This Week in North County

Issue #95 | Friday, October 27, 2023

Meet North Adams Candidates! Several candidates for elected offices such as City Council, School Committee, and Mayor will be present on downtown sidewalks so voters will have a chance to meet them and better understand their platforms before the Tuesday, November 7th election. 5-9:00 p.m.

PUMPKIN SMASH! Bring your unbleached and unpainted halloween pumpkins downtown to SMASH into the Second Chance Composting truck! Learn about composting and have fun! All ages welcome. Hosted by Hotel Downstreet, 5-8:00 p.m. | 40 Main Street
Face Painting by Hannah True from Oh Hello Face Painting! Free for all! 6-8:00 p.m. | 49 Main Street
Rebel Beat Sound System! Enjoy music by DJ Gabe Besaw, 5-9:00 p.m. | Eagle Street Pocket Park
Full Belly Food Truck! Meet the folks from Full Belly and try some tasty BBQ! 5-9:00 p.m. | 23 Eagle Street
Migration Taco Food Truck: 5-9:00 p.m. | on Main Street
INSTALLATION SPACE Opening Reception: “Syntactical Shifts” an installation by Lyn Horton 5-8:00 p.m. | 49 Eagle Street

Future Lab[s] Gallery: Opening Reception for Lapetus, Meet the artists and enjoy light refreshments! 6-8:00 p.m. | 43 Eagle Street
Gallery 51: Reflecting Ecologies: Artists in Nature 5-7:00 p.m. | 51 Main St
First Baptist Church: Gather around the fire and enjoy the company of your neighbors as well as s’mores! 5-7:00 pm
Heart’s Pace: Live Music 7-8:30pm | 15 Eagle St.
Plant Connector: Opening Reception for Moth Marking & Other Notions, Meet the artists Lauren Levato Coyne and Ava Samis 6-8:00 p.m
Many more to come!

For more information visit nachamber.org/firstfridays.

North County Happenings

Upcoming

Ongoing

Want your event listed? Submit the listing here

Store at Five Corners Survey

Having just celebrated our first anniversary in the Store at Five Corners, we are taking a moment to catch our breath and spend some time reflecting on the past year and gather some feedback from you, our community, that we are looking to better serve.

The form will take about 5 minutes to complete and will help to inform the types of groceries, beer and wine, and gift items that we will offer in the future. We will be collecting feedback until October 31, but always welcome your thoughts and comments anytime.

We appreciate you taking a moment to share your experiences and recommendations, and thank you for welcoming us as warmly and supporting us as deeply as you have.

SURVEY

Hoosic River Revival Listening Sessions

The City of North Adams and Hoosic River Revival are hosting a series of listening sessions to gather community input regarding the significance of the Hoosic River in North Adams, and the need to modernize the aging concrete flood control system.

When & Where:

Thursday, November 2, 6-8 pm, YMCA, 22 Brickyard Ct
Friday, November 17, 10 am - 12 pm, nbCC Community Forum at Terra Nova Church, 85 Main St

What: These events are designed to provide information and gather community input about the following:

The 3-year feasibility study beginning this year that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will conduct of the Hoosic River's flood control system and ways to stay informed and engaged,
Community observations about the current condition of the flood chutes,
Stories about the river’s history and importance to the community,
Examples of river restoration efforts in other communities, and
Ideas and concerns to consider in the modernization design.

Who: We want to hear from all of North Adams! These events are free of charge. No RSVP necessary; all are welcome. For more information please go to https://www.hoosicriverrevival.org/get-involved.

Background

North Adams needs strong protection from floods. The 70-year-old flood control system designed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1940’s is deteriorating, putting the community at risk. Together with the City of North Adams and Hoosic River Revival, the Corps will spend the next 3 years performing a feasibility study of possible ways to modernize the flood control system. Community input on the future design of the flood control system is vital to ensure that plans for modernization reflect the needs of all of North Adams and provide a healthy, accessible, and attractive flood-controlled river.

