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A barn at Stoney Brook Farm went up in flames on Friday, killing 18 chickens.
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Friday Afternoon Fire Destroys Cheshire Barn

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
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CHESHIRE, Mass. — A fire on Friday afternoon destroyed a barn at 920 Sand Mill Road.
 
The building is a total loss but firefighters were able to prevent the flames from reaching another nearby barn and the house at Stoney Brook Farm. 
 
Fire Chief Thomas Francesconi said the fire was called in 12:39 p.m. by the homeowners "but it already had a foothold before they noticed it."
 
Responding firefighters found the L-shaped structure fully involved. Adams, Lanesborough, Savoy and Windsor fire companies responded and Williamstown Fire covered the station.
 
The tankers were used to transport water from a nearby brook until a pool could be set up near the scene and water pumped into it. 
 
Northern Berkshire EMS responded and one firefighter was treated at the scene and then taken to Berkshire Medical Center. 
 
Francesconi said there were no other injuries but the owners told him there were 18 chickens in the barn. The structure also had equipment and other materials in it, including a Jeep. 
 
"We don't have any idea of the cause but the fire marshal is on the way, said the chief. 
 
Firefighters were trying to douse hotspots but the structure's metal roof — now on the ground — was making it difficult to get into certain areas. The owner had a small loader on the way to help push the roofing aside. 
 
The property has been in the Zieminski family for several generations. A section of the road in front of the home was closed off for a couple hours.
 
"We're just kind of mopping up operations at this point, as far as pulling the metal roof and getting into pockets of it, that kind of stuff," the chief said at about 2 p.m. "But we are starting to demobilize to send parties back."
 
All companies were released at 4:39 p.m. and returned to quarters. 

Tags: structure fire,   

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Cheshire Town Meeting Oks Budgets, Debates Potential Prop 2 1/2 Override

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Moderator Carol Francesconi, left, and Anne Marie Furey were presented flowers in memory of the Rev. William Furey, their brother and husband, respectively. The town report was dedicated to him. 
CHESHIRE, Mass. — Town meeting on Monday approved all 35 articles on the annual meeting warrant, including a total spending for fiscal 2027 of more than $8.5 million. 
 
Some 77 of the town's more than 2,500 registered voters filled the Cheshire Community House meeting room, debating on a number of articles during the meeting that lasted nearly three hours
 
The town dedicated its annual report to the Rev. William David Furey, longtime pastor of First Baptist Church and more recently Berkshire Union Chapel in Lanesborough. Furey died last year at age 77.
 
His wife, Anne Marie Furey, and his sister, Town Moderator Carol Francesconi, were presented with a bouquet of flowers in tribute to him. 
 
He was an exemplary member of the community who left a lasting impression in each and every life that he touched, said Town Clerk Whitney Flynn. 
 
Voters approved several warrant articles that make up an operating budget of $3,840,314 for fiscal 2027. Of this amount, $1,642,481 is allocated for the general government budget, which was approved after clarification of a few questions.
 
One item was the administrative assistant's salary. Prior to the annual meeting, the town eliminated the executive assistant salary of $54,309 in favor of a part-time administrative assistant salary of $27,155, to reduce costs considering the financial constraint the town is in. 
 
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