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Expect closures on Spring Street next week for as Gregory Crewdson will be using it as a background for one of his large-scale photographs.

Adams' Street Being Shut Down for Crewdson Photography Production

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
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The street will be closed Wednesday through Saturday from Dean to Pleasant, and, at some point, from Gavin to Pleasant. 
ADAMS, Mass. — Spring Street's going to be the subject of award-winning photographer Gregory Crewdson.
 
The Board of Selectmen last week approved the closures of the street between Pleasant and Dean Streets from Wednesday through Saturday, April 1 to 4, to allow for the Crewdson's production company to set up for his complex and intricate shots. 
 
The street will be closed between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., with no parking from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The production crew will number about 35. 
 
Hover Productions had requested two days mid-month but postponed to the rain date of the first week of April, though it's possible those the shooting could be delayed again. 
 
Acting Police Chief Timothy Sorrell reminded the board that Crewdson has used Adams in the past as a background for his urban surrealism. 
 
"With Spring Street, it was going to be seven o'clock in the morning and possibly eight o'clock at night, and they did that on Albert Street," he said. 
 
Administrative Assistant Jordan Lipinski said Council on Aging Director Sarah Fontaine had expressed concern about access to Barrett House, which is located at the corner of Pleasant and Spring streets. 
 
"The Barrett House isn't going to be affected, except they won't be able to come down right through Spring Street," said the chief, noting the parking lot and entrance on Pleasant Street. 
 
"I also suggested to the production company that they go around and personally speak to businesses and let them know what's going on, so they can make arrangements."
 
He said the entire street won't be closed off completely during those days except when the production does the "long shot."
 
"When they do the long shot, they need us to shut down the entire section of Spring Street because they're going to be set up down at Gavin [Avenue]," he said. "But they seem to imply that was going to be towards the end of the day."
 
Selectwoman Christine Hoyt asked that he speak with Fontaine about the schedule and Chair John Duval asked if residents would be able to get to their homes. 
 
Sorrell thought residents would have some access to their homes but might be delayed during the actual shooting and producers "work out something where they can park someplace else and get to their house, or whatever it is they have to do, because obviously, people need to get to and from their houses."
 
Board members suggested that the production company speak with the businesses and residents to ensure they knew what was happening.
 
Once it's clear the production would happen, Sorrell said he could do a reverse 911 so whoever had signed up for the alerts will get one noting the street has been shut down. 
 
The department will also post to social media. 
 
The board that night also approved a new contract with Sorrell to extend his acting position until June 30 with a bi-weekly salary in the amount of $4,900, less applicable taxes. Sorrell, who retired as the Lanesborough police chief and had been a special officer in Adams since 2021, was appointed as interim Adams chief in October. 
 
Board members said they were appreciative of the work he has been doing and have been hearing good things from the department.

Tags: photography,   road closure,   

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Cheshire Gets Answers on Police Budget, Reviews DPW

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Interim Police Chief Timothy Garner on Tuesday followed up on questions the Select Board had last month on his proposed fiscal 2027 budget. 

The proposed spending plan would bring the part-time, full-time, general expense, and chief's salary to align with area Police Departments. It would also boost the salary line from two to three full-time officers. The general expense account would go up to account for body-worn cameras that could also include a translation and a remote access "watch me" feature. 

With the department adding another full-time officer to the mix, board members questioned why the part-time salary did not go down.

"I only left it there in case whoever takes my place is going to use part time to fill in what I showed you on the schedule," Garner said. "Because there is some part-time slots. But as we know it, part-time positions are going away, right? Lanesborough is eliminating all theirs July 1. So do we need them absolutely, because we're not a full time around the clock department."

He said part-timers will still be needed fill the current gaps between 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Adding another full-time officer would leave 2 to 7 a.m. uncovered, as well as times on the weekends.

Garner also said while State Police are in town, they are not fully reliable, while acknowledging that is not their fault.

"Believe me, I love everything the State Police does for us, especially the last couple of months here, they really stepped up and helped us out. But we cannot just rely on State Police to cover the town of Cheshire because of their current territory," he said. "If we need them, we can call them and, yes, we'll be there, but depending on where they are, we don't know what that response time is going to be."

Board member Raymond Killeen asked if adding a little more pay for those who can speak a second language or have extra qualifications would help in hiring. It was deliberated it could come out of the part-time budget or the overtime as well. 

The Department of Public Works Director Corey McGrath, brought his budget forward and had no questions from the board, as it was self-explanatory. The DPW budget focused mainly on shifting stuff around and not having much of an increase.

He was asked about the recycling center because there used to space by the compactor for people to leave items such as bikes for people to take, but it isn't there anymore.

McGrath said it became a hazard and since the town makes money on the metal, it can be used to help offset of the center. 

He added the town recently received a grant for a Swap Shop. He has a shed that he will set up once the ground has dried. He is hoping for a volunteer to make sure people are donating items that are allowed.

"We're hoping to get a volunteer to kind of make sure that people aren't just trying to get rid of stuff without paying attention. But there's a lot of things that are thrown away, especially when people move out ... that they're in great condition and that other people can use, and at the same time, we can keep it out of our waste stream," McGrath  said.

In other business, the board members noted that the wire inspector is asking for a salary increase of 18 percent.

They also spoke about a centralized training fund line that departments can draw from instead of having training costs scattered throughout individual department budgets.

Chair Shawn McGrath said the fiscal 2027 budget is tight.

"The current budget as things stand right now without any changes, would require a use of free cash of $360,000 to keep us under the 2 1/2 percent, which would leave us with a free cash balance of $317,000," he said.

Lastly, club Patriot All Terrain wants to work with the community to help develop trail systems and apply for state grant funding; the board agreed they can work with the Open Space and Recreation Committee.

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