Roger Fachini, Former North Adams Assessor, Dies at 65

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Roger J. Fachini
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Roger John Fachini, 65, of 189 Stratton Road died Thursday, June 25, 2009, at Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center following a cardiac incident on Friday, June 19, while on the 11th hole of his beloved Taconic Golf Course. Mr. Fachini was assessor for the city of North Adams for 11 years.

Born in North Adams on Oct. 6, 1943, son of John J. and Rena Colo Fachini, he was raised in Williamstown and was a member of the first graduating class from Mount Greylock Regional High School in 1962. He attended the Williams College School of Banking and the Robert Morris School of Commercial Lending at the University of Massachusetts.

He served in the National Guard for seven years.

Mr. Fachini was first employed by First Agricultural Bank in North Adams, and went on to spend more than 15 years in various management roles in the land development industry. He was appointed North Adams assessor in 1995 and chairman of its Board of Assessors, a position he held until his retirement in 2006.

After retiring, he renewed his real estate license and joined longtime friend Thomas Elder at Elder & Associates Real Estate in Williamstown.

He was the current president of the Stratton Hills Association Trust and had served on the board since moving there in 2005. He was active in the Berkshire County Assessors Association, serving as vice president from 1998 to 2000, as president from 2000 to 2002, and as a member of the executive board until his retirement.

Mr. Fachini had a passion for golf, snowshoeing, walking, fly fishing and anything that got him outdoors. He was a long-standing and supportive member of Taconic Golf Club, and a regular at Williams College football games, Clark Art Institute events, and Board of Trade functions. He was a true native son of Williamstown and had a deep and abiding appreciation for the beauty of the Berkshires, said family.

They described his as a generous and loyal friend, ready to lend a hand, do a favor, offer thoughtful advice, an honest opinion, and always armed with a quick-witted and humorous comeback, and respected and loved by his co-workers. He counted his family and friends as his richest treasures, they said, and was greatly loved in return and will be missed by all who knew him.

His favorite role was that of a loving, proud, and devoted father. The times he cherished most were spent with his daughter, Jennifer Helies, and her husband, Brad, at his home in Williamstown or with them in New York City.

Besides his daughter and son-in-law, he leaves his former wife, Judith Dawson Fachini of Bennington, Vt., and numerous cousins throughout the area.
 
FUNERAL NOTICE — A celebration of Mr. Fachini's life will be conducted Thursday, July 2, at 4 p.m. on the lawn of his home at 189 Stratton Road by the Rev. Mr. Bruce Ziter, deacon of St. Elizabeth's Church in North Adams, officiating. A reception will follow at Gala Restaurant at the Orchards.

In lieu of flowers are suggested for the Village Ambulance service or The Fund for Williamstown through Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams, MA 01247.
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Former Harry's Supermarket Under Construction for Restaurant

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Construction is underway to transform the former Harry's Supermarket into a restaurant

Late last month, the Conservation Commission greenlit some tree pruning on the property. New windows and a new door can be seen in the front of the building. 

"It's a substantial renovation that's currently underway here," Brent White of White Engineering said, speaking on behalf of the applicant and owner, Huajie Zhu. 

A fire gutted the longtime Wahconah Street supermarket in 2023, and the following year, Zhu purchased the property for $460,000 two years ago to build a restaurant with hibachi in the existing footprint of the more than 100-year-old building. 

White explained that the project has been ongoing for over a year, and the Community Development Board granted the property a waiver to reduce the minimum required number of parking spaces so that additional spaces aren't needed.  

He noted that, looking at the site plan, there is very little room to do so. A mirror will be installed near the sharp turn on Bel Air Avenue to alleviate traffic concerns. 

Pruning will be done on trees in the southeast corner of the existing paved parking lot, as a number of branches are hanging over. The new owners also intend to patch, sealcoat, and re-stripe the parking lot. 

A fire tore through the building less than an hour after the supermarket closed for the day three years ago. An automatic sprinkler system is required for the new use. 

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