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An artist rendering of what the canopy could look like for Walmart's grocery pickup station.

Walmart Preparing Space for Online Grocery Pickup

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Super Walmart on Curran Highway has been approved for canopy for its grocery pickup service. 
 
The Planning Board in a brief meeting on Monday gave the OK to the 18-foot by 73-foot canopy for Wal-Mart Real Estate Business Trust and approved several other businesses.
 
The shade cloth canopy will be located in existing parking spots in front of the southern entrance of the building and a sign indicating pickup will be installed on the front facade below the Walmart sign.
 
A representative of Bohler Engineering said the structure will support the online grocery ordering. 
 
"They're proposing an online grocery pickup, which is an added feature that allows customers to place orders online and come to the store," he said. "Then associates will bring the goods out to the car so customers will not need to leave their vehicle."
 
The canopy will provide some protection from the elements for delivery and have six spaces under it. The store currently has 701 parking spots and to make up for the loss of four spots for the canopy, the store will paint in four more parking spots in an existing paved area.
 
According to the narrative supplied with the application, the pickup service will be limited to groceries and paper goods and customers will be able to alert the store they are waiting through a smartphone app. The proposed hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
 
Board also approved two applications for 537 Ashland St., both for existing businesses. Steven Milazzo is relocating his 24-year-old business 8 Ball Auto Repair and Richard Duteau his 37-year-old Duteau Collision Repair because the current building they are in at 525 Ashland was sold. 
 
Planners also gave the OK for a metal frabrication and graphic arts studio at 350 State Road for applicant Criterion Berkshire 1 LLC, with the condition signage be approved before installation; and for Rootz Hair Studio and Rootz Nail Studio at the Norad Mill for Amy Eichammer and Donna Whitcomb, with hours of 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday.  
 
In other business, the board approved a new signage package for Stanley Engineered Fastening, the former Tog Manufacturing, at 1454 South State St. Also approved was a request to change Empire Cutz 2 to Christopher Cuts Barbershop; Aaron Christopher purchased the business located at 102 River St. in May.
 
The board also unanimously recommended the zoning amendments reviewed at last week's joint public hearing to the City Council.

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Clarksburg Officials Debate Need for School Repairs, Renovations

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff

Select Board member Colton Andrews stands next to a bucket catching leaks as he talks to the joint gathering. 
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — School officials acknowledged that Clarksburg School is need of renovation or rebuild but declined to commit at this point to plan of action.
 
"We can't say that because it hasn't even been put out to the town," said School Committee member Cynthia Brule. "So I mean, we could say, 'yeah, I want a new school,' but it means nothing."
 
The comments had come during a joint meeting of the Select Board and School Committee last week over what to do with the leaking roof. 
 
"We're dealing with a pretty leaky roof that's affecting several classrooms," said Superintendent John Franzoni. "The leaks are continuing and impacting the classroom learning."
 
Select Board Chair Robert Norcross had pushed for the committee to make a declaration after talks with the governor's Western Mass office over the lingering $500,000 in a bond bill for the roof. 
 
He and Assistant Superintendent Tara Barnes had spoken with Kristen Elechko, Western Mass regional director, he said, and Barnes had mentioned the school could use more than a roof. 
 
"Kristen sent me an email the next day saying that I can't go for a roof if we're going to go for a new school or if we're going to go for something bigger," Norcross said. "You have to decide quickly what we want to do, because all these deadlines are coming up. So that's why I wanted to push the meeting forward and that's why I asked the Finance Committee and the Select Board to be here, because we got to make a decision tonight."
 
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