Berkshire Museum Wine Auction Raises $242K at Record Breaking Auction

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Scott Wurcer of Cambridge, Mass., bids at the live auction. (Photo by Gregory Cherin)
The Berkshire Museum raised $242,000 Saturday at its biennial wine auction, “The Art of Wine: Past, Present, and Futures,” beating the record set at the previous auction in 2005. Proceeds from the fundraiser benefit year-round educational programs at the Berkshire Museum. “We are thrilled with the show of support from this weekend’s event,” said Stuart A. Chase, executive director of the Berkshire Museum. “Not only are the funds raised essential to our year-round operation, but the event itself was great fun. We are very grateful to the volunteer committee, to the many businesses and individuals who donated lots to the live and silent auctions, to the event sponsors, to the ticket buyers, and to the bidders.” Saturday's total represents an increase of nearly $51,000 over the gross of the 2005 auction. Nearly 300 people attended Saturday’s event and sipped Taittinger champagne as Jamie Ritchie of Sotheby’s, Inc., auctioned 42 live lots. The top live lot was “A Philanthropist for One Year, which was a “bid to fund” lot for a total of $20,000. Multiple bidders joined together to give in amounts ranging from $250 to $2500 each for the lot, an opportunity to underwrite “Connected for Success,” the Berkshire Museum’s educational program for at-risk students. An additional 143 lots were sold at silent auction. In his opening remarks, Chase thanked sponsors Lyon Aviation, Country Dining Room Antiques, Nejaime’s Wine Cellars, Alan’s Wine Cellar, and Excelsior Printing. He also thanked wine gala co-chairs, Sheila and Mike Chefetz and Heidi and Jim Nejaime, silent auction chairs Judy and Manny Yvars, gift bag chairs Katherine and Lee Abraham, catering chairs Suzanne and Kenneth Nash, and the entire volunteer committee. “The wine auction is a moment to celebrate the illustrious past, remarkable present, and exciting future of the Berkshire Museum, said Sheila Chefetz, event co-chair of the wine auction and president of the Berkshire Museum board, telling the crowd: “As we build for the future of the Berkshire Museum, your support for education is more important than ever. The Berkshire Museum is a leader in education in our region, and this event provides crucial support for this leadership.” The wine related festivities continue at the Berkshire Museum into the month of June. The tablescape “The Art of Dining,” featuring rarely seen decorative arts from the Berkshire Museum and 24 place settings inspired by famous artists, is on view through May 26. The exhibition The Art of Wine, on view through June 17, comprises original works of art created for wine labels, including works by Sol Lewitt, Francis Picabia, Jody Hewitt, and others. Also on view through June 17 are The Art of Food, featuring art and decorative arts from ancient Rome to the present, and The Photographers of Berkshire Living featuring non-editorial work by five Berkshire photographers. On Sunday, June 3, at 2 p.m., the Berkshire Museum will present the lecture and wine tasting “Wine Words.” Mary Ewing Mulligan and Ed McCarthy, authors of Wine for Dummies, will give an introduction to wine terms at the Berkshire Museum, followed by a tasting at Brix Wine Bar in Pittsfield. The lecture is free with Berkshire Museum admission; the wine tasting is $25 ($20 members) and includes the lecture. Space is limited and reservations are recommended. To order tickets, call 413-443-7171, extension 10. The Berkshire Museum is located at 39 South Street on Route 7 in Downtown Pittsfield. The galleries are open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays noon to 5 p.m. For more information, contact the Berkshire Museum at (413) 443-7171, ext. 10, or visit www.berkshiremuseum.org
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Pittsfield Cannabis Cultivator Plans Dispensary

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD. Mass. — A cannabis cultivator and manufacturer has opted to sell its products on site in Downing Parkway. 

The Zoning Board of Appeals this month approved a special permit for J-B.A.M. Inc. to operate a dispensary out of its existing grow facility. There will only be changes to the interior of 71 Downing Parkway, as there will be less than 500 square feet of retail space in the 20,000-square-foot building. 

"My only concern would be the impact, and really would be traffic, which I don't think is excessive, the odor, if there was one, but that doesn't seem to be an issue, and I think it's a good location for a marijuana facility," board member Thomas Goggins said. 

The company's indoor cultivation site plan was approved in 2019, an amendment to add manufacturing and processing in 2021, and on the prior day, a new site plan to add a retail dispensary was approved by the Community Development Board. 

J-B.A.M. cannabis products are available in local dispensaries. 

The interior of the facility will be divided to accommodate an enclosed check-in area, front entrance, retail lobby, secure storage room, offices, and two bathrooms. There are 27 parking spaces for the facility, which is sufficient for the use. 

No medical or recreational cannabis uses are permitted within 500 feet of a school or daycare, a setback that is met, and the space is within an industrial park at the end of a cul-de-sac. 

"The applicant desires the restructuring of the business to be more competitive in the industry with the ability to grow and sell their own cannabis products so they have more financial stability," Chair Albert Ingegni III, read from the application. 

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