Downing Seeking Talented Local Artists to Showcase in Boston, Pittsfield

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BOSTON – State Sen. Benjamin B. Downing (D- Pittsfield) is seeking local artists to participate in art shows in Boston and downtown Pittsfield.

Downing, along with his Senate colleagues with office space on the 4 East wing of the State House, have secured the approval of the Office of the Senate President to decorate their fourth floor hallway walls with creative works by artists who live in their districts.

Thousands of visitors come to the Massachusetts State House each week. The building, which is both the seat of state government and a historic attraction, is known as “the People’s House” and is open to the public Monday through Friday. Free tours are given daily during business hours.

The 4 East exhibition will be installed on June 15 by the Senate Business Office; it is scheduled to be on display for six months.



Other participating offices include those of Sen. Joan Lovely (D- Salem), Sen. John Keenan (D- Quincy), Sen. Barbara L’Italien (D- Andover) and Sen. Kenneth Donnelly (D- Arlington).

Additionally, since 2007 Downing's Local Artist Exhibition Program has provided artists from the 52 communities in his Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden District two venues to display their work:  his Pittsfield and State House offices. Downing is currently seeking new artists to showcase in Pittsfield.

Artists interested in participating in this program are asked to contact Bethann Steiner, the senator’s chief of staff, at Bethann.Steiner@masenate.gov by May 26 with electronic images of the wall art they wish to display. Each artist is responsible for insuring their work; neither Downing nor the Massachusetts Senate will be held responsible in the unlikely event of damage or loss. Artists are responsible for transporting their items to Pittsfield or Boston for installation.

 


Tags: art installation,   Ben Downing,   

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North Adams Regional Reopens With Ribbon-Cutting Celebration

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

BHS President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz welcomes the gathering to the celebration of the hospital's reopening 10 years to the day it closed. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The joyful celebration on Thursday at North Adams Regional Hospital was a far cry from the scene 10 years ago when protests and tears marked the facility's closing
 
Hospital officials, local leaders, medical staff, residents and elected officials gathered under a tent on the campus to mark the efforts over the past decade to restore NARH and cut the ribbon officially reopening the 136-year-old medical center. 
 
"This hospital under previous ownership closed its doors. It was a day that was full of tears, anger and fear in the Northern Berkshire community about where and how residents would be able to receive what should be a fundamental right for everyone — access to health care," said Darlene Rodowicz, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. 
 
"Today the historic opportunity to enhance the health and wellness of Northern Berkshire community is here. And we've been waiting for this moment for 10 years. It is the key to keeping in line with our strategic plan which is to increase access and support coordinated county wide system of care." 
 
Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, under the BHS umbrella, purchased the campus and affiliated systems when Northern Berkshire Healthcare declared bankruptcy and closed on March 28, 2014. NBH had been beset by falling admissions, reductions in Medicare and Medicaid payments, and investments that had gone sour leaving it more than $30 million in debt. 
 
BMC was able to reopen the ER as an emergency satellite facility and slowly restored and enhanced medical services including outpatient surgery, imaging, dialysis, pharmacy and physician services. 
 
But it would take a slight tweak in the U.S. Health and Human Services' regulations — thank to U.S. Rep. Richie Neal — to bring back inpatient beds and resurrect North Adams Regional Hospital 
 
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