Other
Donations: Where to Take
Books
Goodwill
Berkshire Botanical Gardens for their event in October.
Donation box at Sheffield Senior Center (25 Cook Rd, just off Rte 7)
Clothes & Fabric
Brides' dresses, other fancy dresses: Operation Love My Dress at www.facebook.com/OperationLoveMyDress, or call 413-584-4800 (a hotel in Springfield).
CHP Community building in Great Barrington has a clothing exchange (or swap) for babies' and children's clothes. Or just donate. www.chpberkshires.org/locations/great-barrington-health-center/
Construct will take linens, and similar items to set up an apartment.
Goodwill, in Gt Barrington (Rte 7, at former Sears store).
MA charity Cradles to Crayons to benefit children ages 0-12 in our state and community. Anything that is not stained or torn is welcome (some 12-year-olds are almost full grown, so small adult clothing and shoes may be appropriate).
Clothing and fabric left in the garbage pail in the Recycle Shed at our Transfer Station will end up with Goodwill if no one from Egremont takes it.
Do not leave in collection boxes in GB. They shred perfectly good clothing and sell it for rags, etc.
Eyeglasses
Volunteers in Medicine, 777 South Main Street (next to GB Bagel).
Berkshire Eye Center on Stockbridge Rd (they don't want cases).
Furniture
Stanton Home, www.stantonhome.org, 528-0506. With 6 or 7 houses in the area for adults with disabilities, they can always use a refresh on furniture. They will pick up. (12/20)
Construct, Construct, https://constructinc.org/, 528-2985. They help provide homeless people with homes. (12/20)
Goodwill in Pittsfield.
Elizabeth Freeman Center for victims of domestic and sexual violence (in Pittsfield). 413-499-2425.
Brien Center: Berkshire County’s largest provider of behavioral health and addiction services, www.briencenter.org. Often looking for furniture, will often pick up. (12/20)
Vinyl Records
Rob's Records, Railroad St in GB, 413-854-7972. (7/21)
Sports Equipment
Instant Replay, Pittsfield, 413-442-2429, instantreplay599@aol.com. Best to photograph the items and text or email the photos to the store so they can evaluate. (8/23)
Toys
CHP in Great Barrington, www.chpberkshires.org. Please call first.
Entertainment
Roger the Jester, 413-329-8806, roger@ijest.com. French Park events, private parties, etc. Always a fun time! (10/17, 4/24)
Fire Extinguishers
Pittsfield Fire & Safety Co., 107 Mill St., 413-442-8833. For recharge.
They typically don't recharge the little ones, which are often too old anyway. To get rid of it, discharge it into a bag. Once there's no more pressure on it (pull the trigger to make sure), take the top off and empty the powder into a bag. You can save the bag in case of a chimney fire (throw the bag down the chimney). The powder is baking soda (but don't use it for baking!). Then throw the empty canister (minus its top, if you can remove it) into the metal-recycling bin at the Transfer Station. And buy a new small-size extinguisher. If you can't remove the top (so can't empty the powder), don't worry -- just toss into the metal-recycling bin.
Flag, American, Where To Retire
VFW, 800 South Main, GB.
Jewelry Appraisal
Walter McTeigue, 413.449.5275, mctandco.com. Still doing appraisals as of 1/23.
Charland Jewelers, Pittsfield, http://www.charlandjewelers.biz/. Mark is amazing and the son of “Joe” of Joseph Jewelers. (12/22)
Lennox Jewelers in GB, ask for Dino, https://www.lennoxjewelers.com/. (12/22)
Knife & Scissors & Tool Sharpening
Big Y butcher sharpens knives at no charge.
Competitive Edge Sharpening, 510-673-7619, thecompetitiveedge@att.net. I send him my fabric scissors, and he mails them back. Turn around was FAST and I would use him again. I paid $8.73 sharpening and $7.20 shipping. (7/19)
Robert Twing, 413-429-1937, robert_twing@yahoo.com, after 5:30 or text any time. Hartsville--New Marlborough Rd. All kinds of tools: lopper, axe, shovel, blades, etc. Extra charge for excessive rust removal, repair. (6/22)
Jesse Blumenthal. Contact by emailing his dad, Ron, at mgstf5144@gmail.com. Jesse has several professional sharpening jigs and machines, and he sharpens professional chefs' and home cooks' knives and woodworking tools. Many satisfied clients in South County. (9/21)
Home chef, across from the General Store in Hillsdale, https://hillsdalegeneralstore.com/home-chef/, 518-325-7000. They do a a great job. (8/22)
Jesse Blumenthal, 413-329-2927, jesse.is.outside@gmail.com. Has a grinder and does the best job I’ve ever seen. (8/22)
"Nick the Knife," aka Nick Jacobs, Cornwall, CT. www.facebook.com/nicksharpener. He makes house-calls. He's often up in this area; a couple of Egremont house-call appts is possible. Also can find him knife & tool sharpening most summer Saturdays 10am-1pm at the Farmer's Market in front of the Wish House shop in W Cornwall. (8/22)
Locksmiths
After hours: Lock Shop, Dalton Ave., Pittsfield. 443-2738. They will come to Egremont. Very nice. ($90) (1/14)
Norbert’s Locksmith Service, in GB. Exceptionally responsible and fair. 528-2221. They handle emergencies, too. (10/15, 10/16)
Locked your keys in your car? Call the Egremont PD, 528-2160. They'll open your car, free. (9/16, 9/21)
Metal Work, Welding
John Graney (J.F. Graney Metal Design), on Route 7 in Sheffield (just south of GB), www.graneymetaldesign.com, 528-6744. Extraordinary! (5/22) [RETIRED!]
