Berkshire Cultural Venues Join 'Free Fun Fridays' Schedule Again

BOSTON — The Highland Street Foundation's seventh annual “Free Fun Fridays” initiative, a summer program that offers visitors no cost admission to many of the most treasured cultural venues in Massachusetts, kicks off this Friday, June 26, with three Berkshire County institutions joining the fun.
 
Since its inception in 2009, “Free Fun Fridays” has drawn more than 800,000 visitors to venues throughout the commonwealth. Last year alone, the program reached 150,000 people and according to Executive Director Blake Jordan, the Highland Street Foundation expects that those numbers will increase again this year with the expansion of the program.

"2015 marks the most extensive ‘Free Fun Fridays’ yet and we are pleased to welcome new venues to this summer’s program,” Jordan said. “This signature program reflects the Highland Street Foundation’s longtime commitment to enriching the lives of kids and families by providing easy access to the very best cultural offerings in Massachusetts.”

To learn more about the “Free Fun Fridays,” and the Highland Street Foundation, visit www.highlandstreet.org.

June 26

BSO/Tanglewood (Lenox) (Experience the beauty of the Tanglewood campus while taking part in an educational scavenger hunt, partake in fun family offerings such as the Instrument Playground and craft activities and watch live performances by Fellows of the Tanglewood Music Center as well as other cultural partners. The event is free, but advance registration is recommended. Visit www.tanglewood.org/familyfunfest for more information and to register.)

Worcester Art Museum (Worcester)

Norman Rockwell Museum (Stockbridge) (Free admission)

MIT Museum (Cambridge)

Peabody Essex Museum (Salem)

Edith Wharton’s Home (Lenox) (Free admission)

House of Seven Gables (Salem)

July 3

Boston Children’s Museum (Boston)

Heritage Museums & Gardens (Sandwich)

Amelia Park Children’s Museum (Westfield)

Naumkeag Reservation (Stockbridge)

Old Manse (Concord)

Falmouth Museums on the Green (Falmouth)

Berkshire Museum (Pittsfield)

July 10

Edward M. Kennedy Institute (Boston)

Cape Cod Maritime Museum (Hyannis Port)

Children’s Museum of Holyoke (Holyoke)

Volleyball Hall of Fame (Holyoke)

Danforth Art (Framingham)

New Bedford Whaling Museum (New Bedford)

New England Historic Genealogical Society (Boston)

July 17

Museum of Fine Arts (Boston)

Sports Museum (Boston)

Cape Ann Museum (Gloucester)

Children’s Museum in Easton (Easton)

Fitchburg Art Museum (Fitchburg)

Larz Anderson Auto Museum (Brookline)

Tower Hill Botanic Garden (Boylston)

July 24

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (Boston)

Edward Gorey House (Yarmouth Port)

Battleship Cove (Fall River)

Fruitlands Museum (Harvard)

Garden in the Woods (Framingham)

July 31

Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston (Boston)

Cape Cod Museum of Art (Dennis)

American Textile History Museum (Lowell)

Eric Carle Museum (Amherst)

Museum of Russian Icons (Clinton)

Sandwich Glass Museum (Sandwich)

Wenham Museum (Wenham)

August 7

Boston Harbor Island Alliance (Boston)

Worcester Historical Museum (Worcester)

Concord Museum (Concord)

Hancock Shaker Village (Pittsfield)

Rose Kennedy Greenway Carousel (Boston)

Springfield Museums (Springfield)

Old State House (Boston)

August 14

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum (Boston)

Cape Cod Children’s Museum (Mashpee)

Historic Deerfield (Deerfield)

Children’s Museum of Fall River (Fall River)

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center (Great Barrington)

Clark Art Institute (Williamstown)

USS Constitution Museum (Charlestown)

August 21

Franklin Park Zoo (Dorchester)

Freedom Trail Foundation (Boston)

Emily Dickinson Museum (Amherst)

Buttonwood Park Zoo (New Bedford)

Discovery Museums (Acton)

Museum of African American History (Boston)

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival (Beckett)

August 28

Old Sturbridge Village (Sturbridge)

Plimoth Plantation (Plymouth)

Cape Cod Museum of Natural History (Brewster)

EcoTarium (Worcester)

Fuller Craft Museum (Brockton)

Griffin Photography Museum (Winchester)

Mass MoCA (North Adams)

Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:23PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.

Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.

"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.

"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."

The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.

Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."

"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."

The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a  $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.