North Adams Planners Delay Club, Fine Auto Sales

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
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Planners told Tim Dunne and Robert Donnelly they were in favor of a motorcycle clubhouse, but not until building owner Charles 'Rusty' Ransford, left, fulfilled some conditions.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Planning Board lowered the boom Monday on two property owners the board says have continued to be in violations of their conditions of operation.

The Dopplegangers motorcycle club was forced to put the brakes on opening a clubhouse at 76 Union St. when planners took building owner Charles "Rusty" Ransford to task for failing to take care of issues from years ago.

"I've lost faith in the landlord's ability to follow through on anything he says to this committee," said Planner Donald Keagan.

Board members evinced sympathy for club members but voted unanimously to continue its hearing until January for a special permit until Ransford submitted a plan for parking and removed a storage trailer ordered off the lot months years ago.

The location was formerly the Crystal Hard Hat; Ransford and another man had attempted earlier this year to open it as a package store under the name of the former "Pops" but planners raised similar concerns over parking and conditions.

Robert Donnelly and Tim Dunne, speaking on behalf of the club, said the 15-member club was private and limited to owners of Harley-Davidsons and Indian motorcycles. Crystal Hard Hat had given them a room to meet in but most of their members don't drink, said Donnelly.

"We are not trying to open up a party place, we are just trying to get a place for ourselves that we can go and meet," said Dunne. 

"We do a lot of benefits, most of our benefits had to be out of town because we don't have a place in town to plan benefits other than the local taverns," said Donnelly. "We don't really want to be associated with bars."

The two said they were experienced in contracting and painting and had already done a lot of work inside and were willing to paint the entire front of the building and other work the board may require.

Chairman Michael Leary asked Ransford for a written time frame of when the trailer would be removed, when the parking lot would be fixed and when exterior painting and improvements would occur along with a map of the allowed parking spaces.



Planner Paul Hopkins asks about parking at a proposed garage on River Street.
Part of the frustration with Ransford has been a "double-dipping" of required parking, he said, pointing to a letter from Ransford leasing parking to the new Crystal Hard Hat that Ransford disavowed, saying the spots now go to the Artery Lounge.

Ransford promised to get rid of the trailer and submit the documentation.

Planners sent Mohawk Auto Sales at 1519 Curran Highway to enforcement for continuing to have more cars on the property than the 40 or so allowed. Planner Joseph Gniadek of the Compliance Committee said he and Planner Paul Senecal, who was not in attendance, had counted some 30 vehicles in the back behind a fence and another 25 in front.

Building Inspector William Meranti said he had toted up some 60 cars earlier in the day and also noted a "sawmill" operation was apparently being run out of the garage in violation of the permit. The owner of the business was not in attendance; he could face fines of $100 a day.

In other business:
► The board approved a special permit for William J. Gardner Sr. to operate an automotive repair shop at 54 River St. with the condition the owner of the building contact the inspector about the need to pave or hardscape the parking area.

► Approved a special permit to operate a bakery and cafe at Berkshire Emporium & Antiques at 57 Main St. Store owner Keith Bona said Luma's Muffins 'n' Mug will offer "plain coffee" and homemade pastries and baked goods. "We'll leave the espresso to Brewhaha," he said. The cafe will be operated by Nicole Maloney as a separate venture inside the store. The board also approved outside seating and a preliminary sign.

► Filed a letter from Brian Flagg and Steven Melito informing that they would be starting online news site print publication Northern Berkshire News, operating out of Flagg's Liberty Street home.

Correction 8:43 a.m., Dec. 16: Northern Berkshire News is not an online newsite.

Tags: cafe,   clubhouse,   coffeeshop,   Ransford,   

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Veteran Spotlight: Navy Senior Chief Lester Connolly

By Wayne SoaresSpecial to iBerkshires

Senior Chief Lester Connolly, seen above and at right, served in the Navy for 28 years as a flight engineer. He saw a flight of planes overhead at age 11 and was so struck by the sight it that he made a career out of flying. The Dorchester native served around the globe and spent many years in California before moving back to Massachusetts.
SANDWICH, Mass. — Lester Connolly served his country in the Navy as a senior chief from 1950 to 1978. 
 
Born in Dorchester, he was one of six children born to Irish immigrants William and Mary Ellen Connolly. At 92 years of age, he is sharp as a tack and speaks with humility and pride.
 
"Both my parent came directly from Ireland," he said. "Mom went to church every day. She would tell me 'the only two people at church were me and the priest.'"
 
He grew up with an immensely strong work ethic at a very young age. "Started work at  11 years old," he said. "Everywhere I went, I ran — used a pushcart to deliver groceries — everything I made, I always put on the table for my mother."
 
Connolly would enlist after his high school graduation at the tender age of 17 and do his basic training at the Squantum Naval Air Station. "Didn't bother me at all, the physical and mental part. I was with a good group of people," he recalled. 
 
Military service was part of Connolly's family: his father served during World War I, his older brother Bill was a glider pilot with the Airborne, brother Jimmy was a Marine and brother Jack was in the Army. He also had two sisters. 
 
His first assignment would be right at Squantum for anti-submarine warfare where he would receive on the job training as a flight engineer. Connolly not only worked on the airplanes but would fly them as well. 
 
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