Berkshire County will be offering a variety of indoor and outdoor events this hot cloudy weekend including museum activities, concerts, fundraising walks, and farmers markets.
Third Thursday
Pittsfield Common, East Street
Third Thursday runs from 5 to 8 p.m. on the Common after a two-year hiatus.
This month's theme is youth and the evening will include entertainment on the mainstage and activities, food and vendors.
The presenting sponsor is General Dynamics Mission Systems, which will offer catapult building using household objects; the Flying Cloud Institute and Berkshire Art and Technology Charter School with also be offering interactive STEAM experiments.
Some highlights will be screen printing of a custom Pittsfield poster with the Blog Bus; crafts and more with Berkshire Macaroni Kid; pottery wheel demos with Jim Horsford; the Berkshire Athenaeum Book Bike; Thistle & Thorn Floral and the Plant Connector.
The Pittsfield High School Orchestra performs at the Foundry, located at 2 Harris St., this Friday at 6 p.m.
The concert is directed by Alla Zernitskaya with solo performances by PHS seniors Leila Paredes and Joseph Weinberg.
The students will be performing a variety of works including major chamber works and pieces from professional and individual artists.
The orchestra has been awarded for most original music selection and has performed in venues including Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood and the David Geffen Hall Stage at Lincoln Center.
Admission for the event is free and seating and bar open at 5 p.m. All guests will be required to wear a mask when they are not eating or drinking and proof of vaccination will be required at the door.
Arlo Guthrie's 'Historic Garbage Trail Walk to Massacree'
The Guthrie Center, Great Barrington
The annual fundraising walk for Huntington's disease that has raised more than $185,000 to support related causes returns in person this Sunday with registration beginning at 8:45 a.m.
The goal is to raise funds for lesser recognized Huntington-related charities, especially newer ones.
Registration is free with a $25 donation option to receive a 2022 HD Walk T-shirt. Registration will be taking place at the Guthrie Center until 9:45 a.m.
After registering, participants will get a ride to Theresa's Stockbridge Cafe, where they will be presented with a free continental breakfast. The walk will begin at 10.
There will be stops along the way with water, refreshments, music and small parties, as well as fingerprinting on a souvenir card at the police station. A light lunch and music will follow at the Old Trinity Church.
For those who are unable to complete the 6-mile course, there will be Volkswagen drivers circulating along the route to drive participants back to the center to await the arrival of the fellow walkers.
Museum of Vintage Trail Bikes, located at 192 Henry Wood Road, will be having an open house this Saturday starting at 11 a.m.
Participants will have the opportunity to see vintage motorcycles, boots, and trophies from races past collected by owner, restorer, and curator Jim Hoellerich.
Hoellerich collection is vast and consists of antique and hard to find motorcycles from a variety of manufacturers.
"Inside are more than 80 antique OSSAs and more than a half-dozen Bultacos, as well as hard to find marquees such as Penton, Dalesman, Yankee and Rokon, brands that are likely unfamiliar to street riders. Just how many bikes Hoellerich has is hard to peg because he's always adding more," Motorcycle Classics wrote in "Destinations: Museum of Vintage Trail Bikes, Cheshire, Massachusetts."
Ghost Tours with Robert Oakes
Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum, Lenox
Author of "Ghosts of the Berkshires" Robert Oakes is leading a tour through the historic estate while sharing stories of the hauntings.
"Stand in the places where the eerie encounters occurred, listen to the first-hand accounts of those who experienced them, and maybe even experience something unusual yourself. This is not an active investigation," Ventfort Hall's website says.
Reservations are required and tickets are non-refundable or exchangeable. Proof of vaccination is also required. Participants must be 12 years or older and cost $27. Tickets can be purchased by calling .413-637-3206. For more information, visit Ventfort Hall's website.
Farmers Markets
Pittsfield Farmers Market
The Common, Pittsfield
Powered by Roots Rising, the market will be open this and every Saturday rain or shine from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. until Oct. 8.
Each week the market will have fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables, along with meat, eggs, cheese, baked goods by local vendors. Participants can shop for flowers, and artisan goods while listening to music and participate in family activities.
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Pittsfield City Council Weighs in on 'Crisis' in Public Schools
By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
A half-dozen people addressed the City Council from the floor of Monday's meeting, including Valerie Anderson, right.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — After expressing anger and outrage and making numerous calls for accountability and transparency, the 11 members of the City Council on Monday voted to support the School Committee in seeking an independent investigation into allegations of misconduct by staff members at Pittsfield High School that have come to light in recent weeks.
At the close of a month that has seen three PHS administrators put on administrative leave, including one who was arrested on drug trafficking charges, the revelation that the district is facing a civil lawsuit over inappropriate conduct by a former teacher and that a staff member who left earlier in the year is also under investigation at his current workplace, the majority of the council felt compelled to speak up about the situation.
"While the City Council does not have jurisdiction over the schools … we have a duty to raise our voices and amplify your concerns and ensure this crisis is met with the urgency it demands," Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey said.
About two dozen community members attended the special meeting of the council, which had a single agenda item.
Four of the councilors precipitated the meeting with a motion that the council join the School Committee in its search for an investigation and that the council, "be included in the delivery of any disclosures, interim reports or findings submitted to the city."
Last week, the School Committee decided to launch that investigation. On Monday, City Council President Peter White said the School Committee has a meeting scheduled for Dec. 30 to authorize its chair to enter negotiations with the Springfield law firm of Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas to conduct that probe.
Ward 7 Councilor Rhonda Serre, the principal author of the motion of support, was one of several members who noted that the investigation process will take time, and she, like Kavey, acknowledged that the council has no power over the public schools beyond its approval of the annual district budget.
The 11 members of the City Council on Monday voted to support the School Committee in seeking an independent investigation into allegations of misconduct by staff members at Pittsfield High School that have come to light in recent weeks. click for more
The committee requested that the graphic designer change the font used in the "Est. 2024" text to a bolder and taller one because the selected font is barely legible.
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No injuries were reported after firefighters extinguished a fire in a two-story detached barn and garage at 566 South St. early Sunday morning. click for more
This project aims to enhance and expand the ability for eligible BRTA Paratransit customers, that require an accessible vehicle for travel in the evenings to destinations within these communities. click for more