescue Plan Act dollars. It has been an area of concern for more than a decade. 

The dam on Pontoosuc Brook dates to 1832 and was used for nearly a hundred years to power a long-gone woolen mill. It's being targeted for removal, using American Rescue Plan Act funds, because the stacked stone structure poses a significant danger to homes and businesses downstream. Excavation of sediment began last fall by contractor SumCo Eco-Contracting of Wakefield. 

Earlier this month, community members noticed flooding at the site bordering Wahconah Street; water levels were down by the next week. Conservation commissioners called for the site visit with concerns about the effects of the water release and how it is being remedied.  

The group got a look at the large project area near the dam and asked questions. Chair James Conant explained that community members wanted to know the cause of the flooding. 

Jane Winn, former executive director of the Berkshire Environmental Action Team, said this was specifically brought up at the Conservation Commission hearing to ensure this sort of thing didn't happen. 

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