Letter: Thanks for a Successful North Adams Library Book Sale

To the Editor:

On Sept. 16 and 17, Friends of the North Adams Public Library held our annual book and bake sale. This sale not only raised money to improve the library and provide programming for children and adults, but was a great community event for the citizens of North Adams and our neighboring communities.

At this time, we would like to thank the City of North Adams, especially Mike Cirullo and his crew, as well as the Trial Court Community Service program supervised by Shawn Wright for their commitment to transport boxes of books to St. Elizabeth's Center.

Dedicated workers and volunteers cleaned, sorted, packed, moved, set up and dismantled the sale. A special thanks to
those who donated books, shopped and helped at the sale.

Although it is a tremendous yearlong job to coordinate and put this event together, the results speak for themselves. Books of every genre found new homes and our library patrons continue to enjoy ongoing benefits from robust sales.

We look forward to seeing all of you next year and hope you consider donating books starting in the spring of 2023.

Many thanks,

Friends of the North Adams Public Library

Submitted by Stephen Smachetti
Stamford, Vt.

North Adams Takes Possession of Historic Church Street Houses

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:30PM / Tuesday, April 22, 2025

The porch collapsed on 116 Church several years ago. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The state Land Court in February finalized the city's tax taking of four properties including the brick Church Street mansions.

 

The prestigious pair of Queen Anne mansions had been owned by Franklin E. Perras Jr., who died in 2017 at age 79. 

 

The properties had been in court for four years as attempts were made repeatedly to find Perras' heirs, including a son, Christopher. According to court filings, Christopher reportedly died in 2013 but his place of death is unknown, as is the location (or existence) of two grandchildren listed in Perras' obituary. 

 

Mayor Jennifer Macksey said the next steps will be to develop requests for proposals for the properties to sell them off. 

 

She credited Governor's Councillor Tara Jacobs for bringing the lingering tax takings to the Land Court's attention. Jacobs said she'd asked about the status of the properties and a few days later they were signed off. 

 

It wasn't just the four North Adams properties — the cases for three Perras holdings in Lanesborough that also had been in the court for years were closed, including Keeler Island. Another property on Holmes Road in Hinsdale is still in the court.  

 

The buildings at 116, 124 and 130 Church St., and a vacant lot on Arnold Place had been in tax title since 2017 when the city placed $12,000 in liens.