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Cultural Pittsfield This Week: March 30-April 5

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Have you heard about the Berkshire Lightscapes Project? When events and performances are scheduled in downtown Pittsfield lightscape spaces (Park Square, City Hall and on Dunham Mall), the City will close off these areas to traffic. Colorful, energy-efficient and eye-catching LED lighting will illuminate and decorate these areas. Examples of lightscape events include dances, musical performances, yoga, craft shows, public school events, food tastings, etc. Anticipated lightscape hours are dusk-11 p.m.
 
Berkshire Lightscapes has secured a spot in the Commonwealth Places program, which provides a dollar-for-dollar funding match of up to $50,000 from MassDevelopment if the crowdfunding goal is reached within 60 days. Berkshire Lightscapes is asking interested citizens, businesses and organizations to help raise their crowdfunding goal of $50,000, which, when combined with the matching funds, will be used to design and install these permanent lighting projects. Donate to the Berkshire Lightscapes Project fundraiser today - the project has only until May 16 to raise the money!

 
MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

Weekend Warriors presents a Latin "Traffic Light" Party with DJ Tiburon at the Tavern at The A. Come dressed as a color to indicate your relationship-seeking status! Green: Single and looking. Yellow: Maybe looking, open to advances. Red: in a relationship or not looking. Purple: LGBTQ+. $5. 9 p.m. - 1 a.m.
Plus... 
FRI Blue Light Trio at Rainbow FRI Brian Benlein at Hotel on North | FRI Rock/Hardcore Night at The A | SAT Annie Guthrie at Methuselah | SAT Cameron Collins at PortSmitt's | SAT Richard Stanmeyer Trio at Rainbow | SAT Havin' Fun at Crossroads | MON Ultimate Networking Event at Framework | MON Jazz Night at Mission | TUE Dine-to-Donate for Berkshire Humane at Patrick's Pub | WED Gruppo Mondo at Rainbow | WED Zonta Bunco Fundraiser at Mazzeo's | THU Comedy Night at Methuselah

 
FAMILY FRIENDLY

On Friday at 5 p.m., Berkshire Paint & Sip will offer a FREE "Fireworks over Lake" paint and pizza party at Berkshire Children and Families. The event is open to middle and high school aged youth currently receiving services from BCF. 
 
On Saturday at 10 a.m., children ages 6 and older (and adults!) are invited to Berkshire Paint & Sip's headquarters at 305 North Street to paint "Popsicle Pals." $25.
Plus... 
FRI WeeMuse: Adventures at Berkshire Museum FRI-THU Parenting Classes & Play Groups at Berkshire Children & Families SAT Chow Time at Berkshire Museum SUN Easter Lunch & Egg Hunt at Hancock Shaker Village MON Tiny Tots Story Time at Berkshire Athenaeum | TUE WeeMuse: Littlest Learners at Berkshire Museum THU Preschool Play & Learn at Berkshire Athenaeum THU Lego Club at Berkshire Athenaeum

 
GET CREATIVE

 
 
On Thursday, April 5, Township Four will offer a terrarium-making class at 5:30 p.m. and a succulent mini-garden class at 7 p.m. Sign up early - classes tend to sell out!
Plus...
SAT GemDuo Earring Class at Yummy Treasures THU Create for a Cause at The A

 
WELLNESS

 
Berkshire Athenaeum presents Shake Your Soul every Wednesday night in April. This exercise program led by certified instructor Barbara Pastie is FREE and open to all ages. This movement practice relaxes your nervous system, energizes your body, and awakens your soul through a powerful, fluid dance repertoire set to world music. 6:30-7:30 p.m.
 
