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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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.
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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
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