Citing a desire to bring more tourism into Lenox, Town Manager Fregory Gederspiel has announced the beginning of a large-scale arts project for next winter: The Lenox Silktacular.
"We all want our city to be infested with tourists," said Gederspiel, "and we think a good first step is to infest our streets with thousands of artist-designed silkworms. We anticipate well over 5,000 fiberglass silkworms to line Main Street alone."
Gederspiel announced his plans under a giant tent made entirely of silk, displaying a box full of fiberglass silkworms to the gathered press. The silkworm, he explained, has a rich history in this region.
"In 1868, scientist Etienne Leopold Trouvelot brought the gypsy moth to Massachusetts to breed with other moths for a new strain of silk-producing caterpillars — silkworms. Due to bad planning, some of the gypsy moths escaped, and with no natural enemies and plenty of food, they spread throughout the country and became one of the most hated insects ever. But, silkworms still make good silk, and that's what we're celebrating!"
In addition to the thousands of artist-designed silkworms, a box of 100 fiberglass silkworms will be sent to each school in the area for children to decorate before the end of February. "Students won't just stay warm this winter — they'll stay worm!" said Gederspiel.
Once the student-designed worms are complete, they will be distributed across town. Liss Krowm, a local fourth grader, is already excited about the project.
"Nobody hates us, everybody likes us. We're going to line the street with worms!" she said.
While the students decorate their silkworms, a call has gone out to local artists wishing to decorate a gross of fiberglass worms. The official display will showcase the silkworms, along with traveling actors playing gypsy moths.
Gederspiel encouraged all of the Berkshires to contribute to the Silktacular, by way of either design or donation.
"By sponsoring a silkworm, you can help support the local revitalization of Lenox,†he said. “Although, we are thinking of expanding our offerings to the Web — we may do spidersilk, too."
When asked to respond to rumors that Pittsfield might be copying the idea and pre-empting the town’s plans, Gederspiel replied, "I don't know about ewe, but if they're trying to pull the wool over our eyes, I for one don't plan to be fleeced."
Seth Brown is a freelance humor writer based in North Adams who has foolishly agreed to do a regular column for The Advocate. He is a frequent contributor to the Washington Post's Style Invitational, and like everyone else, is working on a book.
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North Adams Officials to Revote School Committee Members
Staff reports
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — City and school officials will meet a second time to vote in two new members of the School Committee.
The joint convention of the City Council and School Committee will be held on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the City Hall conference room and via Zoom.
Damon Grimes and Paul Moriarty were jointly elected on Monday to fill two seats vacated by resignation. They were two of four candidates standing for election.
Mayor Jennifer Macksey, chair of the School Committee, said she had received in inquiry about the votes, which were done by secret ballot.
"I have been advised that voting by ballot was not permissible in this circumstance," she said, after consulting the School Committee's attorney Adam Dupere and city solicitor KP Law.
To ensure the validity of the votes and conduct of the election, the joint convention will reconvene and formally confirm the selection of Grimes and Moriarty.
"I apologize for the inconvenience of having to reconvene," the mayor said in a statement. "My intention in using a ballot was to address concerns raised following our previous convention, when some members expressed discomfort with publicly voting for or against individual candidates.
Senior Patrick Holland Saturday finished in fourth place to lead the Mount Greylock boys cross country team to a Western Massachusetts Class B Championship at Stanley Park. click for more
In a news release posted on its website tuesday morning, the Northwestern DA said, "prosecutors determined that no criminal conduct occurred," citing Massachusetts General Law Chapter 269, section 17. click for more
Everett Bayliss scored a pair of goals and Lukas Burrow had two assists in Sunday's Mount Greylock win in the Western Massachusetts Class C Championship Game. click for more
Gabe Thomas carded an even par round of 71 at Stockbridge Golf Club Monday to finish two shots clear of the field and claim the first county individual championship for the McCann Tech golf team. click for more
The Cooperative Hoosac Valley football program will resume football related activities on Monday, Sept. 28, after being on “pause” for the past nine days. click for more
Hoosac Valley High School has postponed this weekend’s football games following a reported alleged hazing incident involving a large number of football players, the athletic director announced Friday afternoon. click for more
