Lenox Library Planning 'Party of the Century'

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LENOX, Mass. — A Black and White Masquerade Ball to benefit the Lenox Library will be held on Saturday, March 10, beginning at 6 p.m. at Blantyre. A cocktail hour, dinner, dancing, and a silent auction are planned.

The Black and White Ball is modeled after Truman Capote's 1966 masquerade ball at The Plaza in New York, following the release of his book, "In Cold Blood." The exclusive guest list at Capote's event included a mix of New York socialites, Hollywood stars, artists, authors and politicians. Among the guests were Norman Mailer, Candice Bergen, Frank Sinatra, Mia Farrow and Walter Cronkite. Like the original Black and White Ball, the library’s event is being billed as the "Party of the Century."

Lisa Nelson, who is on the board of managers of the Lenox Library and is chairing the gala, said, "We wanted to do something different and thought it would be fun to recreate the elegance and mystique of Truman Capote’s ball."

Berkshire Bank is the premier sponsor for the Black and White Ball. Blantyre is hosting the event.

Tickets are $250 per person, with proceeds benefitting the library, a non-profit organization providing public library services to the greater Lenox community. Overnight stay options are also available. For more information, contact Sharon Hawkes, library director, at 413-637-2630, gala@lenoxlib.org.
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Pittsfield Celebrates Arbor Day at Taconic

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Mayor Peter Marchetti presented the framed original cover art for the day's program. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Generations of Taconic students will pass the tree planted on Arbor Day 2026 as they enter school. 

Pittsfield's decades-long annual celebration was held at a city school for the first time. Different vocational trades at Taconic High School worked together to plant the Amelanchier, or flowering serviceberry, mark it with a plaque, record the ceremony, create artwork for the program's cover, and feed guests. 

Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath said the students' participation reflects the spirit of Arbor Day perfectly: learning by doing, serving the community, and helping Pittsfield grow greener for generations to come.

"It's not unknown that trees help shade our homes, help clean our air and water, they support wildlife, and make our neighborhoods and public spaces more beautiful and resilient," he said. 

"And Arbor Day is our chance annually to honor that gift and to remember that when we plant something today, we are investing in the future of our green world."

The holiday was established 154 years ago by J. Sterling Morton and was first observed in Nebraska with the planting of more than a million trees.

CTE environmental science and technology teacher Morgan Lindemayer-Finck detailed the many skilled students who worked on the event: the sign commemorating this Arbor Day was made by the carpentry and advanced manufacturing program, specifically students Ronan MacDonald and Patrick Winn; the multimedia production program recorded the event, and the culinary department provided refreshments. 

The program's cover art was created by students Brigitte Quintana-Tenorio and Austin Sayers. The framed original was presented to Mayor Peter Marchetti. 

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