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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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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