Ruth Groff of Williamstown examines fabric at Tala's Quilt Shop.
Welcome to the new “Five Things to Love About the Northern Berkshires†feature! Several times weekly, five Northern Berkshire entities, locations, and even local folks will be highlighted on this page. We think we live in a very special place…..we hope you do, too!
What We Love About Tala’s Quilt Shop
Beautiful fabrics, antique display accessories, and a friendly atmosphere are among the reasons to stop by Tala’s Quilt Shop at the Western Gateway Heritage State Park in North Adams. Owned by Tala Neathawk, the shop was named as one of the ten best quilt shops in the country by Quilt Sampler magazine [a Better Homes and Gardens publication] in 2004. Neathawk opened the shop in 2001 and offers quilting classes and a vast selection of quilting supplies. We love Tala’s Quilt Shop for casting a positive light on the downtown.
What We Love About the Clarksburg State ForestFor two years running, the Clarksburg State Forest in Clarksburg has been named as a Top 100 Family Campground by the Reserve America organization. Once plagued by goose droppings and beaver problems, the park has gained national recognition for excellence. State forest Supervisor Ed Marino said recently that fencing, plantings, and benches have been erected along the park’s day-visitor beach.
“We haven’t had a goose on the grass since we put up the fence and put in the plantings,†he said.
We love the Clarksburg State Park for its’ clean campsites, its’ bathhouse [changing rooms] amenities, and a staff-based can-do attitude.
What We Love About the Cole Avenue Bridge Project
We love that by the end of the summer, the dual-bridge Cole Avenue reconstruction project should be completed! While we aren’t always delighted with traffic delays and congestion relating to the project, we love to see work crews making progress every day!
What We Love About Heritage Antiques
We love to see new business open in North Adams and we offer our best wishes to Shirley Mills and Beth Schmehl, the owners of Heritage Antiques at the Western Gateway Heritage State Park. Mills and Schmehl opened the shop in March, and the bright, airy store is filled with a vast array of items. Mills and Schmehl said that they are pleased to be part of the city’s business community and especially fond of the shop’s location.
“We sell a little bit of everything and our prices range from 50 cents on up,†said Schmehl.
“And we’ll search for things for people,†said Mills, referring to specific collector’s items or general antiques.
We love Heritage Antiques for bringing a taste of the past to an up-and-coming region.
What We Love About Library Antiques
We love the up-in-the-air animal sculptures displayed in the front of the Library Antiques shop on Spring Street in Williamstown. On June 2, a horse, a fox, a fish, and a dog held various sculpted poses above the sidewalk, adding a touch of interest to the street. While everyday passersby may have become accustomed to the unique display, we believe the sculptures probably catch the eye of street visitors. We love Library Antiques for adding a bit of flair to Spring Street.
Susan Bush may be reached at 802-823-9367 or by e-mail at suebush123@adelphia.net.
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Dalton Day Returns This Saturday
By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The town's popular Dalton Day festival is returning this weekend after a year's hiatus.
The event will kick off this Saturday at 11 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. in the field in front of the Senior Center.
The community celebration was established in 2023 by the Cultural Council in an effort to increase resident participation at town meetings while also showcasing the area's welcoming, diverse, artistic and sporty atmosphere. In 2024, the event brought together 300 residents.
"The primary mission of Dalton Day is to foster a strong sense of community, build civic pride, and bring residents together through a shared celebration of local culture, music, and food," said Jeannie Ingram, Select Board member and cultural council chair, and Lori Venezia, executive assistant to the town manager.
The event provides an accessible and free platform for "civic education, community bonding, and supporting local businesses, artisans, makers, and culture more broadly," they said.
The festival strengthens the fabric of the town both civically and economically by connecting grassroots organizations with residents, fostering a shared sense of belonging, and providing free, family-friendly entertainment.
It also serves as an opportunity for community members to meet with local officials and a couple of state officials. State Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. Leigh Davis will be coming from Beacon Hill to speak at the event.
Cassidy Flynn scattered five hits in a complete-game effort in the circle as Lenox upset top-seeded Hoosac Valley, 3-2, in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament. click for more
Brayden Durant struck out seven and walked one in a complete-game effort on the mound Saturday to pitch the Drury baseball team to a 6-0 win over Keefe Tech in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament at Joe Wolfe Field. click for more
Jason Codey struck out 13, walked two and allowed just an infield single as the Generals earned a 7-1 win over Wahconah to claim their third straight regional title. click for more
Gracelyn Wright struck out eight, and Genevieve Lagess went 3-for-5 with four runs batted in as the Hurricanes beat Monson, 17-3, to claim their first Western Mass title in four years. click for more