Hoosic River Revival is a volunteer organization dedicated to transforming the aging Hoosic River flood chutes using leading-edge engineering and naturalization measures to reduce flood risk and enhance climate resilience. To learn more about HRR’s mission and vision for the Hoosic, visit www.hoosicriverrevival.org.

The Neighborlies 2023 - Community Recognition Awards

We welcome all recognitions, big or small, and ask that you follow our guidelines when submitting your recognitions. Please submit recognitions to recognize individuals or groups who have donated their time, skills, or resources to others in the community and please do not submit self-recognitions.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: Friday, November 3, 2023.

SUBMIT

LumiNAMA could really use your help to promote downtown North Adams this holiday season and to drive more foot traffic into your business!

Here are a few different ways you can help:

#1 Hang lights or create a window display in time for the City’s Tree Lighting on November 22nd. We’re also giving away cash prizes to the LumiNAMA Award winners this year!

#2 Host an event at your business on First Friday December 1st or any other time during the holidays. Submit your event here, so we can promote it for you!

#3 Become a sponsor of LumiNAMA and help us increase the size of our paid advertising campaign to promote the North Adams business community. Deadline is November 17th.

#4 Sign up for updates from LumiNAMA about how to make downtown North Adams thrive this holiday season. Subscribe now.

Festive Returns November 18

We are very excited to showcase ± 90 artists, makers, farmers, local businesses, and organizations at our 6th annual Holiday Market. Thank you to all who applied. We are humbled and thrilled to be able to feature so much exquisite talent in gWorks' former Weave Shed!

SAVE THE DATES!

Friday First Look: November 17 • 5-8pm • $25
Saturday Market :November 18 • 10am-3pm • FREE

First Look Tickets

Opportunities

Berkshire Community College’s Community Education department is offering personal enrichment workshops this fall. They include bartending and mixology, handling the holidays, painting, cooking, and photography classes. Classes will run November-December. All information can be found on the BCC website.

Cultural Facilities Fund
Grants to support the acquisition, design, repair, rehabilitation, renovation, expansion, or construction of nonprofit cultural facilities. Nonprofit cultural organizations, municipalities, and colleges or universities that own or lease cultural facilities are eligible to apply. Grant range: $7,000-$200,000.
Opens: October 12, 2023
Deadline: December 14, 2023

Grants For Creative Individuals
NEW in FY24: This program aims to equitably advance creative expression throughout the Commonwealth with unrestricted grants to Massachusetts artists, culture bearers, and creative individuals. Grants are $5,000.
Opens: October 2023
Deadline: December 2023

Gaming Mitigation Fund
Grants to Massachusetts nonprofit and municipal performing arts centers to spend on touring shows or touring artist fees.
Opens: December 5, 2023
Deadline: February 1, 2024

Workshops & Webinars

PHOTOGRAPHING YOUR ARTWORK W/ MERCEDES JELINEK

Monday, November 6, 2023 | 2:00 - 4:00 PM | For RI

CREATING A SUSTAINABLE FINANCIAL ECOSYSTEM AS AN ARTIST W/ HADASSAH DAMIEN NEW!

Thursday, November 16, 2023 | 12:00 - 2:00 PM | For CT & RI

PLANNING WITH YOUR WHOLE SELF IN YOUR ART PRACTICE W/ JOHN VO

Wednesdays, November 29, December 6 & 13, 2023 | 6:00 - 8:00 PM | For MA

AN INTRODUCTION TO COOPERATIVES IN THE ARTS W/ DANIEL PARK

Thursday, December 14, 2023 | 2:00 - 5:00 PM | For CT & RI

Berkshire Economic Recovery Project Technical Assistance Program
The Berkshire Economic Recover Project (BERP) Technical Assistance Program is a FREE cohort-based technical assistance series for small businesses and organizations located in the Berkshires.

“Jump Start Your Crowdfunding Campaign” with Laura Christensen

Thursday, November 9, 4-6pm

FREE. Registration Required. Limited to 7-participants.

Get yourself ready to crowdfund to start, grow, or help support your business. The goal of this workshop is to help participants learn how to best leverage crowdfunding to help support their business, operations, strategic goals, and dynamic programming.

“Social Media and Digital Marketing Basics” with Francesca Olsen
Wednesday, December 6, 8-10am
FREE. Registration Required. Limited to 7-participants.
This webinar will cover the basics of digital marketing and branding, starting with why branding is important and what it encompasses, then moving on to best practices for things like branding, audience building, effective social media, SEO optimization, and your website, plus tips for making the most of the time you spend on marketing. At the end of the session, you will know what it takes to build an online audience, evaluate what digital platforms are best for you, use analytics to determine future decision-making, and put together a marketing plan that covers multiple platforms.

Clarity, Intention & Direction for life & business
November 2 | 12 p.m. | REGISTER
Creating the clarity is important when leading a business venture. The intention must be grounded in values and the direction in action.

Join this session to get your business clarity that will lead to steps in the right direction for success.

Dr. Zoila Quezada will host a training session regarding:

values on clarity of our work
intention to get things done
direction to make a plan

Interactive, and take away a plan with steps to execute.

LinkedIn Insider Strategies

November 6 | 6-7 PM | REGISTER

Learn strategies to showcase who you are & your work in a professional setting. Build community with others & much more!

Financial Strategies: Learn from the Experts
November 7 | 12 p.m. | REGISTER

Need help with financial options for your small business?

CWE Rhode Island partnered with Chase, Merril Lynch, a Special guest & the City of Providence to provide a panel:

Financial Strategies: Learn from the Experts, will help you understand the variety of financing options available to new business owners.

The discussion will focus on strategies for raising funds, as well as, what lenders and investors look for when making financing decisions.

The panel will include the following experts:

Banker- Chase Bank
An entrepreneur with experience raising fund - Advisory board member Robin Dziuba Financial Advisor and Planner at Merrill Lynch
State Representatives - City of Providence

We will begin with a brief introduction and overview of services from each panelist followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with the audience.

In The News

TOWN OF ADAMS SEEKING PROPOSALS FOR AN OWNER/OPERATOR OF A NEW RESTAURANT / CAFÉ IN THE GREYLOCK GLEN OUTDOOR CENTER

October 13th -- The Town of Adams is seeking proposals for an owner/operator of a new restaurant (Café) to be located within the 9,980 square feet Outdoor Center at Greylock Glen in Adams. The Café is intended to offer full food and beverage service with an emphasis on healthy eating and farm-to-table offerings. The Café will be located in, and will be an integral part of, the Outdoor Center building as well as the evolving Greylock Glen Resort. The Town anticipates the Outdoor Center and grounds will become an increasingly popular venue for both indoor and outdoor events of all kinds, particularly weddings. Consequently, the Town expects that event catering will be a significant source of revenue for the selected Café Operator.

The Café Lease Premises is sited between the large central lobby area of the Outdoor Center and the education wing (flexible classroom space) on the northern end of the building. The Café will be configured with a kitchen, dining room, and bar comprised of approximately 1,806 square feet. The Café space is also designed to include a host station and a “to go” counter. Public restrooms are available adjacent to the café and easily accessible from the café or the adjacent outdoor patio area. The occupancy load for the Café is 75 (includes bar seating). The non-exclusive outdoor patio dining area, comprised of approximately 2,400 square feet, presents the opportunity for the Café Operator to establish an outdoor kitchen to offer al fresco dining options.

The successful Proposer will have demonstrated the ability to finance, design, and operate a restaurant/Café on the site, with the goal of negotiating a Lease and related documents for the operation of the Café. The Town intends to select the Proposer that can successfully create an establishment that provides visitors to Greylock Glen with affordable, healthy, family-friendly on site casual dining choices.

The in-progress Greylock Glen Resort development is the culmination of several decades of planning and investment by the Town of Adams. The first major resort component, the Outdoor Center, is currently under construction and expected to open by May/June 2024. A year-round campground with 70+ sites, to be completed by a private developer, is also in-progress with permitting anticipated by late 2023 or early 2024.

Proposals are due no later than Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Berkshire Eagle Article

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