Berkshires Beat: Mass MoCA Admission Free for North Adams Residents on the 10th of the Month
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All for free: North Adams residents should mark their calendars for the 10th of each month, September through November, Mass MoCA throws open its doors and offers free gallery admission to its North Adams neighbors.
Mass MoCA has traditionally taken one Saturday every winter to open its doors and welcome all visitors in for free. Since last year, to make the museum as accessible as possible to its closest neighbors, Mass MoCA offers free admission on one day per month during non-summer months to North Adams residents.
Building on last year’s program, Free North Adams pushes forward in hopes of drawing in as many neighbors and friends as possible.
Residents residing within the 01247 zip code — including those from Clarksburg and Florida — should bring a government-issued ID or a utility bill with current address (and picture ID) when visiting the museum on Sept. 10, Oct. 10 and Nov. 10 for free admission.
Planting programs: Ward’s Nursery and Garden Center will help gardeners get the most from their plants by learning how to care for them in upcoming free classes led by Ward’s expert staff beginning Saturday, Sept. 17.
The free fall classes focus on selecting the best plants and then tips for installing and caring for them to achieve long-term success. All classes are free but due to limited seating and the vagaries of weather, Ward’s requests patrons register online or by calling 413-528-0166. Speakers and topics are subject to change. Please confirm by visiting the website or calling the store.
The schedule includes “Houseplants 101” on Sept. 17 at 10 a.m.; “Fall Garden Problem-Solving” on Oct. 1 at 10 a.m.; and “Bulbs: Outdoors and In” on Oct. 8 at 10 a.m.
River reflections: During the month of September, the Hoosic River Watershed Association will present "Reflections on the River," an exhibit of works by local artists, at the Milne Library in Williamstown.
For many years, HooRWA staged “Riverworks” along the river trails at Cole Field. The pieces shown at “Riverworks" have primarily been sculptures and installations, designed to be exhibited temporarily in an outdoor environment.
"Reflections on the River" will give artists who work primarily in two dimensions an opportunity to present their responses to the beautiful Hoosic River in paintings, prints, photographs, and collages. More than twenty artists will display their works at the library during September. During the show information will be available explaining HooRWA’s efforts to protect the river and to make it more accessible to our communities.
Looking back: The Berkshire Athenaeum will host beginner’s genealogy classes. Class instructors will be library volunteers, Janet Rogge and Angela Rifkin, along with Vera Silvia. Limited to 10 participants. Classes are free and open to the public.
The classes include "Organizing your Family Research and Introduction to the Census" from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 15; "Using Vital Records/Beginning Immigration Research” from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 22; "Introduction to Ancestry.com” from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 29; and “Introduction to Familysearch.org” from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 6.
Register online at The Berkshire Athenaeum website or contact the Local History Department at 413-499-9480, ext. 6.
Parking lot work: The David & Joyce Milne Public Library in Williamstown will be replacing the library parking lot, curbs and sidewalks.
DelSignore Blacktop Paving will begin work Thursday, Sept. 8. The project will be phased with the front of the parking lot (alongside the rotary) being taken down to the dirt, graded, new drainage, stone laid, curbs and sidewalks replaced.
This will leave only about 15 parking spaces near the front door. The exit will also be used as the entrance and is a single lane road. So traffic control and signage will be determined as the work begins. The first phase is expected to take two weeks. This will be a major inconvenience it is suggested that the public limit their visits to the library with a motor vehicle. Any parking in a non-designated area will be towed.
The second phase will be those spaces closest to the front door and the exit and entrance will both be from the existing library entrance off the rotary. That phase should be of minimum inconvenience and is expected to be two weeks with maybe two to three days that the library will close for paving and striping lines.
