St. Stanislaus School benefit, 9 to 4 in Kolbe Hall, Adams. Bake sale, snack bar, games, Chinese auctions, money raffle, crafts, and pierogi.
Blackinton Union Church, 1373 Massachusetts Ave., North Adams; 10 to 2. Crafts table, bake sale, Chinese auction, the Christmas table, and kid's grab bag. Lunch $4, $2 kids.
First Congregational Church, North Adams, 9-2.
Nov. 28 Becket Federated Church, Route 8, holiday bazaar from 9-3. Lunch, crafts, baked goods, holiday and other items. Information: Mary Peltier, Parish House, 413-623-5217.
Dec. 5
Holiday Fair at First Congregational Church, 25 Park Place, Lee, from 10 to 3; handcrafted items, raffles, children's shop, bake sale, cut Christmas trees and lunch from 11 to 1. Includes angel-themed goods from SERRV. Information, 413-243-1033 or www.ucc-lee.org.
Dec. 12-13
North Adams Country Club, crafts 9-4; food from That's a Wrap from 11-2. Information: Sheryl Morehouse at 413-822-3329.
Planning a bazaar this season? Submit information to info@iberkshires.com to have it listed here.
We're trying out blogs to offer shorter, easy-to-find news. Let us know what you think.
Send press releases and announcements to info@iberkshires.com. Need to contact someone at iBerkshires? Here's how.
Mammography Dispute The government's issued controversial new guidelines stating that women shouldn't get annual mammograms until age 50, rather than age 40.
iBerkshires will be meeting with local medical experts Monday. Have a question you'd like answered on this issue? Send it info@iberkshires.com with "mammogram" in the subject line.
Annual Windsor Pie Sale Benefits Historic Commission
By Noah Hoffenberg iBerkshires Correspondent 12:53PM / Monday, September 28, 2009
The East Windsor Chapel is one of the Windsor Historical Commission's preservation projects.
WINDSOR, Mass. — It's high time for pie time in the high peaks region of Berkshire County, as the Windsor Historical Commission will hold its annual pie sale next weekend.
The event will be held Oct. 4 from 11 to 3 p.m. at the Windsor Historical Commission on Route 9. The commission's home is an old farmhouse; it's been holding the event for some 20 years, said Deborah L. Balmuth, commission chairman.
The event is as much a community-builder as it is a fundraiser: All of the pies are baked and donated by Windsor residents.
"We call everybody in town and get everybody to participate in baking pies," said Balmuth.
In years prior, the commission has received about 100 donated pies, which are sold for $10 each. "We usually raise around $1,000 to $1,200."
There will be pie, naturally, plus a host of other offerings, including other foods, displays and a historic re-enactment.
"It's a great chance to see the inside of the museum, too," said Balmuth. "There's dioramas in there of early life in Windsor, as well as collections of things that were donated by people in town."
Some of the event will be held outside, such as the pie sale, to be located in the commission's timber-frame shed. Other goings-on will be held inside, such as exhibits in the museum and a cafe. "We hold a coffee shop right inside the museum," said Balmuth.
There will other items for sale, such as food from a grill and a history book written at the town's 1971 bicentennial. Baked goods — besides pies — will also be available for purchase.
At noon, there will be a re-enactment by Guy Morin, of Auburn, who will perform as a Massachusetts soldier from the French and Indian War.
"He'll appear as a fully uniformed, equipped provincial soldier," said Balmuth.
Morin, who applied for a grant from the Windsor Cultural Council, appeared last year for the commission's annual event.
Where the Money Goes
The money raised goes toward the operating costs for the commission, which include projects and building upkeep.
The most immediate need is repairing the roof on the commission and its shed.
"It's pretty bad. The roof has been falling off," said Balmuth. "We know we need to repair at least the shed part of it this fall. So it's pretty urgent. The house, we may do that next year. We may have to hire to do that."
For the work to be done this year, the commission will rely on volunteer efforts. Another project has been the organization and archiving of the town's historic photography collection.
The other main reason for raising money, said Balmuth, is for the repair and renovation of the town-owned East Windsor Chapel. The interior work there is just getting under way this week with a firm from Pittsfield; new wallboard makes up the majority of the interior work, a $4,000 job. The pie sale, plus savings, will go toward the cost.
About $5,000 has been put into the chapel over the past few years for renovations, and an additional $3,000 has been raised recently to continue repairs on the venerable building.
Roof work and foundation stabilizing were done two and four years ago, said Balmuth, who noted that the building will eventually be wired. Now it relies on a friendly neighbor's extension cord. Plumping is unlikely, she said.
"Our aim is [to have the work done] for the anniversary," said Balmuth. The church was opened in 1911; the commission is hoping for a series of events for the 100th anniversary in 2011.
For more information or to donate a pie, contact Balmuth at 413-684-4535.
