Local author Gabriel Squailia, left, chooses a passage to read with artist Evan Lurie.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Politicians, police, writers and many other area residents lent their voice to a new Melville-themed talking bench for downtown, as part of Pittsfield's summerlong "Call Me Melville" celebration of all things related to the famed author and his whale of an epic.
Called the Herman Melville Memorial Moby Dick Reciting Park Bench, this interactive piece of public art will recite pre-recorded passages of the classic 19th-century novel whenever passersby sit on it.
The project is being undertaken by Evan Lurie as part of Artscape, the city's yearly installation of works of art to enhance public areas, which this year will be all Melville-themed. Lurie, who lives in Lanesborough, is a musician and composer for television and film. He plays piano and most recently was the musical director for the "Backyardigans," a globally popular preschool animated series on Nick Jr.
Mayor Daniel Bianchi, state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, and dozens of Pittsfield residents from all walks of life contributed readings, recording a favorite passage or selecting one of many available from the lengthy tome, penned in Pittsfield and first published in 1851.
The bench will be installed at Palace Park (the North Street lot formerly occupied by Palace Theatre) and on display throughout the summer, and will issue a randomly selected recording of a local voice reciting "Moby-Dick" whenever someone sits on or otherwise triggers the installation.
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Multiple Departments Respond to Lanesborough Structure Fire
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Multiple fire departments responded to a structure fire off Narragansett Avenue on Wednesday afternoon.
The Fire Department received a call from the owner of 6 Bangor St. reporting smoke and flames at around 1:44 p.m.
Firefighters arriving on scene reported heavy smoke emanating from the 1940s single-family ranch home in the thickly settled neighborhood.
The blaze was brought under control in less than an hour and there were no civilian or firefighter injuries.
"The homeowner was outside doing some work, evidently, opened the door when she came back in the house, and there were flames and smoke, so she backed out and called us, and that's all we know right now," Deputy Fire Chief Glen Storie said around 2:35 p.m.
The fire was out at that time, and first responders observed "quite a bit of damage" to the home. The cause is still under investigation.
Lanesborough, Cheshire, and Pittsfield departments responded to the scene, and Hancock covered the station during the call.
"The first crew in knocked the fire right down with the first engine," Storie said.
Smoke could be seen coming from the back of the home. Part of Narragansett Avenue and Bangor Avenue were blocked off while firefighters battled the blaze.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and General Electric last week held a public hearing at Herberg Middle School for the Reach 5A Final Design and Restoration Plan, which details remediation efforts for the Pittsfield stretch of the Housatonic River.
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Town meeting on Tuesday approved an almost $14 million fiscal 2027 budget, and approved bylaws for short-term rentals and signage, and for public safety vehicles.
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On Tuesday, the School Building Needs Commission heard an update from the owner's project manager, Skanska, and endorsed a draft schedule that runs from 2026 to 2032.
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Late last month, the Conservation Commission greenlit some tree pruning on the property. New windows and a new door can be seen in the front of the building.
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