Adams, Williamstown Restaurants Close

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Two area eateries — one new and one long loved — have closed their doors in the last 24 hours. 
 
Angelina England announced on Facebook on Monday afternoon that Hot Tomatoes pizzeria would close permanently and that the Water Street building was up for sale. 
 
"After almost three decades of servicing the Berkshire Community and beyond I have decided that it is time for new adventures," she wrote. "Hot Tomatoes is so thankful to all of our loyal customers and countless employees that have sustained us throughout the years."
 
England and her husband, the late John T. England Jr., began serving up Neapolitan-style pizzas in 1994 and later ran a Hot Tomatoes on Tyler Street in Pittsfield for a decade until closing that three years ago. Her husband died in 2017 and their son, Matthew, had been managing the eatery.
 
The pizzeria had been closed for the season and was scheduled to reopen more than a week ago. 
 
"It may be possible that whoever purchases the property will continue the Hot Tomatoes brand," wrote England. "We can only hope the new owners are as happy with the property and location as much as we were."
 
The Adams Tavern on Commercial Street in Adams closed on Sunday after two months in business. The former Haflinger Haus had been renovated and its sign featured Sam Adams, for whom the town is named. The tavern offered pub food, entrees and a full bar. 
 
"It's with deep regret that we are closing our doors effective today," the owners wrote on Facebook on Sunday. "We have worked hard to try to make a comfortable, friendly environment where everyone can come and enjoy a meal and a drink. 
 
"Unfortunately we cannot continue to operate without enough business to justify it. As of today Sunday April 23rd we will no longer be operating. Thank you to all the people that have supported us over the last two months!"
 
The tavern had also advertised that the inn would reopen soon. The building has been a rest home, inn and restaurant over the years. 
 
A third restaurant, the Miss Adams Diner, closed several weeks ago and is also up for sale. 

Tags: business closing,   restaurants,   

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Menorah Lighting Begins 8 Days of Hanukkah, Thoughts of Gratitude

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff

Mia Wax gets some helping light as she works the controls. The full ceremony can be seen on iBerkshires' Facebook page
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — With a boost from her dad, Mia Wax on Wednesday turned on the first candle of the more than 12-foot tall menorah at the Williams Inn. 
 
Around 40 people attended the community lighting for the first night of Hanukkah, which fell this year on the same day as Christmas. They gathered in the snow around the glowing blue electric menorah even as the temperature hovered around 12 degrees.
 
"We had a small but dedicated group in North Adams, so this is unbelievable," said Rabbi Rachel Barenblat of Congregation Beth Israel in North Adams. "This is honestly unbelievable."
 
Barenblat had earlier observed the lighting of the city's menorah in City Hall, which the mayor opened briefly for the ceremony. 
 
In Williamstown, Rabbi Seth Wax, the Jewish chaplain at Williams College, with his daughter and her friend Rebecca Doret, spoke of the reasons for celebrating Hanukkah, sometimes referred to as the Festival of Lights. 
 
The two common ones, he said, are to mark the single unit of sacred olive oil that lasted eight days during the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem and the military victory over the invading Greeks.
 
"For the rabbis of antiquity, who created and shaped Judaism, these two events were considered to be miracles," said Wax. "They happened not because of what humans did on their own, but because of what something beyond them, what they called God, did on their behalf.
 
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