Plus...
FRI Latin Nightclub Series at Berkshire Yoga Dance | FRI-THU Various Classes at Berkshire Running Center | FRI-THU Various Classes at Berkshire Family YMCA | FRI-THU Various Classes at Berkshire Yoga Dance & Fitness FRI-THU Various Classes at Radiance Yoga SAT SheJumps Indoor Bike Handling Skills at The Infield | MON Chair Yoga at Knesset Israel | MON Rise & Renew Gentle Yoga at Berkshire Yoga Dance | TUE Deep Relaxation Yoga Workshop at New Moon Gifts | TUE Meditation at Wellness Underground

 
COMMUNITY

 
The 7th annual PDC Night Out is your chance to show your support for Pittsfield's own Pediatric Development Center. Enjoy wine tastings from Balderdash Cellars, beer tastings from Big Elm, light fare from Savory Harvest Catering, a fashion show by Kissy's Boutique, a silent auction, chair massages, a Spin-to-Win game and more. 6-9 p.m. $35.
Plus...
SUN Easter Dinner Buffet at Hotel on North | SUN Domingo Brunch w/The Jeff Link Trio at Dottie's | SUN Easter Brunch at Mazzeo's | SUN Easter Brunch at Rainbow SUN Easter Lunch & Egg Hunt at Hancock Shaker Village | MON Ultimate Networking Event at Framework | TUE Dine-to-Donate for Berkshire Humane at Patrick's Pub | TUE Cause for Paws Radiothon | TUE+THU Town Players Auditions at BCC | WED Zonta Bunco Fundraiser at Mazzeo's | THU Customer Appreciation Month at Guido's Marketplace

 
LEARN

This Bridges out of Poverty training session is a FREE day-long workshop where participants will review poverty research, examine a theory of change, and analyze poverty through the lens of the hidden rules of class, resources and language. Throughout the day, participants will receive specific strategies for improving outcomes, but the focus will be to provide a broad overview of concepts. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Plus...
MON West African & Caribbean Drumming Class at The Licht | THU Positive Behavior Supports Training at Berkshire County Arc

 
FILM

FRI-MON Furlough at The Little Cinema
Tessa Thompson, Academy Award winner Melissa Leo, and Whoopi Goldberg lead a dynamite cast in this rollicking and poignant comedy. In between caring for her mother, a young woman works part time at a prison. The rookie guard gets a chance to prove her mettle when she's tasked with accompanying a hell-raising inmate on an emergency furlough to visit her dying mother. But things soon spiral out of control, sending the pair on a hilarious, surprising and ultimately touching road trip. 
 
Plus...
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.   Gallery Hours: Wed-Sat 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
 
 
The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts will be an oasis of green for the month of March thanks to the biennial art show Forty Shades of Green: Celebrating Ireland & Irish Culture. Both contemporary and traditional artwork on the theme will be represented in Berkshire County's only Irish art show. Work includes photography, painting, sculpture and craft. 

 
PARKING 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Crosby/Conte Statement of Interest Gets OK From Council

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Architect Carl Franceschi and Superintendent Joseph Curtis address the City Council on Tuesday.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With the approval of all necessary bodies, the school district will submit a statement of interest for a combined build on the site of Crosby Elementary School.

The City Council on Tuesday unanimously gave Superintendent Joseph Curtis the green light for the SOI to the Massachusetts School Building Authority by April 12.

"The statement I would make is we should have learned by our mistakes in the past," Mayor Peter Marchetti said.

"Twenty years ago, we could have built a wastewater treatment plant a lot cheaper than we could a couple of years ago and we can wait 10 years and get in line to build a new school or we can start now and, hopefully, when we get into that process and be able to do it cheaper then we can do a decade from now."

The proposal rebuilds Conte Community School and Crosby on the West Street site with shared facilities, as both have outdated campuses, insufficient layouts, and need significant repair. A rough timeline shows a feasibility study in 2026 with design and construction ranging from 2027 to 2028.

Following the SOI, the next step would be a feasibility study to determine the specific needs and parameters of the project, costing about $1.5 million and partially covered by the state. There is a potential for 80 percent reimbursement through the MSBA, who will decide on the project by the end of the year.

