Enjoy 15 different art shows featuring work by over 2 dozen accomplished regional artists in Pittsfield's bustling Upstreet Cultural District during the First Friday Artswalk and all month long! In most venues, artists will be present from 5-8 p.m. A free guided tour begins at 5 p.m. at the Intermodal Center @ BRTA, 1 Columbus Ave.
New this month: be sure to check out the Pop-Up Art Galleriesbeginning Friday and running until Dec. 23. And don't miss the Holiday Wreath Art Auction at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts from 5-8 p.m. This fully catered, ticketed event benefits the Pittsfield Food Pantries.
Artswalk extras include: holiday caroling with the cast of The Town Players' "Christmastime in the City" from 5-7 p.m. at various venues. From 5-8 p.m., shop the Vendor Event at Crawford Square, 137 North St. and stop by The BOOM Room while you're in the building for live music from 2 Blue from 6-8 p.m. Plus, you'll already be in the perfect location to catch the Park Square Tree Lightingat 6 p.m.
The fun doesn't stop at 8! Join us for the free Afterwalk Party featuring a performance by Brian Mindlin & guests from 8-10 p.m. at the Whitney Center for the Arts, 42 Wendell Ave.
Join Alan Franco for a fun night of salsa, bachata, merengue, cha-cha, kizomba, cumbia and more! A Beginners Bachata Lesson will be held from 8:30-9:15 p.m. An Intermediate Bachata Lesson will follow from 9:15-10 p.m. DJ Geova, from Hudson, NY, will keep everyone dancing from 10 p.m. until 1:30 a.m. Whitney Center for the Arts at 42 Wendell Ave. $10.
The Albany Berkshire Ballet presents its annual tour of the holiday classic The Nutcracker. Local dance students will be featured in special children's roles alongside the professional dancers of the ABB. This year's company includes dancers from the U.S, as well as Brazil and Japan. A holiday favorite, The Nutcracker tells the story of a young girl and the magical dream she has one Christmas Eve. The Colonial Theatre at 2:30 & 6:30 p.m. on Saturday and 1:30 & 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Berkshire Yoga, Dance & Fitness presents a special 4-week Restorative Yoga & Meditation series, held every Wednesday from 8-9 p.m. beginning Dec. 7. Amanda Marsh will help the class focus on a different aspect each week, from basic relaxation techniques to chakra healing.
Home Instead Senior Care will help raise awareness and funds for the Alzheimer's Association with a fun night out. Enjoy refreshments, snacks and painting for a great cause with artists from The Progressive Palette. In just two hours, you'll transform a pair of wine glasses into a work of art. 5:30 p.m. registration, painting from 6-8 p.m. 66 Wendell Ave. $35 includes all supplies, refreshments, and a generous donation. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
The annual family and friends Craft Fair at The Outlet at Pine Cone Hill will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 125 Pecks Road. Handmade items will include home and holiday décor, stuffed creatures, cards, sewn and knitted accessories, and more. Purchase from a crafter and get 20% off Outlet purchases of area rugs, duvet covers, sheet sets, quilts, pillow covers, loungewear, decorative pillows and other items.
On Saturdays, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. through Dec. 17, drop in to the Hancock Shaker Village Crafting Corner and create a Shaker-inspired gift for you or someone special. And warm your spirit with complimentary cocoa!
A new craft is offered each week: This week, make a swallowtail bookmark. On any Saturday, you can make a one-of-a-kind holiday card and use a quill pen to write your message.
FREE and appropriate for all ages. In lieu of a material fee and in Shaker tradition, please bring a non-perishable food item to donate to a local pantry.
An Italian filmmaker (Margherita Buy) tries to cope with her mother's terminal illness (Giulia Lazzarini) while working on a new movie with a bombastic American actor (John Turturro).
See What's New at The Beacon Cinema | SAT-SUNElfat The Little Cinema at Berkshire Museum
What's Showing at The Licht
Pittsfield's city-owned community arts center, the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, features nine working artist studios, a ceramics studio, a community room and an art gallery with changing exhibitions, classes, performances + more!
28 Renne Ave. | Holiday Hours Wed, Fri and Sat 11am-4pm
The Holiday Wreath Art Auction takes place on Friday, Dec. 2 during the First Fridays Artswalk, with proceeds going to the Pittsfield Food Pantries.
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State Fire Marshal: New Tracking Tool Identifies 50 Lithium-Ion Battery Fires
STOW, Mass. — The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services' new tool for tracking lithium-ion battery fires has helped to identify 50 such incidents in the past six months, more than double the annual average detected by a national fire data reporting system, said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine.
The Department of Fire Services launched its Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Investigative Checklist on Oct. 13, 2023. It immediately went into use by the State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit assigned to the State Fire Marshal's office, and local fire departments were urged to adopt it as well.
Developed by the DFS Fire Safety Division, the checklist can be used by fire investigators to gather basic information about fires in which lithium-ion batteries played a part. That information is then entered into a database to identify patterns and trends.
"We knew anecdotally that lithium-ion batteries were involved in more fires than the existing data suggested," said State Fire Marshal Davine. "In just the past six months, investigators using this simple checklist have revealed many more incidents than we've seen in prior years."
Prior to the checklist, the state's fire service relied on battery fire data reported to the Massachusetts Fire Incident Reporting System (MFIRS), a state-level tool that mirrors and feeds into the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). NFIRS tracks battery fires but does not specifically gather data on the types of batteries involved. Some fields do not require the detailed information that Massachusetts officials were seeking, and some fires may be coded according to the type of device involved rather than the type of battery. Moreover, MFIRS reports sometimes take weeks or months to be completed and uploaded.
"Investigators using the Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Checklist are getting us better data faster," said State Fire Marshal Davine. "The tool is helpful, but the people using it are the key to its success."
From 2019 to 2023, an average of 19.4 lithium-ion battery fires per year were reported to MFIRS – less than half the number identified by investigators using the checklist over the past six months. The increase since last fall could be due to the growing number of consumer devices powered by these batteries, increased attention by local fire investigators, or other factors, State Fire Marshal Davine said. For example, fires that started with another item but impinged upon a battery-powered device, causing it to go into thermal runaway, might not be categorized as a battery fire in MFIRS or NFIRS.
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.
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Between disagreements about site design and a formal funding process not yet established, more time is needed before a decision can be made.
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The Ordinances and Rules subcommittee on Monday unanimously supported a pay raise for election workers, free downtown parking for veterans, and safeguards to better protect wetlands.
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A parking study of North Street will be presented at Tuesday's City Council meeting. The design maintains parallel parking while expanding pedestrian zones and adding protected bike lanes. click for more