North Adams - The Clark Family Singers from Norwalk, CT, will be the headliners for The Margaret A. Hart Gospel Fest to be held on Friday, October 21, 2005, at 7:00 p.m., at the MCLA Church Street Center in North Adams.
The Margaret A. Hart Gospel Fest is sponsored and presented by the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Patrons of the Arts Series. The Gospel Fest will also feature The Price Memorial AME Zion Church Gospel Choir and The Williams College Gospel Choir, both of which have performed at each Gospel Fest.
Miss Margaret A. Hart was the first student of color to graduate in 1935 from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (then known as North Adams State Teachers College). She was a consummate educator for more than five decades and was a Civil Rights activist. Dr. Hart's dedication and community service spanned a lifetime. She died at the age of 92 on February 20, 2004. In 1996, MCLA awarded her an Honorary Doctor of Pedagogy in acknowledgment of her distinguished lifetime achievements.
In 2000 a scholarship fund was established in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the College and to Berkshire County. The scholarship award is offered to a junior or senior MCLA student who has demonstrated academic excellence and service to the community. Preference is given to students of color and to Berkshire County residents. The first Gospel Fest was held in 2001 to raise funds for the scholarship.
Mr. Mathew Clark, the father of The Clark Family Singers, is the organist and choir director for the Seventh Day Adventist Church and the St. James Missionary Baptist Church in Norwalk and the Community Baptist Church in New Canaan, CT. The family includes Mrs. Clark (Deanean) and their daughters, Tammara, 16, Charlene, 14, Shelly, 13, and their son Darchell, 15.
Mr. Clark is a former Norwalk City Council Member. Tammara is a High Honors student at J. M. Wright Technical School in Stamford, CT. Darchell, an artist and basketball player (Unbeaten City Champs!), attends Norwalk High School. Charlene's interest is in the culinary arts, and her dream is to be a Master Chef. Shelly is also a basketball player on the Girls Basketball Team (City Champs!) in Norwalk.
In addition to their home church, the family has performed in Bridgeport, CT., at the Golden Hill United Methodist Church, Brooklawn Seventh Day Adventist Church, Messiah Baptist Church, East End Baptist Church and Calvary Seventh Day Adventist Church.
On January 17, 2005, the Clark Family Singers performed at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Birthday Celebration in New Canaan, CT, with the great Civil Rights activist, singer and composer, Mr. Pete Seeger. The Clark Family Singers have also performed in New York, Long Island, Delaware and Baltimore, Maryland.
Each concertgoer can expect an evening of awesome inspiration from Gospel music to fill one's soul. General Admission tickets are $10. Tickets for MCLA Faculty and Staff are $3, and Patrons of the Arts Contributors and Students are free. Please call 413-662-5543 for further information.
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Stockbridge Grange Community Dinner
STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — The Stockbridge Grange is holding a community dinner on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, featuring spaghetti and meatballs, salad, and bread with dessert choices of chocolate cream or lemon meringue pie.
Dinner is $17.00 per person, take out only with 12-1:30 pm pick up at the Stockbridge Grange Hall at 51 Church Street, Stockbridge. Orders may be made by calling 413-243-1298 or 413-443-4352.
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