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Cultural Pittsfield This Week: Oct. 20-26

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Raise your Bark 'n' Mary or Meow-mosa to Berkshire Humane Society as the organization celebrate its 25th birthday at the Colonial Theater. Since 1992, BHS has sheltered and re-homed nearly 50,000 animals, touching the lives of countless people and their pets through its humane programming. This special event, hosted by Pet Connection's Steve Caporizzo, celebrates 25 years of compassion. 12-3 p.m. 
 
MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

Berkshire Theatre Group presents Emmy Award-nominated actress and Saturday Night Live alum Janeane Garofalo. You may have seen her in the films The Truth About Cats and Dogs, Wet Hot American Summer, Ratatouille, Reality Bites, and Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion. She also is an outspoken activist, spoken word artist and stand-up comedian. The Colonial Theatre at 8 p.m. $39.50.
Plus... 
FRI David Grover & Linda Worster at South Congregational Church | FRI Brazilian Jazz with Trio Jota Sete at Berkshire Music School | FRI Misty Blues, Amy Ryan Band + more at The A | FRI Blue Light Trio at Rainbow | FRI Bonnie & Mark at Hotel on North | FRI The Remedy at Itam Lodge | FRI Haunted Hancock at Hancock Shaker Village | SAT Zombie Pub Crawl on North Street | SAT Indigo on Mission | SAT Latin Fiesta & Salsa Lesson at The Whit | SUN Fall Dance at Bousquet | MON Jazz Night at Mission | TUE Craft on North - Wintercroft Masks at Hotel on North | WED Dharmasoul at Methuselah | WED Gruppo Mondo at Rainbow
 
FAMILY FRIENDLY

Rogue Yoga invites you to learn to breathe and move together, play games and learn some fun acro yoga. Ages 5+. All levels welcome. 5:30 p.m. snack & talk, followed by class from 5:45-6:30 p.m. $10. KidZone gym at 10 Lyman Street.
Plus... 
FRI WeeMuse: Adventures at Berkshire Museum | FRI Billy Budd in the Breadbox Book Launch at Arrowhead | SAT Pop-up Play Day at Berkshire Museum | SAT Chow Time at Berkshire Museum | SAT Flashlight Scavenger Hunt at Berkshire Museum | MON Tiny Tots Story Time at Berkshire Athenaeum | TUE WeeMuse: Littlest Learners at Berkshire Museum | TUE Grandparents Day at Hancock Shaker Village | WED+ Girls Who Code at Miss Hall's School | WED Parent/Child STEM at Berkshire Museum | THU Preschool Play & Learn at Berkshire Athenaeum | THU Lego Club at Berkshire Athenaeum | THU Farm Friends at Hancock Shaker Village
 
PERFORMANCE
 
 
The Town Players of Pittsfield present Richard O'Brien's deliberately kitschy rock 'n' roll sci-fi musical - just in time for Halloween! This audience favorite will feature a live cast and a live band, in an experience you won't want to miss. Friday through Sunday, this weekend and next weekend, at BCC's Boland Theater. $13-$21.
Plus... 
FRI-SUN Gaslight at Barrington Stage
 
GET CREATIVE

Township Four, the new North Street florist and antique shop, invites you to create a glass mini-garden that can either hang or sit on a shelf. All materials are included, with your choice of plants and accents. Terrariums make an amazing gift, or the perfect addition to your home or office. $40 plus tax. 7 p.m.
Plus... 
FRI Choose Your Own Workshop at Funky Phoenix | FRI + TUE Grandma's Christmas Tree Class at Dirty Brush | FRI, SAT + TUE Paint Parties at Berkshire Paint & Sip | TUE Craft on North - Wintercroft Masks at Hotel on North | THU Scarecrow/Snowman Pallet Class at The Dirty Brush
 
COMMUNITY
 
Berkshire REALTORS and area restaurants will partner to raise funds for Moments House at the 6th Annual Chili Cook-off. Taste the chilis and choose the winners! Country Club of Pittsfield, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Plus...
ONGOING Winter Clothing Drive at Berkshire County Arc FRI Autism Collaborative Meeting FRI-SAT National Friends of Libraries Week at Berkshire Athenaeum SAT Repair Cafe at St. Stephen's Church SAT Grand Opening at Township Four SAT Berkshire Healthcare Harvest Run & 1950's Cookoff at BCC SAT Dance Audition: Road to America's Got Talent at Berkshire Salsa SUN Wild Woman Project at Rogue Yoga SUN Domingo Brunch with Justin Allen at Dottie's
 
LEARN
The Learner's Lab at Berkshire Museum invites you to celebrate the spooky season and learn how to make the perfect Bloody Mary for your taste in this brunch workshop led by A.J.'s Trailside Pub. 11 a.m. Included with regular admission ($13 adult, free for members). Seating is limited, so reservations are requested. Call (413) 443-7171, Ext. 360.
Plus... 
FRI Women's Leadership on Human Rights at Miss Hall's School SAT How to Shoot a Video on Your iPhone at BCC | SAT How Digital & Social Media Has Disrupted Journalism with OLLI at Berkshire Museum SAT The Hoosac Tunnel at Berkshire Athenaeum | SAT The Artful Warrior with Andrea Feldman at The Whit SAT Intro to EFT at Wellness Underground SAT Crystal Bowl Meditation at New Moon Gifts MON West African & Caribbean Drumming Class at The Lichtenstein | TUE Marijuana as Medicine at Berkshire Athenaeum TUE Toastmasters Meeting TUE Crystal Bowl Meditation at New Moon Gifts | WED Let's Talk 3D Printing at Berkshire Athenaeum | THU Learn About 1Berkshire at Knesset Israel
 
FILM
FRI-MON Lucky at The Little Cinema 
Lucky stars Harry Dean Stanton in one of his final on-screen roles before his death on September 15, 2017. He plays a 90-year-old atheist who has outlived and out-smoked his contemporaries. As he comes to terms with his own mortality, he searches for ever-elusive enlightenment.
 
 
ONGOING
See What's New at The Beacon
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 Through the Lens, a story-based portrait series featuring youth in the Pittsfield community from Herberg and Reid Middle Schools and based on the "Dear World Project." 
 
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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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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