Letter: Artists, Community Support Berkshire Museum Plan

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To the Editor:

We are artists, sMass.ll business owners, parents, and Berkshire community members, and we support the Berkshire Museum's bold plan and vibrant vision to bring the museum into the 21st century so it can continue to creatively serve all of us.

Thoughtful, proactive change is the only thing that will save our Berkshires from a rapidly declining population and rising income inequality. We have watched the Clark Art Institute, Mass MoCA and Barrington Stage Company take bold steps to expand their footprints and their missions to better serve our community in recent years, and we are excited that Berkshire Museum will be next.

We are impressed with the museum's extensive two-year master planning process and welcome the significant infusion of funding into our creative economy to go towards the renovation of the museum and the expansion of their endowment, allowing them to focus on serving our community. We trust the Berkshire Museum.

We understand and sympathize with the sadness among some that 40 works of art will no longer live in the Berkshires. But they will not be forgotten, and their departure will bring about something so much more priceless than what they're worth — enriched experiences for a changing community.

We are excited to imagine the possibilities that will come to life with this bold step forward, and will let the museum lead the way with our full support.

Submitted by:

Darcie Sosa
Pittsfield, Mass. 


By adding your name, you are allowing us to share your name in our letter to the the editor. Among those who signed were, in alphabetical order by first name:

Alan Bauman, Pittsfield, Mass.
Alan R. Sandstrom
Alanna Kellogg, Schenectady, N.Y.
Alexandra & Andrew Groff, city residents
Alexandra Heddinger
Alice and Brian McGowan, Egremont, Mass
Alicia Ouellette, Slingerlands N.Y., educator.
Alison Basdekis, Stephentown, N.Y. (educator, parent, sMass.ll business owner)
Allison Lassoe, Sheffield, Mass.
Amy Krzanik, Cheshire, Mass.
Amy Rudnick, Sheffield, Mass.
Andi McGraw
Andrea Sholler, managing director, Jacob's Pillow Dance
Andrew Foster, West Stockbridge, Mass.
Andrew W. Kelly, performing jazz musician, music educator, businessperson, youth sports coach, former Pittsfield, Mass., mayoral candidate
Anita Stuart
Anna Traggio, educator
Annee Goodchild, artist, Pittsfield, Mass.
Audrey Bowen, Pittsfield, Mass.
Barbara Roberts, Pittsfield, Mass., Retired Educator
Bart Mosley, Stockbridge, Mass.
Ben Urmston, Sheffield, Mass.
Beth Hammond
Betsy Hayes, Longmeadow, Mass. retired educator
Bonnie Hoskeer Kirchner
Brian Butterworth, Acton, Mass., Berkshires cheerleader
Brody McCauley
C J Bolster, Pittsfield, Mass.
Cara and Lance Vermeulen
Carly Gaherty, Pittsfield, Mass.
Carmen Dockery Perkins, Lakeville, Conn., parent and educator
Carolyn Butler, Lenox, Mass., community member
Cathy Deely, Pittsfield, Mass. community volunteer
Charlie Noyes, Salisbury, Conn., Artist & Educator
Chloë Geffken
Chris Freeman, Stonington, Conn., Non-profit professional
Chris Parkinson
Christina Wynn, Pittsfield, Mass.
Christine Condaris, Williamstown, Mass., educator
Christopher Guidette, Otis, Mass. -- member, OLLI Board of Directors
Christy Curran, Needham, Mass., former Berkshire School parent
Churchill Cotton, Pittsfield, Mass., Grandparent
Cindy Freeman
Claudia Perles, Lenox, Mass., Philanthropist
Colin D. Sykes, Pittsfield Mass.
Colin Mathews
Dan Mead and Sally Eagle
Darcie Sosa, Dalton, Mass., marketing manager, Freelance Writer, Art lover, Museum lover
Dave Sondrini, Northampton, Mass.
David S. Rosenthal,  Stockbridge, Mass. 
David Tierney, Pittsfield, Mass., business owner
Dennis Kinne, Pittsfield, Mass.
Diana LaCasse, educator and parent
Elizabeth (elizag) Gordon
Elizabeth DeMarco, Artist and Business Owner, Pittfield, Mass.
Ellie Lovejoy, Mount Washington, Mass., Parent, Educator
Emil J. George, attorney
Eric Mabee
Evan Hickok, Pittsfield Mass., Engineer, manager, parent, art and science lover
Evan Lurie, Lanesborough, Mass.
Faith Gagliardi, Pittsfield Mass., community member
Frances Jones-Sneed, Williamstown, Mass., Educator
Gail Krumpholz , Pittsfield Mass.
Gail Street, Lenox, Mass.
Gary Pemble
Gary Schiff, Lenox, Mass.
Gina Foley
Greer Hed, parent, Pittsfield Mass.
Heather Gallagher, Pittsfield, Mass.
Holly Smith-Bove, Hatfield, Mass., former museum director
Howie Marshall
Jackie Melendez
Jackie Thomas, Lee, Mass., parent
James Sylvia, Pittsfield Mass., Dad, Photographer, Business Owner
Jan Charbonneau, Lenox, Mass., Retired Educator
Jed Scala, Great Barrington, Mass.
Jeffrey St. John, M.D., Pittsfield, Mass. (Parent and museum member)
Jenn Gomez, Pittsfield, Mass.
Jennifer A. Hines
Jennifer Gaenzle Smith, Sheffield, Mass.
Jenny Benson Pittsfield, Mass., Business owner
Jenny Wright, Pittsfield Mass.
Jeremy LaCasse, Educator and Parent
Jesse McCauley
Jessica Provenz, parent, writer
Jill Vantine, Norfolk, Conn., Parent and realtor
Jim McKellar, Becket Mass.
JoAnne Moran, Pittsfield, Mass.
Jocelyn Chapman
Joe & Laurie Gallagher, Pittsfield, Mass.


John Krol, Pittsfield, Mass., small business owner, husband, father, city councilor
John Toole, business owner, Lee, Mass.
Jonah J. Sykes, Chair of Berkshire Young Professionals
Judith Frost
Judith Winters
Jules Seltzer, Pittsfield, Mass. business owner
Julia Doyle, Pittsfield, Mass.. Business owner and parent.
Kaitlyn Pierce
Karden Rabin
Karen Rowe
Karin Noyes, Salisbury Conn., Artist and art appreciator, 30-plus year resident of Western New England
Kat Lockridge, Lee, Mass. 1Berkshire Board member, owner, Classical Tents and Party Goods
Kate Moran and Rafi Pitts, Los Angeles, Artists
Katherine Casey
Kendal Phipps
Kenneth M. Shearn
Kevin Kraham, Pittsfield, Mass.
Kim and Dennis Kinne, Pittsfield, Mass.
Laura Bushey
Laurie Grusauski, Salisbury, Conn.
Laurie Tierney, Pittsfield Mass., business owner
Leah Thompson
Leigh Sylvia, Pittsfield, Mass., parent
Leslie Sears, Dalton, Mass., stage manager
Letty Downs, Lakeville, Conn., educator
Lindsay Codwise, Pittsfield, Mass.
Lindsey Marion
Lisa Kuerzel, Montague, Mass. (Educator)
Lisa Martin, Richmond Mass.
Lola Jaffe, Stockbridge, Mass. resident
Lyn Biasin
Lynne Mazzeo, Pittsfield, Mass.
Mass.rc J. Wrzesinski, Photographer, Pittsfield, Mass.
Marcia Mitchell, Lee, Mass., small-business owner, grad student, millennial badass
Marcia Z. Feuer, Richmond, Community Member, Grandparent
Marissa Dubecky, Pittsfield, Mass.
Marjorie Cohan, Pittsfield Mass.
Mark Pedrotti, Pittsfield, Mass., Vice President, marketing at Berkshire Bank
Mark Tomasi, Pittsfield, Mass.
Mary Ann Fanning, Excellent letter.
Mary Garnish Bauman, self-employed graphic designer, Garnish Design
Mary Huth, Pittsfield, Mass.
Maxine Bookless, Pittsfield, Mass.
Megan Whilden, former Director of Cultural Development for the City of Pittsfield
Meghan St. John, Pittsfield, Mass.
Melissa Bissell, Pittsfield, Mass. parent, photographer
Melissa Quirk Cairns, Berkshire, Mass., parent, educator, poet
Michael and Lynne Mazzeo, Pittsfield, Mass., business owner
Michael Mazzeo
Michael Vincent Bushy, Pittsfield
Michelle Artioli, Pittsfield, Mass., Downtown Pittsfield Business Owner
Mr. and Mrs. Gerald S. Doyle, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Paul J. Capitanio
Matthew Chester, Stockbridge, Mass., business owner
Nan Bookless, Pittsfield, Mass.; owner/partner BookMarc Creative; graphic designer and fine artist
Natalie Johnsonius Neubert
Pamela Downing, Pittsfield, Mass.
Pamela Effrein Sandstrom
Pamela Knisley
Parker Chandler of Pittsfield, Mass.; Educator, Parent, BM Member
Pat Cotton, Pittsfield, Mass.
Paul M. Byrd, Pittsfield, Mass.. Structural Engineer and appointed member of the Pittsfield Historical Commission
Peter & Robin Buratto
Peter Garlington Pittsfield Mass., Designer, parent, art lover
Peter Lafayette Pittsfield, Mass.
Peter Merwin Pittsfield Mass.
Phil ColeMan, Business Owner
Phyllis Criddle, North Adams, Mass..
PJ Danahey, Pittsfield, Mass., business owner
Priscilla Wolf, Educator, Lakeville, Conn.
Rachel Mabee
Rebecca Marzotto
Regina Burgio, Pittsfield, Mass. (designer/business owner)
Renee and Steven Erenburg, Richmond, Mass.
Richard Rowe, Dalton, Mass., President, U.S. Government Products, Crane Currency
Richard Squailia, West Stockbridge, Mass., Business Owner
Robert Grien, Board Member of IS 183 and Fine Art Photographer
Robin McGraw, President, Black Rock Foundation, Major supporter of Berkshire Museum
Roger Gutwillig, museum volunteer
Rose Ellis, Williamstown, Mass., Former Superintendent of Schools
Sandra Lanning, pro science & pro solvency parent and engineer
Sandra L. Burton
Sara Paul, Hinsdale, Mass.
Seth Nash, Lenox, Mass.
Shannon Costello, Brooklyn, N.Y., MCLA Alumni & Nonprofit Administrator
Sharon Chambliss, Clifton Park, N.Y.
Stan Spencer, Lenox, Mass. Spoken Word Poet and Storyteller
Stephanie Iverson, parent and artist
Stephanie Merwin, Pittsfield, Mass., Parent
Steven Green
Susan Finnegan, Emerson N.J.
Susan Kelly, Pittsfield, Mass., Psychotherapist, museum volunteer.
Tammy Decker, Sharon, Conn., Teacher
Tessa Kelly
Nancy Vale, Lenox, Mass., This decision to move ahead and preserve our wonderful Museum in a new and expanded way to keep up with the ever changing times is wonderful!! I wholeheartedly support this effort! I am a parent, grandparent, educator and concerned citizen of the Berkshires
Tom & Suky Werman, Lenox, Mass.
Tom Biasin
Tracey Garlington, Richmond, Mass.
William Hines Sr., Retired Founder of Interprint, Inc.
William Yehle

