Artist Michael Melle will lead a community workshop on building scarecrows for the city's newest initiative - Hayman!
PITTSFIELD - Following on the heels of popular attractions like Sheeptacular and Art of the Game, the city will welcome another public arts initiative this fall with Hayman!, a project to display up to 75 scarecrows in the downtown during the month of October.
A collaboration among the city, Berkshire Bank and the Storefront Artists Project, Hayman! will pair local sculptor and self-proclaimed "scarecrow evangelist" Michael Melle with community members to create one-of-a-kind characters out of little more than sticks and hay. The scarecrows will be placed on utility poles, in trees, in storefronts and in other places along North Street from Carr Hardware to the Berkshire Museum.
"Projects like these have a real ownership by the community and that's a big driving force behind the project," said Michael Rousseau, Hayman!'s coordinator. "It's not necessarily an artists project; you don't even have to be an artist to participate. It's always the goal to involve the community in the creativity."
A "Community Scarecrow Building Day" will take place on Sept. 29 on the Common and will be taught by Melle and a group of 15 artists who have attended scarecrow-building training sessions. Artists, businesses and organizations and families are all invited to construct one of the project's scarecrows at no cost. Under the direction of Melle, participants will be instructed how to create a scarecrow skeleton out of a block of wood and several sticks for limbs. The core block allows the scarecrows to be constructed into any kind of position or imitating any action.
The organizers of the project urge scarecrow-makers to be creative and to think "outside the box" when constructing their scarecrows. Rousseau said the creations need not be human forms at all.
"I've heard proposals for straw mermaids, scorpions, Dolly Partons, and even a Joey Ramone scarecrow. All ideas are welcome, including scarecrows that represent or celebrate an organization, business or cause," said Rousseau.
"It's projects like this that separate Pittsfield from every other community in Massachusetts," said Michael P. Daley, president and CEO of Berkshire Bank, which is sponsoring Hayman!. "I'm looking forward to seeing hay men and hay women and hay things."
The scarecrow-building day is also designed to celebrate community, creativity and the harvest season by bringing together various groups to enjoy autumn in the Berkshires.
"We're getting ready for October. With our partners, we know that the kids of Pittsfield and the grandparents of Pittsfield are going to have a grand ol' day," said Mayor James M. Ruberto. "Not only can they make [the scarecrows] and sit next to them, they can have a great day in the best small city."
Scarecrows Everywhere
Crowne Plaza's catering sales manager Janet Brennan attended Sunday's artist training and created "Bahama Bob," a seated male scarecrow wearing a Hawaiian shirt and straw hat.
"It took about three hours," Brennan said. "But I'm excited to make another one."
Brennan said the most difficult part about the making the scarecrow was forming the wood into a skeleton. At the community building session, she hopes to create a playmate for Bob.
"Maybe Bahama Betty?" she said.
The public will be able to enjoy the scarecrows throughout October and at the 3rd Thursdays after-hours event on Oct. 18. The scarecrows will also be a part of Pittsfield’s annual Halloween parade on Oct. 26.
The brainchild of Berkshire Bank Foundation's Executive Director Peter Lafayette, Hayman! seeks to promote innovation in the Berkshires through unique partnerships and public involvement.
"Hayman! will continue the creativity that has been promoted in Pittsfield over the last few years," Lafayette said.
While this is not intended to be a contest, some awards will be given to the best scarecrows in the following categories: Funniest, scariest, most creative, best dressed and most bizarre.
All materials for the scarecrows will be provided by Berkshire Bank, but participants should bring the clothing, accessories or other materials wanted to adorn their sculpture. People interested in registering to make a scarecrow should call Mary Ellen Puntin at the Berkshire Bank Foundation at (413) 447-1724. Registration forms can also be downloaded at www.storefrontartist.org or picked up at the Berkshire Bank offices at Old Town Hall at 33 East St.
For Melle, who pioneered his scarecrow-making method in 1991, teaching his skills to a huge group is rewarding.
"I just love it when people make scarecrows," he said.
For more on Melle's work, visit www.scarecrowgarden.com
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
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