Berkshire County is hosting a variety of events this weekend including First Friday events, Day of the Dead celebrations, and more.
Find all the craft fairs and harvest festivals here.
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Day of the Dead Celebration
Mass MoCA, North Adams
Time: Thursday at 5 p.m.
Start your weekend early at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art to celebrate Día De Los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead.
Remember and celebrate the memories of friends, pets, and family members who have passed. This free event features hot chocolate from Casita, music by Yo Soy Arte, and more.
Participants have the option to either add tokens and photos of loved ones to the Ofrenda or craft a new token using the materials provided.
An ofrenda is a traditional offering typically placed in a home altar during the annual Mexican Día de los Muertos celebration.
There will also be an opportunity to visit the R&D Store and meet Sara Bader, the artist-in-residence and author of "The Book of Pet Love & Loss" and Alison Pebworth, who will create spirit drawings of attendees. Register for the artist in residence meet and greet here.
The night will feature a variety of activities at various locations downtown, including face painting, live music, food trucks, gallery openings, s'mores, and more.
There will also be a pumpkin smash opportunity. Attendees are encouraged to bring their unbleached and unpainted Halloween pumpkins downtown to smash into the Second Chance Composting truck.
It's the first Friday of the month, art enthusiasts know what that means — the city's First Friday Artwalk.
The event features a dozen art shows and exhibits on view at venues around downtown Pittsfield. Most of the art is on display throughout Nov.
During the event, participants will have the opportunity to meet the artists. Download the Downtown Pittsfield Inc. app from the Google Play or App Store to get a virtual walking tour.
Participating venues include Soma's Aromas, Clock Tower Artists, Marketplace Cafe,
Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, and more.
For a complete list of participating venues and artists visit the Art Walk website.
Comedy Show
The Foundry, West Stockbridge
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Boston-based comics, Mike Petit and Carolyn Plummer will be performing. Tickets cost $35.
Petit is an entertainment professional who launched his career in the Boston radio market over 30 years ago. Since then, he has become a headlining comedian on the national stage.
Plummer has been a comedian for more than 25 years and pulls her material from day to day life.
The North Adams cidery at GreylockWorks is participating in the 29th annual Cider Days community celebration that takes place in various locations throughout Franklin County, featuring tours, cider making and tastings, workshops, and more.
The Berkshire County venue also features a chili cookoff co-hosted with the Break Room. More information here.
Music at the Manton
Clark Art Institute, Williamstown
Time: 7 to 8:45 p.m.
Brooklyn folk singer, composer-improviser, and musicologist Miriam Elhajli and Williams College artist-in-residence Tendai Muparutsa will perform. Tickets range from $5 to $10. More information here.
Comedy @ Bright Ideas Brewing
Bright Ideas Brewing, North Adams
Time: 8 p.m.
Laugh over a drink at Bright Ideas located on the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Arts campus. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased here.
Deadfall II Music & Arts Fest
The Stationery Factory, Dalton
Time: 3 to 11 p.m.
There will be a music and art festival featuring national, regional, and local bands including Rev Tor's Dead Man's Waltz, Jen Durkin's Steal Your Funk and more. There will be musical performances from five bands in two rooms of the venue.
This family friendly event will also include craft and food vendors. There will also be an opportunity to donate to a community food drive. Tickets are not necessary to visit the craft vendors in the front room.
The museum's first Sunday free event features artist and educator Molly Hess with an all-ages workshop at 1 and 2 p.m. (sign up at the welcome table) and a guided soundscape at 3. Plus make miniature instruments and listen to a concert in the auditorium at 3. Special activities in the lower level family room and pavilion from 1 to 4.
Rees Shad will lead a performance with jazz pop combo the Conversations featuring original music. More information here.
Musical Brunch
Race Brook Lodge, Sheffield
Time: noon to 3
Yo Soy Arte, a Pittsfield based band, will perform Latin music during the tavern's brunch hours. The band's music originates from the Spanish-speaking Caribbean, Central, and South America. There is a $10 cover charge to attend. No cover to enjoy brunch in a different part of the restaurant. More information here.
Farmers' Markets
Great Barrington Farmers Market
18 Church St.
Time: 9 to 1.
The market is open every Saturday until Nov. 11. Every week there will be locally grown food, flowers, and plants along with other local vendors. More information here.
North Adams Winter Farmers Market
85 Main St.
Time: 9 to 1 p.m.
The indoor market runs on the first Saturday of each month until April. It sells local goods including eggs, honey, jams, vegetables, maple syrup, and more. They accept cash, cards, and SNAP/EBT, with a Market Match of up to $30 for SNAP/EBT. More information here.
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Pittsfield Council OKs $3M Borrowing for Failing PHS Boilers
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council has authorized the borrowing of $3 million for new boilers at Pittsfield High School — a project that was originally going to be funded by ARPA.
The nearly 100-year-old boilers are original to the building and have exceeded their useful life, officials say. They are converted locomotive engines that are extremely inefficient and expensive to maintain.
The replacement design was recently completed and a low bid was received. After looking at the numbers, it was clear that the allocated $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds would not be enough.
"$213,210 was spent on emergency repairs and the design work for the replacement project," Finance Director Matthew Kerwood confirmed in an email.
"The low and only bid for the replacement was $2,482,000, however given the complexity of this project I felt that a 20 percent contingency would be needed which gets to the $3,000,000 authorization. If the entire amount is not needed, the remaining unused balance will be rescinded at some point in the future."
The project is also time-sensitive, as one boiler is non-operational and another is severely compromised. If they fail during the heating season, the school will have to close.
"The contractor that was the low bid, in 30 days he can walk away from that bid if he wants to, and the other problem is I need to get this project underway to hopefully get them in and running by the time school reopens up for wintertime," Building Maintenance Director Brian Filiault explained.
"This is a major project, a major project. We're taking three locomotives out of that building and it's no easy thing. I mean, the building is built around it and we have a small portal that we actually will be able to get it out, we'll have to crane everything else. It's a very labor-intensive, very hard job, and I'm afraid of the timeframe because I can't run those boilers again. They've gone as far as they're going to go."
The nearly 100-year-old boilers are original to the building and have exceeded their useful life, officials say. They are converted locomotive engines that are extremely inefficient and expensive to maintain.
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