Berkshire Idol Seeking Singers for 10th Anniversary Competition

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Berkshire Idol singing competition and charitable fundraiser is celebrating its 10th year anniversary this year.

This year's beneficiaries are the Berkshire Humane Society and the Drury High School Performing Arts Department. The competition is being produced by Minerva Arts Center, a non-profit organization located in Williamstown whose mission is to promote the importance of an arts-based education.

This year's judges are Bernice Lewis, Larry Stevens, and Alex Lee Clark.

Open auditions are being held in September in North Adams and Pittsfield for singers competing in three age categories: 7-11, 12-16 and 17- Adult.  

Crooners will audition next week to move onto the semi-finals to be held Saturday, Oct. 17, at a location to be announced. Semifinalists will also be requred to raise $150 in pledge money to support the local beneficiaries.


The finals will be held on Sunday, Oct. 18, when contestants will have a final round to win prizes from $250 to up to $1,000 for the top three in the two older categories, and $25 gift certificates to  iTunes for the runners-up in the 7-11 category.

Audition location and times:

  • Saturday, Sept.12, between noon and 2, at the Holiday Inn, 40 Main St., North Adams.
  • Saturday, Sept. 12, between 4  and 6 p.m., at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts at 28 Renne Ave., Pittsfield.
  • Sunday, Sept. 13, between noon and 2 p.m., at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Ave, Pittsfield.


The fee to audition is $20 with advance registration here or $25 at the door.

Contestants will sing a song of their choice a cappella for a small panel of judges at auditions. Semifinalists will compete with a song of their choice, with a sound check planned for Friday, Oct. 16, from 4 to 7 p.m.

For more information: berkshireidol@gmail.com or www.iberkshire.com/berkshireidol

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Macksey Updates on Eagle Street Demo and Myriad City Projects

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

The back of Moderne Studio in late January. The mayor said the city had begun planning for its removal if the owner could not address the problems. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Moderne Studio building is coming down brick by brick on Eagle Street on the city's dime. 
 
Concerns over the failing structure's proximity to its neighbor — just a few feet — means the demolition underway is taking far longer than usual. It's also been delayed somewhat because of recent high winds and weather. 
 
The city had been making plans for the demolition a month ago because of the deterioration of the building, Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the City Council on Tuesday. The project was accelerated after the back of the 150-year-old structure collapsed on March 5
 
Initial estimates for demolition had been $190,000 to $210,000 and included asbestos removal. Those concerns have since been set aside after testing and the mayor believes that the demolition will be lower because it is not a hazardous site.
 
"We also had a lot of contractors who came to look at it for us to not want to touch it because of the proximity to the next building," she said. "Unfortunately time ran out on that property and we did have the building failure. 
 
"And it's an unfortunate situation. I think most of us who have lived here our whole lives and had our pictures taken there and remember being in the window so, you know, we were really hoping the building could be safe."
 
Macksey said the city had tried working with the owner, who could not find a contractor to demolish the building, "so we found one for him."
 
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