greylocknews

52nd Annual Fall Foliage Parade September 30

North Adams, MA - The 52nd Annual Fall Foliage Parade will  be held on September 30, 2007, at 1:00 PM and will step off from the Wal-Mart parking lot and continue down Curran Highway before winding through downtown North Adams. Thousands of Berkshire residents and visitors enjoy the annual parade, which commemorates the glorious autumn season. "Transportation: Then & Now" is the 2007 Parade Theme. We are pleased to have Dr. Richard Ziter, as our Grand Marshal.

Skyboro Sound Presents "Live at the Elks"

North Adams, MA - Saturday, September 29th, Skyboro Sound Recording Studio presents: Live at the Elks.  Come and listen to The Shepherds, Johnny’s Ghost, CJ Field and Daisy’s Little Secret, plus special guest Lita Williams. Concert is at 7 PM, at the Elks Club, 100 Eagle Street. Tickets are available at Skyboro Sound, located in the Windsor Mill, the Elks Club and Jack’s Hot Dogs on Eagle Street. This is a 21 and older show. Contact Skyboro Sound at 413-662-2333

Fall Foliage Charity Bed Race September 29

North Adams, MA - This Saturday, September 29 is the maiden voyage of The Fall Foliage Charity Bed Race on Main and Eagle Streets. The event will kick off at 11:00 am with a performance by local country music sensation Lita Williams.  Races begin at 12 PM. On Thursday night, September 27th will be The Fall Foliage Charity Bed Race Kick off Party at The Mountain View in Clarksburg. There is a $5 donation and the proceeds will help benefit Northern Berkshire Healthcare.  There will be a social hour from 6 to 7 and Lita will perform from 7 to 9 PM.

Autumn Arts and Crafts Festival September 29

North Adams, MA - The Autumn Arts and Crafts Festival takes place on Saturday, September 29th from 10:00 - 3:00 pm on the sidewalk of the north side of Main Street, featuring the work of nearly two dozen crafters, artists and artisans. Photographs, handcrafted jewelry, ceramics and more will be available for sale. Local craft and artisan shops will also be represented. Call Sharon Leary at 413-664-5404

Fall Foliage Children's Parade September 28

North Adams, MA - As part of the big parade weekend, the young and the young at heart will enjoy the Fall Foliage Children's Parade on Friday, September 28. The parade forms at the corner of Eagle and Main Street. Participants should arrive by 5:00 PM. Parade starts at 5:30 and proceeds to City Hall. Ribbons and trophies will be awarded. Call Kathy Keeser for more info, 413-663-7588. All supervised kids are welcome to march.

LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE ANNOUNCES APPLEFEST 2007

Williamstown, Mass. (September 20, 2007) – Williamstown Cooperative Nursery School at the Little Red Schoolhouse will hold their annual APPLEFEST fundraiser on Saturday, September 29 from 10 am to 2 pm. The event will take place at the schoolhouse, located at 32 New Ashford Road (Route 7) in Williamstown just south of the intersection of Routes 7 and 43.

Applefest, Little Red’s annual country fair for children, celebrates the beginning of autumn with activities for the whole family, including games, face painting, crafts and a small petting zoo for children. Fire trucks and tractor rides will be available at the site. A “guess the size of the pumpkin” contest will take place as well as an apple pie competition with homemade pies baked from families attending the cooperative school. The annual bake sale and food concessions will offer food and drink to attendees.

In addition, a raffle will take place with more than 35 prizes donated by local businesses including gift certificates to Mill on the Floss, a family membership to The Springs, a family/dual membership to the Clark Art Institute, Gift Certificates to the Mountain Goat, gift certificates for massages, one week of All Sports Camp at Williams College, and free movie passes for showings at Images Cinema. Tickets are $1 each, or six for $5.

Applefest is the largest public fundraising event of the year for The Little Red Schoolhouse. The funds raised are used for classroom materials and curriculum planning. For more information on Applefest or programs at the school, call 413-458-8668.

Fall Foliage Family Fun Day September 23

North Adams, MA - The annual Family Fun Day Celebration will be held Sunday, September 23 from 12:30-3:30 p.m. at Western Gateway Heritage State Park and the start of the Fall Foliage Festival. Children and families will enjoy games, giveaways, information and entertainment. Earlier in the day, the children’s road race will be held at Joe Wolfe Field with registration beginning at 11:30 AM, with ribbons for all participants and trophies for winners in 5 boys and girls age classes. The Fun Day Celebration will feature free pony rides, Caribbean for Kids and a demonstration by the Adams Turners Gymnasts. Call 413-663-6312 for information. For a complete list of foliage events, visit www.fallfoliageparade.com or www.berkshirechamber.com

First Annual Charity Bedrace September 29

North Adams, MA - Saturday, September 29 marks the First Annual Fall Foliage Charity Bedrace, on Main Street. The purpose of the event is to raise funds for local charities throughout Berkshire County. The local business community is urged to attend, thereby supporting Northern Berkshire Health Care, the City of North Adams and the Fall Foliage Parade. Entry fee is $125 per 5 member team and all proceeds will benefit NBH. For more information or to register call 413-281-0069. Forms are available at the Mayor’s Office of Tourism, Central Radio, Beck’s Printing or online: www.iberkshires.com/bedrace or e-mail foliagebedrace@hotmail.com

Family Fun Day at Heritage Park September 23

North Adams, MA - Kicking off the Fall Foliage Festival in North  Adams ( the Parade is on September  30), the annual Family Fun Day Celebration will be held Sunday, September 23 from 12:30-3:30 p.m. at Western Gateway Heritage State Park. Children and families will enjoy a very special time with games, giveaways, information and entertainment. Earlier in the day, the children’s road race will be held at Joe Wolfe Field with registration beginning at 11:30 a.m. For information please contact Dale Waterman at Heritage State Park 413-663-6312 or the Mayor’s Office of Tourism at 413-664-6180.

Spring Street fire building owner must bring up to code or demolish

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- The Spring Street commercial building hit by a pre-dawn blaze March 29 is so badly damaged that rebuilding it will require renovations to bring it up to current building-code requirements, the town has told the owner in a letter.  The floor underneath the location of A Perfect Blend coffee shop "is a total loss," says the letter from deputy building inspector Ryan A. Contenda to building owner Mark Pareksy. "Most floor joist [sic] are destroyed. The two steel beams supporting the floor appear to have expanded under the intense head punching two holes in the south side of the foundation wall. Most of the roof trusses appear to be in good condition. Some of the wall of the west side of the building is damaged. There is severe smoke and water damage throughout the building."

Contenda's letter continues that under the space housing the Subway sandwich shop "the floor system is a total loss, most floor joists are destroyed. There is severe smoke and water damage throughout the building."  Contenda adds that the location of the Purple Pub suffered "minor smoke and water damage throughout the building."  Contenda said that along with damage to equipment, wiring, plumbing and walls in the basement, where the fire originated, "please be advised that, whether you repair the damage or build a new building, the provisions of the code for new construction are applicable."  The letter was dated April 3.   It notes that copies were sent to Ron Zucco, Daniel Connors and Mary Michel, owners, respectively, of Perfect Blend, Subway and Purple Pub. (Click on image to view text)  EARLIER STORY