Flying Cloud Receives $8K Matching Challenge

Print Story | Email Story
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Flying Cloud Institute has received an $8,000 Matching Challenge Gift from a summer camp family. 
 
This will allow donations received by Flying Cloud on Giving Tuesday, which is December 3, 2024, to be doubled, up to $8,000.
 
The funds raised will enable Flying Cloud to run its innovative science and art programs at two local Berkshire County schools, offering in-school science residencies and after school workshops to area youth. 
 
Flying Cloud educators will lead project-based investigations and model the Next Generation Science Strategies for inquiry-based learning. They will bring local STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) professionals as expert resources to the classroom, along with local artists who help students express their learning through original, creative work such as sculpture, dance, poetry, painting or film.
 
"I can't thank you enough for the experience you gave my students this week. The empowered looks on their faces and in their voices was pure magic today," said Sue Garcia, Morningside Elementary School Science Specialist, after a recent residency program with Flying Cloud.
 
To donate to the matching challenge, visit flyingcloudinstitute.org on December 3, 2024.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Burlington Store Coming to Pittsfield

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A national retail clothing store will move into the recently shuttered Staples this summer.

Last week, the Zoning Board of Appeals approved a sign exemption for Burlington Stores, formerly Burlington Coat Factory. This allows the company to place a sign larger than 100 square feet on the space in Berkshire Crossing at 555 Hubbard Ave.

Burlington plans to install a nearly 147-square-foot sign on the storefront that reads "Burlington" with "Deals. Brands. WOW!" underneath. The sign will be internally illuminated by LED lights.

According to its website, the Pittsfield store will open on Aug. 22. In the fall, signs appeared on Staples' front window indicating it would close on Dec. 13.

"We have a hardship. We're tucked back in the corner so there's a visibility issue and we're also working with a logo that was designed in 1982 so, as you can see, there's a lot of negative space," a representative from the retail company said, explaining that it was looking for a little relief from the requirement.

Exemptions were previously granted for non-conforming signage on other storefronts in the 15.3-acre shopping center due to the need for increased visibility from the roadway. Section 6.7 of the sign ordinance allows the sign board (ZBA) to grant up to 50 percent more up to 150 square feet.

Burlington said the need for increased visibility is because of the 900-foot distance between the private road that leads to the store — and even further from Hubbard Avenue.

Currently, the closest stores are in Latham, N.Y., and Springfield. A store in the Holyoke Mall is set to reopen in Holyoke Crossing [the former Bed Bath & Beyond] at the end of February. 

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories