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Cultural Pittsfield This Week: Aug. 18-24

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August 18 - August 24, 2017
   
Berkshire Salsa and Jacob's Pillow Dance present a Special Latin Night at The Tavern at The A, located at 303 Crane Ave. The dancers of Stilo Dance Company will lead a 1-hour workshop before the Social Dance begins. At p.m., learn Afro-Cuban Rumba. Open to all levels. At 9:30 p.m., split into two groups - beginner and intermediate - for fundamental Latin partner-work. Dancing goes until 1 a.m.
 
MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE
 
 
Hancock Shaker Village's Shaker Barn Music series presents Tony Trischka, one of the most influential banjo players in the world. Local duo Moonshine Holler kicks things off. Doors at 6 p.m. Show at 7 p.m. $20.
Plus... 
FRI New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players at The Colonial | FRI Haunted Hancock at Hancock Shaker Village | FRI Blue Light Trio at Rainbow | FRI Amy Ryan Band at Mission | FRI 413 Trio at Hotel on North | SAT Berkshire Ballroom Dancing & Lessons at Itam Lodge | SAT Kyle Murray Trio at Mission | SAT On Tap at The A | SUN Jazz Cabaret at Knesset Israel | SUN Open Jam Sessions at Berkshire Museum | SUN-MON Julie Budd in Remember Mr. Sinatra at Barrington Stage | MON Libations with Librarians at Hotel on North | MON Jazz Night at Mission | WED Gruppo Mondo at Rainbow 
 
FAMILY FRIENDLY
Enjoy FREE admission to The Berkshire Museum all day long courtesy of the Highland Street Foundation's annual Free Fun Friday series. Then, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., kids can explore a day in kindergarten with fun, hands-on activities, while parents learn about child development and how to help their child get ready for school. The event will feature special performances, guests, and activities for the whole family. FREE.
Plus...  
FRI WeeMuse: Adventures at Berkshire Museum | FRI FREE Screening of Storks at Clapp Park | SAT Pop-up Play Day at Berkshire Museum | SAT Chow Time at Berkshire Museum | SAT Berkshire County Youth Fair at 4-H Fairgrounds | SAT Family Field Day at Berkshire Children & Families | SAT Fairy House Village Opens at Arrowhead | MON View the Eclipse at Berkshire Athenaeum | TUE Grandparents Day at Hancock Shaker Village | TUE WeeMuse: Littlest Learners at Berkshire Museum | THU LGBTQ Youth Art Group at Berkshire Children & Families | THU Berkshire Children's Theater: The Little Mermaid at Berkshire Museum
 
WELLNESS
 
 
Stefanie Weber will lead a Contemporary Jazz Dance class, teaching classic techniques such as isolations, hinges, footwork, and moving phrases. 10:15-11:15 a.m. at Berkshire Yoga Dance & Fitness.
Plus... 
SAT Goat Yoga with Rachael Plaine at Hancock Shaker Village | SAT FREE Hike & Yoga with Radiance Yoga at Canoe Meadows | SUN Dash & Splash at The Common | THU FREE Yoga with Katie at Berkshire Athenaeum
 
PERFORMANCE
The winner of 7 Tony Awards, Stephen Sondheim's musical is a wildly funny look at relationships. Over a series of dinner parties, dates and conversations with friends, the perennially single Bobby (Aaron Tveit) attempts to understand the pros and cons of marriage and the meaning of the word "commitment." At BSC's Boyd-Quinson Mainstage now until Sept. 2.
Plus... 
ONGOING This at Barrington Stage
 
GET CREATIVE
 
The Funky Phoenix, located at 441 North Street, invites you to create your very own custom, one-of-kind arrow sign using salvaged wood and hooks. $20, plus an additional $5 for 3 hooks. 6-8 p.m. 
Plus... 
SAT Pop-up Technical Class at Yummy Treasures
 
COMMUNITY

The annual Greek Fest will feature an assortment of Greek foods as well as plenty of dancing! Admission is free. It will be held, rain or shine, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 12 to 6 p.m. on Sunday at 73 Bradford St.
Plus...
SAT Housatonic River Cleanup with BEAT | SAT Repair Cafe at St. Stephen's Church | SUN Domingo Brunch with Andy Wrba, John Wayno & Friends at Dottie's | SUN Open Jam Sessions at Berkshire Museum | MON View the Eclipse at Berkshire Athenaeum | WED Working Cities Wednesday at The Christian Center
The Downtown Pittsfield Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the First Street Common! 

This Saturday at the market, find out more about the Jacob's Pillow free ride system, join Berkshire United Way for a pop-up reading party, and enjoy live music from Andy Kelly from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
 
LEARN
THU Screening & Talk at Knesset Israel
The Jewish Federation's Connecting with Community series hosts Helene McQuade for a screening of a short film about her mother, titled Through the Eye of the Needle: The Art of Esther Nisenthal Krinitz. The film tells the story of Esther's survival during WWII and the unique method of storytelling she adopted - stitching and embroidering. 10:45 a.m.
Plus... 
MON Drum Class at The Lichtenstein | TUE Authors Amy Lafave & Jan Chague at Arrowhead | THU 3D Scanning at Berkshire Athenaeum
 
FILM
In a small town on the night of Orson Welles' 1938 "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast - the hoax that convinced millions that Martians were invading - citizens face what they think is their last night on Earth. The mayor (Tony Hale) will take a chance on love. The housewife, (Heather Burns) will break free from her husband (Sam Jaeger). The schoolteacher will become a warrior. The reverend will rediscover his faith. The Sheriff will find his courage. And the veteran will become a hero, when they all join forces for a "battle" that leads to a hilarious outcome. Join the film's co-writer, Michael Dowling, for a Q&A after Friday's 7 p.m. screening.
 
 
ONGOING
See What's New at The Beacon Cinema
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 and more! 

28 Renne Ave. | Open Wednesday - Saturday from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.  
 
 
The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts presents abstract paintings by local artist and author Karen Chase. 
 
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARKING METER PLAN
Five things to remember about the new downtown parking system:
 
1. Always enter your license plate number - even for the FREE first 30 minutes.
 
2. On-street parking is $1 per hour; lot parking is 50 cents per hour. There are also nearly 400 free parking spaces on the city's side streets.
 
3. You can pay by coin, credit card, or by downloading the Passport parking app.
 
4. You do not need to display the parking receipt on your dashboard.
 
5. Parking is FREE on evenings and weekends!

 

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Central Berkshire School Officials OK $35M Budget

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School Committee approved a $35 million budget for fiscal 2025 during its meeting on Thursday.
 
Much of the proposed spending plan is similar to what was predicted in the initial and tentative budget presentations, however, the district did work with the Finance subcommittee to further offset the assessments to the towns, Superintendent Leslie Blake-Davis said. 
 
"What you're going see in this budget is a lower average assessment to the towns than what you saw in the other in the tentative budget that was approved," she said. 
 
The fiscal 2025 budget is $35,428,892, a 5.56 percent or $1,867,649, over this year's $33,561,243.
 
"This is using our operating funds, revolving revenue or grant revenue. So what made up the budget for the tentative budget is pretty much the same," Director of Finance and Operations Gregory Boino said.
 
"We're just moving around funds … so, we're using more of the FY25 rural aid funds instead of operating funds next year."
 
Increases the district has in the FY25 operating budget are from active employee health insurance, retiree health insurance, special education out-of-district tuition, temporary bond principal and interest payment, pupil transportation, Berkshire County Retirement contributions, and the federal payroll tax. 
 
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