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People can continue to bring their returnable cans and bottles to the redemption center at 1000 Massachusetts Ave. to redeem them for themselves, or they can donate the proceeds of their returnables to BFAIR.

BFAIR Purchases Redemption Center in North Adams

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Berkshire Family and Individual Resources has purchased the bottle and can redemption center at 1000 Massachusetts Ave.

The center was acquired from David Moresi of Moresi & Associates, with whom BFAIR had been working for several years while the agency managed the customer service portion of the business.

"When the redemption center became available for sale, he approached BFAIR," BFAIR CEO Rich Weisenflue said. "We are grateful for this opportunity to continue to provide employment for individuals with disabilities while also playing an important role in north Berkshire."


Theresa Gelinas, BFAIR's senior vice president of Day Services, said the center has been an integral part in offering employement opportunities to the agency's clients.

"The employees acquire customer services skills with the support of BFAIR's Employment Program staff, assisting the general public redeeming cans and bottles, as well as playing a positive role in our community with respect to the environment by reducing waste and promoting reuse of containers," she said. "Our redemption center also serves as a great stepping stone for people with disabilities acquiring work skills moving on to competitive employment."

People can continue to bring their returnable cans and bottles to the redemption center at 1000 Massachusetts Ave. to redeem them for themselves, or they can donate the proceeds of their returnables to BFAIR, a nonprofit agency that provides adult family care, residential, in-home clinical services, employment and day services for adults and children with developmental disabilities, and acquired brain injury, autism and homecare services for older adults.

 


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North Adams Making Plans to Address Library Belvedere

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — With a $75,000 matching Mass Historic grant, city officials are moving closer to addressing the library's decrepit belvedere.
 
"This is the closest we have ever been so for me, being part of this process since 1992, it is very exciting, and I hope you are excited too," Mayor Jennifer Macksey said.
 
"... We used to say from a distance, it looks beautiful. Now from a distance, you can see it worn."
 
On Thursday, Macksey met with the library trustees to hold early discussions on how to fund the project which was originally estimated to cost $375,000. Macksey hopes to use a mix of Sale of City Owned Property Account funds and money from Cariddi bequest to make up the difference.
 
"As time goes on and as this project evolves, we'll see where dollars fall or other opportunities fall," she said. "My biggest fear is that it's going to be over the $370,000 in the sense of where we are with construction in general … So we do have some funds available, but once we get to bids then we'll really drill down on the price. We certainly don't want to exhaust the Cariddi fund."
 
After bids are opened and a clearer understanding of the total project cost is established, the cost split can be discussed.
 
She said other grants could become available later. While she's open to borrowing to finish the project, she prefers to use existing funds. 
 
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