image description

Weekend Outlook: Farmers' Markets, Polish Dinners

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story
Berkshire County will be offering a variety of indoor and outdoor events this warm cloudy weekends including a dance party, comedy night, festivals, play reading, and museum activities. 
 
Williamstown Farmers Market
Spring Street, Williamstown
 
A sure sign of warmer days ahead is the opening of local farmers' markets. Williamstown's opens Saturday from 9 to 1 in the parking lot on the lower end of Spring Street. 
 
This year the market will feature new and returning vendors, including a fish monger, knife sharpener, baker, chef, and much more. 
 
Along with vendors, many new and returning musicians will perform and there will be plenty of tables and fresh food options — a perfect environment for socializing. 
 
Drawing Closer: Bestiary 
Clark Art Institute, Williamstown
 
The Clark will be having a drawing day on Friday when artists from all experience levels can participate in copying earlier artworks, practice fundamentals, or explore ideas. 
 
This month's theme, "Bestiary," features prints, drawings, and photographs that portray the animal kingdom. 
 
Admission to this activity is free with registration required. The activity runs from 11 to noon. All material will be provided. It should also be noted that artists who choose to bring their own supplies that only graphite pencils are allowed in the Study Center and museum galleries. 
 
Reading of Play – 'Mr. Fullerton, Between the Sheets'
Ventfort Hall, Lenox
 
Ventfort Hall is hosting a reading of Anne Undeland's newest play, "Mr. Fullerton, Between the Sheets" this Sunday at 7 p.m. 
 
The Berkshire cast and director Judy Braha will do a reading of the play about class differences and the complexity of human relationship through the retelling of Edith Wharton's actual mid-life romance. 
 
The play was produced in 2021 by Great Barrington Public Theater and was nominated for four Berkshire Theater Critics Association Awards. Since then it has been picked up by Gloucester Stage for a run this summer.
 
Ventfort Hall describes the play as "A literary and historical banquet of language, sex, mores and manners ... Mr. Fullerton sparkles with wit while it examines class differences and the complexity of human relationship. More than anything, the play makes us fall in love — with Edith Wharton, the people in her life, and best of all, her glorious writing."
 
Reservation is required and tickets are $25. Proof of vaccination and ID is required. More information and tickets here.
 
Springfest
Williamstown Youth Center, Williamstown
 
After a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic, the Williamstown Springfest is returning this Sunday at the Williamstown Youth Center, where families can enjoy food from the grill and outdoor activities for children.
 
This indoor and outdoor event will have games, bounce house, arts and crafts, and more from noon to 4.
 
Admission to the festival is free with donations accepted. All donations will help the center provide affordable programming for children throughout the year.
 
 
BSKE @ Holiday Inn
101 Restaurant & Bar, Pittsfield
 
BSKE Dance Community hosts a Latin Dance workshop by Luana and mixes by DJ Chico at the restaurant located at 1 West St.  
 
The event will start at 8 p.m. but participants are encouraged to come early and purchase dinner from the restaurant that is located on the second floor of the Holiday Inn. The entry fee for the dance party is $10 at the door and will accept cash or Venmo payments. 
 
For more information, visit the Facebook event page
 
Comedy @ Bright Ideas Brewing
Bright Ideas Brewing, North Adams
 
Bright Ideas Brewing on the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art campus holds its monthly comedy night at this Saturday start at 8.
 
The 90-minute event is produced by Iconix Productions in collaboration with Bright Ideas Brewing. Tickets are $10 to $15 and can be purchased here.
 
Polish Dinner/Dance
St. Charles Borromeo Church, Pittsfield 
 
St. Charles' Church at 89 Briggs Ave. celebrates Polish heritage with a Polish dinner and dance following the 4 p.m. Mass on Saturday. Dinner includes homemade white borscht and a traditional Polish plate with pierogi, kielbasa, bigos and golabki.  
 
Tickets are $18 for adults and $10 for teens; children age 11 and younger free.
 
Cruisin' for a Cure
Ioka Valley Farm, Hancock
 
Car show on Saturday 10 to 4 to raise funds for Hancock Volunteer Fire Department and the Relay For Life. Includes cars, truck, tractors, motorcycles and anything with a motor. There will be food, music, 50/50, raffles, door prices, trophy's and vendors!
The first 50 entries receive a dash plaque and goody bag. Vehicle and vendor registration $10; visitors $2 person. More information here

 


Tags: weekend outlook,   

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

Pittsfield Adopts Surveillance Tech Oversight Ordinance

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— After two years of preparation, the City Council has adopted a surveillance technology ordinance regarding police body cameras and other equipment.

On Tuesday, a petition from Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren amending the City Code by adding Chapter 18 ½, Surveillance Technology Oversight, was approved.  Warren has championed this effort since 2022— before a five-year contract with body and dash cams was approved.

The ordinance will take effect 180 days after its adoption.

It is based on the Town of Amherst's modified version of the City of Cambridge Ordinance that uses an American Civil Liberties Union model for community control surveillance technology.

"This has been an issue that lots of communities have been looking at, both in Massachusetts and outside of Massachusetts, dealing with software that has some surveillance capability that could possibly have some negative impact on our citizens," Warren said.

The purpose of the ordinance is to provide regulations for surveillance technology acquisition, use by the city, or the use of the surveillance data it provides to safeguard the right of individuals' privacy balanced with the need to promote and provide safety and security.  

It aims to avoid marginalized communities being disproportionately affected by the use of this technology.  Warren would not be surprised if this were encompassed in a statue for statewide standards.

"Police body cameras have the potential to serve as a much-needed police oversight tool at a time of a growing recognition that the United States has a real problem with police violence. But if the technology is to be effective at providing oversight, reducing police abuses, and increasing community trust, it is vital that they be deployed with good policies to ensure they accomplish those goals," the ACLU explains on its website.

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories