Bousquet Ski Area is preparing for reopening with a new chairlift and other upgrades. Bousquet is green at the moment but is expected to open for skiing in mid to late December.
The lodge won't be utilized at present because of COVID-19 restrictions but Fresh Powder LLC was approved for a license transfer and for allowing serving outside.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Local investment group Mill Town Capital is making sure that Pittsfield's only ski area is open for businesses despite the pandemic.
At Monday's Licensing Board meeting, attorney Michael McDonald represented the investment group, notifying the board that Bousquet is anticipating the slopes being ready by Dec. 18.
Mill Town has made several improvements on the ski area. A new triple chairlift is in the process of being installed along with new water lines and snow-making cannons, a renovated and modernized pump house across the street from the ski area that will make better quality snow, and new snow grooming equipment to enhance skier experience.
The focus is on the skiing experience since the novel coronavirus restricts indoor activities. Next year may see improvements in other areas.
Fresh Powder LLC was there for the transfer the annual all-alcohol, seven-day restaurant license from Tamarack Ski Corp., doing business as the Tamarack Room.
This was a three-step application that required the transfer of the license from Tamarack, the approval of Kevin McMillan as the new manager on the license, and the change to the description of the premises.
McMillan has been a manager and general manager for Zoar Outdoor in Charlemont for the last 29 years and was brought on to manage Bousquet in August of this year.
"I am, like Mill Town Capital, committed to doing things right and my focus is on making sure that operationally we are strong and that we build a strong culture here," McMillan said. "I think that Bousquet has had a reputation of being a bar with a ski area, and our hope is to really shift that paradigm and have a ski area with a bar, so that is really my general focus on how we operate."
The board unanimously approved all three parts of the application.
Because of the pandemic, Mill Town was looking to extend the liquor license to the outdoor pavilion that stood next to the waterslide area, which has now been removed, and to the patio in front of the lodge.
CEO and Managing Director Timothy Burke explained that the plan is to have two points of service this season, one in the pavilion and a walk-up food and beverage area at the window where the old cafeteria stood.
They expect that they won't be able to utilize the lodge for the public in the foreseeable future.
When indoor dining is allowed, they want to use the lodge's upstairs banquet area as well so that they have more surface area to accommodate social distancing.
"In the event that something drastically changes and the governor's orders change, such that the indoors can be used, the anticipation would be that we would need to provide adequate space to allow people to socially distance, hence the addition of the upstairs area," McDonald said.
Chairman Thomas Campoli looked at all of the documents for the project and said it all goes back to the principle that shows Mill Town's commitment to the city of Pittsfield and to Berkshire County.
Mill Town has been making large investments in the housing and recreation sectors of Pittsfield, Bousquet being one of the initial investments.
"Most of the investment is focused on and continues to be focused on Pittsfield," McDonald said.
The investment group has made investments on North Street and is moving forward with the renovation of the former boarding house on Tyler Street into market-rate one- and two-bedroom apartments and is transforming the former Shedd's Plumbing across the street into a 16-unit apartment complex.
In other business, the board also approved an alteration of premises application from Raajipo Inc., doing business as A-Mart, which has been almost completely rebuilt after a devastating fire last year nearly burned the building to the ground.
Attorney Matthew Porter represented A-Mart at the meeting. He said the footprint of the premises includes some expanded space where a barbershop used to be prior to the fire.
Porter explained that in the rebuild, A-Mart will not be renting out space to another entity and will utilize the extra space for storage and redemption.
The more than 8,000-square-foot main floor will be an open concept with much larger doors and an easier, safer flow that is more convenient for customers, he said. Porter also noted that the deli will be placed in the back of A-Mart, as it originally was.
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Berkshire United Way to Massachusetts: Early-Learning Educators Need Better Wages
By Katherine von Haefen Guest Column
As reported in iBerkshires, state education officials met with Western Massachusetts childcare and early education advocates at Berkshire Community College recently. I had the opportunity to share the following testimony on behalf of Berkshire United Way and our community partners.
Early childhood education provides tremendous benefits to our region. High-quality child care dramatically influences brain development and the future health and success for children in school and life, as well as provides a safe and secure space for our youngest community members so their parents or caregivers can work and provide for their families.
Berkshire United Way has invested in improving early childhood development opportunities in the Berkshires for decades. We fund high-quality nonprofit child-care centers that provide slots for income-constrained families. We also support the sector by co-hosting monthly child-care director meetings to work on shared challenges and collectively propose solutions. We advocate for early childhood education and have a great partner in this work, state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier.
Staffing is a key component of high-quality care. The research shows that skilled and consistent educators in a classroom create long-lasting change for children. However, wages are stagnant and frequently do not provide educators with basic financial stability. We often hear that educators have left the field because they are unable to make their finances work. Wages need to improve to better reflect the expertise and indelible impact teachers have in the field.
When we look specifically at our region, our data is concerning.
As Berkshire County emerges from the pandemic, we are struggling with transportation, affordable housing and lack of mental health resources, much like the rest of the state. We are also seeing a rise in economically challenged households.
After nearly 10 years of decline, Berkshire County has experienced a significant jump in income inequality, now exceeding the state and national trends and far above comparable counties, according to the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. Over half of our population are "economically challenged," meaning they are working but struggling to make ends meet. A single parent with a school-aged child needs between $70,000 and $80,000 in income and public benefits just to meet their basic needs.
A large limb from a 32-foot sugar maple in the park fell next to the fountain area over the weekend. Caution tape and traffic barrels now surround the aftermath.
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The last estimate for construction was overly optimistic because, at the time, it was unclear how long obtaining the two easements would take, Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said.
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Full cost estimates have not been completed but based on recent repairs made to the Clapp Park splash pad, it is estimated to cost between $350,000 and $450,000.
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King Kone had a soft opening at the end of the week, offering the frozen treats on a "pay what you will" basis while employees perfected the craft.
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