 

 

 

 

 

 

Darcie Sosa
Pittsfield, Mass.ss.


Tags: Berkshire Museum,   

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Pittsfield CPA Committee Funds Half of FY24 Requests

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A few projects are not getting funded by the Community Preservation Committee because of a tight budget.

The projects not making the cut were in the historic preservation and open space and recreation categories and though they were seen as interesting and valuable projects, the urgency was not prevalent enough for this cycle.

"It's a tough year," Chair Danielle Steinmann said.

The panel made its recommendations on Monday after several meetings of presentations from applications. They will advance to the City Council for final approval.  

Two cemetery projects were scored low by the committee and not funded: A $9,500 request from the city for fencing at the West Part Cemetery as outlined in a preservation plan created in 2021 and a $39,500 request from the St. Joseph Cemetery Commission for tombstone restorations.

"I feel personally that they could be pushed back a year," Elizabeth Herland said. "And I think they're both good projects but they don't have the urgency."

It was also decided that George B. Crane Memorial Center's $73,465 application for the creation of a recreational space would not be funded. Herland said the main reason she scored the project low was because it didn't appear to benefit the larger community as much as other projects do.

There was conversation about not funding The Christian Center's $34,100 request for heating system repairs but the committee ended up voting to give it $21,341 when monies were left over.

The total funding request was more than $1.6 million for FY24 and with a budget of $808,547, only about half could be funded. The panel allocated all of the available monies, breaking down into $107,206 for open space and recreation, $276,341 for historic preservation, and $425,000 for community housing.

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