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Weekend Outlook: Holiday Outings and More

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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There will be plenty of events in the Berkshires this weekend including a holiday lights parade, live music, train rides, and more. 
 
Editor's Pick 
 
Adams Holiday Lights Parade 
3 Columbia St, Adams 
Time: 6 p.m.
 
The Adams Alert Hose Company/ Fire Department, Adams Forest Wardens Northern Berkshire EMS and the Adams Police Department will escort Santa around town for one last tour before the big night.
 
Santa has challenged each department to see who has the best decorated vehicle. Route information here
 
Friday 
 
Otan Vargas Performance 
Knox Trail Inn, Otis 
Time: 7 p.m. 
 
Otan will share a message about overcoming darkness through his music, which reflects themes of struggle, sorrow, and resilience. More information here
 
Holiday Party 
Dotties Coffee Lounge, Pittsfield 
Time: 6 to 10 p.m. 
 
There will be a performance by Code Blue Duo. The event will also feature giveaways, including gift certificates, Dottie's sweatshirts, and one-month subscriptions for free coffee/espresso drinks.
 
The dinner menu is available for $20. More information here
 
Ugly Sweater Contest 
Antimony Brewing, Lenox 
Time: 7 p.m. 
 
To celebrate National Ugly Sweater Day, the brewery is inviting patrons to wear their best ugly sweaters for a chance to win prizes, including gift cards, collector mugs, T-shirts, and more. 
 
Try some of the brewery's new releases, such as Peach Vanilla Ionic Sour IPA and Slipper Rock Imperial Stout while listening to live music by Pug & John. 
 
More information here
 
Karaoke Night
Dalton American Legion
Time: 7 to midnight
 
Sing your heart out to your favorite tunes and have a drink. More information here.  
 
Saturday 
 
The Mrs. Claus Cookie Express
Hoosac Valley Train Rides, Adams
Time: 1:30 and 3 p.m. 
 
Take a scenic ride on a train with the family. Each passenger will receive cookies from Mrs. Claus. Tickets range from $4 to $29. Space is limited. More information here
 
Lee Bell Choir
Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield 
Time: 2 p.m. 
 
The Lee First Congregational Bell Choir will be performing in the Crane Room among the museum's Festival of Trees. More information here
 
Winter Solstice: Restore & Renew
Berkshire Yoga Dance & Fitness, Pittsfield 
Time: 10:15 a.m. 
 
A winter solstice yoga experience with Nora Fenner will be offered both in-studio and online.
 
The class is designed to help release tension, clear away stress, and fully embrace the season of rest and renewal using gentle poses, soothing sounds of healing instruments, and a focus on self-care. 
 
Tickets are $30 per person and all passes and memberships are accepted. Pre-registration required. More information here.
 
Roxie's Howliday Market
Roxie's Barkery, North Adams 
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.n.
 
Shop from three small businesses to get stocking stuffers for your pups or friends who share in your love of dogs. The local pet supply store will open its doors to two other small businesses, GoodLife Sweets and Treats and Clay and Oak. 
 
More information here
 
Sunday 
 
Holiday Pop-up, Bakery, and Cafe
Adams Theater
Time: 7:30 a.m. to noon
 
The Shire Cottage will be selling a range of treats including macarons, cookie gift packs, whoopie pies, cinnamon rolls, and more. There will also be coffee from Tunnel City, hot chocolate, and a range of lattes, including espresso, peppermint mocha, gingerbread, peppermint, raspberry chai, and vanilla chai. 
 
Santa will stop by at 10 a.m. More information here
 
Winter Farmers Market
GreylockWorks, North Adams
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
 
Berkshire Grown's winter farmers' market offers locally-grown food, including fresh greens, winter squash, root crops, apples, meat, cheese, jam, honey and maple syrup, baked goods, and more. Local artisan crafters round out the market offerings, and each market features live music.
 
SNAP users receive a Market Match of up to $30 per market, and each market includes vendors with HIP-eligible products.
 
 More information here
 
Public Skate 
Boys & Girls Club of The Berkshires, Pittsfield 
Time: 3 p.m. 
 
Skate at the clubs ice skating rank. Tickets are cash only and cost $5 for members and $10 for non-members and adults
 
Skate Rentals are free. Space is limited. More information here
 
Grinch Brunch 
American Legion Post 160, Adams
Time: 8 a.m. to noon 
 
Meet the Grinch, wear festive holiday attire and have brunch to fundraise for the Top Tier Elite all-star cheerleading teams. Tickets are $15. More information here
 
Multiple Days
 
A Christmas Carol
The Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge
Time: Dec. 18 through 22 
 
Watch live on stage the classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, the infamous miser who is shown the error of his ways and reformed by four spirits. Tickets are $30 and up. More information here
 
Radiant Nights Festival 
Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield 
Dec. 7 through 31 
 
The village's multisensory holiday experience is back. Artist Joe Wheaton's video projections and audio experiences illuminate the museum's historic buildings. 
 
After taking in the approximate one-mile route of light installations, sound, exhibits, and images, guests are invited to visit the farm animals, relax by the fire pit, and enjoy a drink and specialty fare from a pop-up bar and the café operated by Woodlife Farm Market.
 
Admission is free for members and children under 12. More information here.  
 
Nightwood
The Mount, Lenox
Nov. 22 to Jan. 4: Weekends and select weekdays from 5 to 8 p.m.
 
The grounds of Edith Wharton's home is decked out with lights and music to provide an immersive experience to its visitors. This year, discover a new trail that takes you deeper into the woods, plus several new encounters that explore the lifecycle of trees. 
 
Tickets are free for community partners and EBT, WIC or ConnectorCare Card holders as part of the museum's NightWood Card to Culture program. 
 
Tickets are $27, youth between 13 and 18 are $12, and children 12 and younger are free. More information can be found here

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North Adams Schools Hike Substitute Wages to Increase Pool

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The public schools are hoping to recruit and retain substitute teachers by bumping up their pay. 
 
The School Committee earlier this month approved increasing the pay scale by $35 to $55 a day and creating a new base of $130 for substitutes with fewer credentials. 
 
"It's been very hard to get substitutes. Many substitutes sign up to sub in multiple districts, and so in order to remain competitive ... we really needed to kind of align our expectations for substitutes, as well as the salary with our neighboring districts," said Superintendent Barbara Malkas.
 
Nancy Rauscher, director of school finance and operations, said she had contacted business administrators at other schools to work out what they were paying substitutes.
 
"I did a blend, and it was Lenox, Mount Greylock and Hoosac Valley, and we're landing somewhere right in the middle," she said. "Mount Greylock is at the highest and then Lenox and Hoosac Valley are lower."
 
Mount Greylock is paying $210 for a certified/retired teacher, Hoosac $140 and Lenox $150, with less for just a college degree. North Adams has been paying a straight $115 per diem and $130 for permanent daily subs. 
 
The new scale increases the per diem and permanent to $150 with college degree or $170 for certified/retired teachers.
 
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