NORTH ADAMS - All that's left to do is carve the turkey and mash the potatoes.
In its 52nd year, the American Legion Christmas Dinner is set to go off without a hitch this Christmas Day. According to Post 125 Finance Officer and event Chairman William Schrade, approximately 500 diners are expected to take part in the holiday tradition.
"The weather's supposed to be nice and for a lot of people, it's the place to be. I'm sure it'll be a great time," said Schrade.
With 350 pounds of turkey prepared and Santa Claus expected to make an appearance, the annual dinner can best be described as an enormous family meal, complete with cheer and good will.
"We like people to come to the Legion so they have somewhere to be on Christmas Day, where they can see a familiar face," said Schrade.
Along with his wife and daughter, Karli, Schrade also organizes the delivery of 175 meals to homebound residents, which includes 50 distributed through the American Legion Post 29 in Readsboro, Vt. Because Elder Services of Berkshire County does not operate the Meals on Wheels program on Christmas Day, the Schrades volunteered to provide special holiday feasts to interested parties.
"It's a family thing for us. My wife and daughter help out and do the meals-to-go and it's nice that we all come together," said Schrade, who has been the organizer of the Christmas dinner for 11 years.
Schrade was quick to note that he couldn't do it on his own.
"Everybody who has worked has been really helpful. I couldn't do it without him," he said.
In addition to his band of talented cooks who have worked tirelessly to produce enough food for an army, the Legion was the recipient of local holiday good will.
Clarksburg, Savoy and Gabriel Abbot Memorial schoolchildren baked 40 apple and pumpkin pies and, on Friday, a group of Drury High School students helped decorate the banquet hall in preparation for today's festivities.
"I feel fortunate to be able to help our community by decorating [the Legion hall]," said Jenna Haley, who lent a hand along with the rest of Patrick Boulger's sociology class.
Dinner will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at American Legion Post 125 and home deliveries will be made beginning at 10:30 a.m.
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New North Adams Restaurant Approved for Liquor License
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A new restaurant on Main Street, a provisions shop and a convenience store all got the nod from the License Commission on Tuesday.
Siblings Colleen and Sean Taylor are expanding their cuisine empire yet again with the establishment of Main & Mill in the old TD Bank. They were before the commission to apply for an all-alcohol license.
The building is owned by Ginko on Main Street LLC, which has granted 20 years exclusive possession of the property to Latent Builds as the developer. Jack and Suzy Wadsworth, behind Ginko, are development partners with Salvatore Perry and Karla Rothstein of Latent.
The bank closed in early 2021 and purchased by Ginko late that year. Plans for the property unveiled three years ago envisioned a restaurant, retail, a park and rooftop bar.
The building's hosted some pop-up eateries and is currently under construction for the new restaurant.
Colleen Taylor said the restaurant will be open seven days a week serving lunch and dinner, and be open early for coffee.
"It's not going to be a very big restaurant. It's about the same size as Trail House, except for Trail House has a bigger patio, so about the same seating," she said.
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Brayden Durant struck out seven and walked one in a complete-game effort on the mound Saturday to pitch the Drury baseball team to a 6-0 win over Keefe Tech in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament at Joe Wolfe Field. click for more