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Cascade School Supplies Vice President Todd Shafer stands in the company's warehouse on Brown Street with some of the items for sale next week.
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Games and more will be available.
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While geared to educators, there's plenty of choices for stocking stuffers this holiday season.
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Cascade School Supplies Sets Warehouse Tag Sale

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
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It's been years since the Cascade held a tag sale,  which had been an annual event. That means plenty of merchandise to sort through, say company officials. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Cascade School Supplies is bringing back its warehouse tag sale after an absence of years.
 
"The Cascade tag sale is a long-standing community tradition where we open our warehouse to educators and the public to offer school, office and art supplies for pennies on the dollar," said Vice President Todd Shafer. "The event ran for many years, and we're excited to bring it back."
 
The company has been in the business of supplying schools with everything from pens and paper to desks and bulletin boards for 90 years. 
 
Shafer said the family-owned company has been doing a lot of renovations and upgrades and hasn't able to organize the tag sale, but is now ready to bring it back "bigger than ever."
 
"Since it hasn't happened for several years, we've accumulated more stock than ever, so this felt like the perfect time to reintroduce it," he said. "Our goal is to support our education community locally, while creating a fun, accessible event for everyone."
 
The tag sale will be held from Wednesday, Dec. 10, through Saturday, Dec. 13, with hours from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday; 11 to 8 on Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The event is open to the public to search through the 10,000-square-foot area at 1 Brown St.
 
Five people won a contest to get into the tag sale early on Tuesday, Dec. 9, from 4 to 6 p.m.
 
"Everyone is able to come tag sales ... teachers have historically been the primary audience, but we want this one to be a true community event," said Shafer. "So we're hoping that we see educators, artists, office workers, parents, students, hobbyists. Anyone looking for us for supplies or unique items is welcome. There's something for everyone here."
 
Thousands of items will be put out for sale, including many school and office supplies and some office furniture. Shafer suggests buyers come more than once since new items will be put out daily.
 
"Don't even know how much is going to end up out there, because we haven't even pulled everything that we're going to put out there yet," he said. "We'll keep adding things as the sale progresses. So what's ready to go on the shelves now may not be all that there is, because we're going to be bringing stuff out as we go."
 
Admission is a non-perishable food item to support the local food pantry or $2 at the door. Children admitted free.
 
"To help support the community, we're asking attendees to bring one non-perishable food item as their entry fee. These donations are going to go directly to the Al Nelson Friendship Center Food Pantry," he said.
 
Shafer said he hopes this helps the community come together and people get needed supplies in an affordable way, as many of the items will be a dollar or less.
 
"We want this to feel like a community celebration and chance for teachers to stock their classrooms affordably, for families to find great deals during the holiday season and for neighbors to come together while supporting a local cause," he said. 
 
"Bringing back the tag sale is our way of reconnecting with the community and continuing a tradition that people have always loved."
 
Cascade will accept cash or card and educators should bring their tax-exempt certificate to avoid the tax. 
 
Shafer also said to pay attention to the company's Facebook for updates.

Tags: school supplies,   tag sales,   

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Clarksburg Students Write in Support of Rural School Aid

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

Mason Langenback calculated that Clarksburg would get almost $1 million if the $60 million was allocated equally.
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Eighth-graders at Clarksburg School took a lesson in civic advocacy this week, researching school funding and writing letters to Beacon Hill that call for fully funding rural school aid. 
 
The students focused on the hardships for small rural schools and their importance to the community — that they struggle with limited funding and teacher shortages, but offer safe and supportive spaces for learning and are a hub for community connections.
 
"They all address the main issue, the funding for rural schools, and how there's a gap, and there's the $4 million gap this year, and then it's about the $40 million next year, and that rural schools need that equitable funding," said social studies teacher Mark Karhan.
 
A rural schools report in 2022 found smaller school districts cost from nearly 17 percent to 23 percent more to operate, and recommended "at least" $60 million be appropriated annually for rural school aid. 
 
Gov. Maura Healey has filed for more Chapter 70 school aid, but that often is little help to small rural schools with declining or static enrollment. For fiscal 2027, she's budgeted $20 million for rural schools, up from around $13 million this year but still far below the hoped for $60 million. 
 
Karhan said the class was broken into four groups and the students were provided a submission letter from Rural Schools Advocacy. The students used the first paragraph, which laid out the funding facts, and then did research and wrote their own letters. 
 
They will submit those with a school picture to the governor. 
 
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