North Adams Package Store Changing Hands Again

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. —The License Commission on Tuesday approved the transfer of a beer/wine package store license for Dave's Package Store. 
 
The license will be held by North Adams Package LLC, which will continue doing business as Dave's. 
 
 Avatar Grang of North Adams, the new manager, told the commissioners that the hours and drive-up window will remain the same and that he and one other would be working in the store. 
 
 Grang said he did not have experience with running an alcohol store "over here" but was cognizant of the state's liquor laws. He said he was looking to expand his interests. 
 
"I have a business in location in New York, OK, and I'm friends with Abbas for a long time," he said, referring to Abbas Choudhry, who purchased the business and property more than a year ago as Shahmir Properties LLC.
 
Choudhry, who attended the meeting, said he would stay on until Grang was approved for the license at the state level. 
 
Commissioner Rosemari Dickinson pointed out several errors and typos on the application that she recommended be corrected, including adding in the continued use of the drive-through, before being submitted to the state. She said state inspectors would return the papers or call about anything out of place. 
 
The commissioners told Grang there had been no complaints about the operation of the package store and that if he continued it in the same way, he should have no issues. Grang said he would be careful about carding and has a security system. 
 
The commission also approved a one-day beer and wine license for Tammy Smith for a wedding reception on Sept. 7 at Norad Mill.

Tags: license board,   alcohol license,   package stores,   

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Greylock School Geothermal Funding Raises Eyebrows

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — As the Greylock School project moves into Module 6 — design development — there's a nagging question related to the geothermal system. 
 
There's been concern as to whether the system will work at the site and now a second concern is if it will be funded. 
 
The first question is so far partially answered based on investigative drilling at the closed school over the last week, said Jesse Saylor of TSKP Studio. 
 
"There was the potential that we couldn't drill at all, frankly, from the stories we were hearing, but ... we had a good we had a good experience here," he told the School Building Committee on Tuesday. "It is not an ideal experience, but it's pretty good. We can drill quickly, and the cost to drill, we don't expect will be that high."
 
He had spoken with the driller and the rough estimate he was given was "reasonable relative to our estimate." The drilling reached a depth of 440 feet below grade and was stopped at that point because the water pressure was so high. 
 
The bedrock is deep, about 200 feet, so more wells may be needed as the bedrock has a higher conductivity of heat. This will be clearer within a week or so, once all the data is reviewed. 
 
"Just understanding that conductivity will really either confirm our design and assumptions to date, it may just modify them slightly, or it's still possible that it could be a big change," Saylor said. 
 
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