David Laplante appointed president of Sweet Brook

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WILLIAMSTOWN-David M. Laplante of Springfield, VT, has been named president of Sweet Brook Care Centers, the 183-bed skilled nursing facility in Williamstown. Laplante has an extensive background in health care administration, most recently as executive director of Linda Manor Rehabilitation & Extended Care Center in Northampton. He has also served as executive director of Sunrise Care and Rehabilitation Center in Holyoke, as well as a variety of other senior health care positions in the Boston area and throughout New England. "David's broad background in rehabilitation, psychiatric services, acute hospital programs, and nursing home administration will serve Sweet Brook well," said K. Elaine Neely, Vice President of Elder Services for Northern Berkshire Health Systems, Sweet Brook's parent company. "I am looking forward to Dave helping us to chart a rewarding course in a very difficult health care environment." Laplante said challenges in the health care field are tremendous now, given that most government and insurance reimbursement systems provide insufficient financial support for health care providers. He added that Northern Berkshire Health Systems includes all the necessary elements to provide a true continuum of care to local and regional patients - North Adams Regional Hospital, the VNA & Hospice of Northern Berkshire, Sweet Brook, Sweetwood Continuing Care Retirement Community, and the REACH Community Health Foundation. "To have joined the leadership of this system is exciting to me," said Laplante. "Sweet Brook has a large group of very competent professionals - people who are committed not only to their work, but to this region. Our challenge is to continue to create an environment that our employees enjoy and find rewarding." Sweet Brook Care Centers includes 184 skilled nursing beds, divided into an 83-bed specialized dementia care unit and a 101-bed subacute and rehabilitation unit, as well as a separately licensed outpatient rehabilitation center. All beds are certified for the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Both the facility and the specialized dementia care unit are accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). In 1987 Sweetwood Continuing Care Retirement Community opened adjacent to Sweet Brook to provide independent living for residents with full services available as needed. Sweetwood offers 70 luxury apartments, central dining facilities, a library, an auditorium and a fitness center. Sweet Brook and Sweetwood joined the Northern Berkshire Health Systems family of health care providers in 1999. NBHS, founded in 1984, is also the parent corporation of North Adams Regional Hospital, which was founded in 1883; the VNA & Hospice of Northern Berkshire, which has its roots in the visiting nurse agencies that have served North Berkshire since 1911; and the REACH Community Health Foundation, created in 1998.
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Friday Front Porch Feature: A North Adams Turnkey Home

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Are you looking for a three-story home that's newly renovated? Then this is the home for you.

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 74 Washington Ave.

This home was originally built in 1880 and has four bedrooms and three bathrooms. It is 2,320 square feet on less than an acre. 

The first floor includes the kitchen, a full bathroom, an office, a large open living room and dining area, and an entry with a staircase to the second floor, which has three bedrooms, a second full bathroom, and a laundry closet. The third floor was turned into a spacious primary suite with a full bathroom.

The house comes with major kitchen and laundry appliances.

It's on the market for $349,900.

We spoke to Allison Pacelli with Pacelli Zepka Corp., which has the listing.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market? 

A house at this price point with so much space for several people is not easy to find. There are four bedrooms, three full bathrooms, large living room, kitchen, and a bonus room off the kitchen that could be an office or dining room or possibly even an extra guest room.

What was your first impression when you walked into this home?

I love some of the character of the house. For example, the banister and railing on the stairs is ornate and beautiful.

How would you describe the feel or atmosphere of this home? 

The house is light and bright. It's a great mix of some class features like the stairway and updates like the kitchen and bathrooms.

What kind of buyer do you see this home being perfect for? 

I can see all sorts of people in this house. 

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

North Adams is such a vibrant and welcoming community. You can walk to MCLA or downtown. Williams College and Mass MoCA are close. The hospital is nearby, and the house would be great for doctors or nurses. There are a lot of opportunities in the area.

Are there any standout design features or recent renovations? 

The entire house was renovated about two years ago. The owners removed all knob & tube wiring, installed a new boiler, added a new laundry setup on the second floor, and redid the third floor into a great primary suite, with private bathroom. The kitchen and all three bathrooms are also new.

You can find out more about this home on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

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