Del Martin, Monterey, www.knoxtrailforge.com/ironwork.html. Beautiful work. (5/23)
Movers
Riley's Furniture & Flooring. 518-789-4641, Millerton, NY. Gregmriley@comcast.net He moved me from NYC. Fairly priced, lively, and excellent job. Family business. (7/15)
Whalen Moving and Storage. 860-542-5687 Norfolk, CT. Cheapest of the 5 places I called. Great experience. (7/15)
All-Ways Moving & Storage in Pittsfield, www.allwaysmovingstorage.com 413-499-1577 We were completely satisfied (in 1998). (10/15)
Arnoff in Millerton. We've always been satisfied. 518-789-3100 (10/15)
Morgan Piano Movers, in GB, 413-644-9808. Not just pianos! Recommended for valuable antiques. (5/17)
John Coyle, of Berkshire Removalist. 413-429-6508, Johnjcoyle@gmail.com. Went straight to work without breaks. Fast, careful, affordable. Highly recommended! Best work ethic I have seen in a long time. (7/17) Moved furniture from Manhattan to Egremont. Terrific! (8/18, 4/19) [Update: not returning calls in early 2021.]
Ben Andersen, Outward Bound in Sheffield. 413-854-3676. They move all sorts of things. (2/18)
Five College Movers, move@fivecollegemovers.com, 413-687-1738. (7/19)
Gregory Riley, 860-480-5222. (9/19)
Steve Kahn of Top Quality, 860-379-3424. (9/19)
Casey Movers, 781-871-1190. (9/19)
Copake Auction House, https://www.copakeauction.com/buying/pickup-shipping-storage/. (9/19)
Karl Saliter, of Karl On Wheels, 860-499-0406. (1) I know and trust him. He works for several artists as well as moving furniture. (2) I had a good experience with Lee of Karl on Wheels, though it took several calls to book. I recommend them for small or medium sized, local, fairly easy jobs. It's not a huge van. They charged me an hour for travel, but at $65 an hour for both man and van, that was OK. Only way to do it cheaper is to rent a truck and hire someone for a low rate. Plus they have all the moving gear, and are insured, which helps. Would definitely hire again. (6/20, 1/21)
Maybey's Moving & Storage, call Michael Ghent at 518-365-2025, or main office 518-283-0017. Might be good for a small load to a distance from the Berkshires. (3/22)
Camel Moving and Storage, 413-232-4420, 800-875-4425, camelmovingma@yahoo.com Very professional, meticulous, on-time, and fair-priced. (5/19, 11/22)
Outward Bound Courier Logistics (Dalton), 413-854-3676. Interstate freight carrier. Trustworthy, well organized. Small loads as well as large. (5/23)
Shane Honeyman, 518-598-9898, movinglaborinfo@gmail.com. The best! Very well organized, on schedule and (slightly) below budget. I recommend him! Extremely responsive, he arrived with two strong and strategic movers the next day to do the job. Very happy with the price and professionalism. Easy to work with and willing to do a small job on short notice. (latest: 3/24)
Another Idea for Moving Stuff: U-Haul Box: When our daughter went to Napa three years ago, it cost us about $1400 (probably more now). Pick up the box yourself (needs truck with hitch), fill it, and return it, OR they will deliver and pick up for a fee. It comes with a dozen moving pads. At the destination, my daughter paid the guys there to move everything into her apartment.
We used U-Haul out of Westfield, MA, in 2014, but last month when we used Westfield again for our son in Florida, they had the box delivered to us from Meadow Farm Market on Pleasant Street in Lee. Perhaps deal directly through them? (4/17)
Pool-Table Service
Lucchesi in Springfield. http://lucchesibilliards.com/ Billiards, table shuffleboard and all the other fun grown-up rec room stuff. (9/18)
Scams (Reporting of)
Fake IRS phone calls: www.irs.gov/uac/report-phishing
Shredding Documents
Salisbury Bank does it at many branches yearly. Check their website for a schedule: www.salisburybank.com
Staples. They weigh it and have you put it into a locked box which is then picked up and shredded. Cost is 1$/ pound.
Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs -- Help in Setting Up
Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network, www.msbdc.org/berkshire. Free ongoing coaching and many other valuable resources. Office in downtown Pittsfield. High rec. (5/23)
1Berkshire, https://1berkshire.com/1berkshire-programs/. They have a number of programs for small businesses and entrepreneurs. High rec. (5/23)
Watch Batteries, Straps
Lennox Jewelers, Main St, GB, 413-717-4239. (8/22)