image description

Berkshire Museum Drops Pandemic Restrictions

Print Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Museum has suspended its mask and vaccine requirements for visitors. Starting Monday, guests will not be required to wear masks nor show proof of vaccination.
 
This move follows guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and state and city health officials, who are no advising that indoor masking is no longer required because positive cases of COVID-19 have dramatically declined since the holidays. 
 
The museum is among the first to drop all pandemic restrictions; a number of Berkshire institutions are still requiring masks and/or proof of vaccination, at least as of Monday. Public schools have already dropped their masking requirements or have set dates for those mandates to expire. 
 
Pittsfield has dropped from red to yellow in this incident rate level and is reporting about 50 active cases in the city. About 76 percent of residents are now vaccinated. 
 
Museum staff will continue to wear face coverings and encourage any unvaccinated visitors or those who have a weakened immune system or are at increased risk for severe disease due to age or an underlying medical condition or have someone in their household with a weakened immune system, to do the same, as recommended by public health officials. 
 
"As we have done throughout the pandemic, we are following scientific evidence, striving to be good neighbors and community members, and adhering to the standards put forth by city and county leaders, and our public schools. We will continue to do so and recognize that this may be a temporary loosening of restrictions. We're all in this together, and we will continue to provide wonderful programming and exhibits to the entire community according to guidance from public health officials," according to a statement by co-Executive Directors Hilary Ferrone, Miriam Kronberg, and Craig Langlois. "We are grateful for the community's support and understanding of our previous admission restrictions as we sought to make every visitor's museum experience as safe as possible."
 
The museum's current exhibit is "Voyage to the Deep," based on French author Jules Verne's 1870 classic "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." At the center of this fantasy world is Captain Nemo's submarine, a giant Nautilus in which kids can climb aboard and discover the inner workings of a deep-sea submersible and explore the captain's Cabinet of Curiosities full of marine specimens.
 
Adults only can party at the "(un)Beach Bash!" on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. with Voyage to the Deep and the White Eyed Lizard Band. Tickets includes marine-inspired nibbles, tropical spirits, and a steel drum band. Admission is $50; members $40. 

Tags: COVID-19,   masks,   


More Coronavirus Updates

Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 news:


If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Dalton Association Purchasing Ladder Truck for Fire Department

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. —The Fire Department may once again have a ladder truck thanks to a donation from the Dalton Fireman's Association. 
 
During the Board of Water Commissioners meeting on Monday, the donation was presented to the board by interim Chief Chris Cachat. 
 
The department has been without a ladder truck for two years. It's had two ladder trucks since its establishment and both were obtained from other departments. 
 
"We brought them to town, we made them our own, and a lot of people put a lot of hard work into it, and it became part of us … It really took the hit of morale when we didn't have our ladder truck anymore, and it kind of lingered for a year or so," Cachat said. 
 
"We understand the financial responsibilities we have towards the district and the taxpayers of Dalton. We had a meeting with our Dalton Firemen's Association, and we discussed possibilities of what we could possibly do to help out the district, the town of Dalton, and the Fire Department." 
 
The association decided to donate the funds generated by its fundraising efforts, including the carnival, and use it to purchase a ladder truck, he said.  
 
"We would be very proud to accept that truck. We know how much the association means to the Dalton Fire Department and the citizens of Dalton. You guys have always stepped up," board Chair James Driscoll said.
 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories