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No birthday party is complete without dancing.
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Orella Robare was driven to City Hall by a police escort on Wednesday.
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A handful of police officers brought Robare up to Macksey's office.
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Macksey told Robare that she knew many members of her family.
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Robare looked out over the downtown and pointed out where formers businesses used to be.
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Macksey had cake and flowers for Robare.

North Adams Woman Celebrates 100th Birthday in City Hall

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Mayor Macksey read Robare a proclamation.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — After a police escort to City Hall, Orella Loretta Robare celebrated a century in the corner office with a proclamation from Mayor Jennifer Macksey.
 
"It is incredible," Robare said Wednesday during the small gathering. "I am meeting so many people here today. It is wonderful." 
 
Robare, who was born July 6, 1922, walked through city hall with a handful of police officers. City employees gave their best wishes as she passed by making her way to the elevator.
 
Macksey first joked and asked if Robare was in trouble, surrounded by so many officers.
 
"Are you in trouble with the city because there are a lot of officers with you," Macksey asked. "...We are going to invite them all in and have a party."
 
Macksey gave  Robare a tour of her office and recalled when members of her own family crossed paths with Robare.
 
Robare's parents were Mary and Joseph Tatro. She was married to William Robare in 1945. She has two children Donna and Diane, eight grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. 
 
Macksey then offered her some birthday cake and presented Robare with a proclamation marking the occasion.
 
"We are declaring today your day," Macksey said. "Everyone in the city is celebrating your birthday."
 
Robare settled for a decaf tea (City Hall does not stock Sanka Instant Decaf Coffee) and went on about her roots in the community. She spent time working at the former Sprague Electric, the old Hub and Capitol restaurants and the Tally House. She also volunteered at the Spitzer Center for years.
 
Robare, who lived in Stamford, Vt., Clarksburg, and North Adams, recalled a much different North Adams pointing out places that used to exist outside the corner office window. She recalled Newberry's, the Boston Store, Florini's Restaurant, Peggy Parker and Risebergs, where she got her first credit card.
 
"I remember all of those places," she said. 
 
Macksey said her father used to manage the Richmond Hotel where her mother also worked and asked Robare if she ever attended any of the dances held there.
 
Robare said she did and also recalled dances at the Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge and the Sons of Italy
 
"I used to love to dance," she said. "I would dance all over, but I haven't danced lately."
 
Someone fired up Robare's favorite song "Release Me" by Engelbert Humperdinck and she took turns dancing with the police officers present.
 
Robare's granddaughter Denise Dubreuil said dancing may be the key to such a long happy life.
 
"I think her secret may have been dancing," she said. "She never missed a dance. I think there is a lot we can learn from her."
 
Macksey said she was happy Robare was able to visit City Hall and said there is a lot that can be learned from Robare. 
 
"Quality of life is so important and your roots are so important. Just to live a good life and contribute to your community," Macksey said. "When she talks about the Council on Aging you can see her eyes light up and that shows the engagement we have in our community. She is just remarkable."

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Clarksburg Select Board Accepts School Roof Bid, Debates Next Steps

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The Select Board last week accepted a bid by D.J. Wooliver & Sons to do the flat roof on the elementary school. 
 
Wooliver was the lowest bid at about $400,000 but cautioned that the cost may rise depending on the conditions once the work started. The work will depend on town meeting approving a borrowing for the project and a possible debt exclusion.
 
But how much borrow and whether the work will be worth it has been a conundrum for town and school officials. The condition of the school has been a major topic at meetings of the board and the School Committee over the past few months. 
 
Town officials are considering putting the question to the voters — try to piecemeal renovations or begin a new study on renovating or building a new school. 
 
In the meantime, the leaking roof has prompted an array of buckets throughout the school. 
 
"Until they actually get in there and start ripping everything up, we won't really know the extent of all the damage per se so it's really kind of hard to make a decision," board member Colton Andrew said at last week's meeting, broadcast on Northern Berkshire Community Television.
 
Board member Daniel Haskins wondered if it would be better to patch until a town made a decision on a school project or do a portion of the roof. But Chair Robert Norcross disagreed. 
 
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