Earlier this month, city officials took a tour of both schools — some were shocked at the conditions students are learning in.

Silvio O. Conte Community School, built in 1974, is a 69,500 square foot open-concept facility that was popular in the 1960s and 1970s but the quad classroom layout poses educational and security risks.  John C. Crosby Elementary School, built in 1962, is about 69,800 square feet and was built as a junior high school so several aspects had to be adapted for elementary use.

Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi said the walkthrough was "striking" at points, particularly at Conte, and had her thinking there was no way she would want her child educated there. She recognized that not everyone has the ability to choose where their child goes to school and "we need to do better."

"The two facilities that we are looking at I think are a great place to start," she said.

"As the Ward 6 councilor, this is where my residents and my students are going to school so selfishly yes, I want to see this project happen but looking at how we are educating Pittsfield students, this is going to give us a big bang for our buck and it's going to help improve the educational experience of a vast group of students in our city."

During the tour, Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey, saw where it could be difficult to pay attention in an open classroom with so much going on and imagined the struggle for students.

Councilor at Large Alisa Costa said, "we cannot afford not to do this" because the city needs schools that people want their children to attend.

"I know that every financial decision we make is tough but we have to figure this out. If the roof on your house were crumbling in, you'd have to figure it out and that's where we're at and we can't afford to wait any longer," she said.

"We can't afford for the sake of the children going to our schools, for the sake of our city that we want to see grow so we have to build a city where people want to go."

Councilor at Large Kathy Amuso, who served on the School Building Needs Commission for about 18 years, pointed out that the panel identified a need to address Conte in 2008.

Curtis addressed questions about the fate of Conte if the build were to happen, explaining that it could be kept as an active space for community use, house the Eagle Academy or the Adult Learning Center, or house the central offices.

School attendance zones are a point of discussion for the entire school district and for this project.

"At one time I think we had 36 school buildings and now we have essentially 12 and then it would go down again but in a thoughtful way," Curtis said.

Currently, eight attendance zones designate where a student will go to elementary school. Part of the vision is to collapse those zones into three with hopes of building a plan that incorporates partner schools in each attendance zone.

"I think that going from eight schools to three would be easier to maintain and I think it would make more sense but in order to get there we will have to build these buildings and we will have to spend money," Kavey said, hoping that the city would receive the 80 percent reimbursement it is vying for.

This plan for West Street, which is subject to change, has the potential to house grades pre-kindergarten to first grade in one school and Grades 2 to 4 in another with both having their own identities and administrations. 

The districtwide vision for middle school students is to divide all students into a grade five and six school and a grade seven and eight school to ensure equity.

"The vagueness of what that looks like is worrisome to some folks that I have talked to," Lampiasi said.

Curtis emphasized that these changes would have to be voted on by the School Committee and include public input.

"We've talked about it conceptually just to illustrate a possible grade span allocation," he said. "No decisions have been made at all by the School Committee, even the grade-span proposals."

School Committee Chair William Cameron said it is civic duty of the committee and council to move forward with the SOI.
 
He explained that when seven of the city's schools were renovated in the late 1990s, the community schools were only 25 years old and Crosby was 35 years old.  The commonwealth did not deem them to be sorely in need of renovation or replacement.
 
"Now 25 years later, Crosby is physically decrepit and an eyesore. It houses students ages three to 11 in a facility meant for use by teenagers,"
 
"Conte and Morningside opened in the mid-1970s. They were built as then state-of-the-art schools featuring large elongated rectangles of open instructional space. Over almost half a century, these physical arrangements have proven to be inadequate for teaching core academic skills effectively to students, many of whom need extra services and a distraction-free environment if they are to realize their full academic potential."
 
He said  the proposal addresses a serious problem in the "economically poorest, most ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse area" of the city.
 
Cameron added that these facilities have been deemed unsatisfactory and need to be replaced as part of the project to reimagine how the city can best meet the educational needs of its students.  He said it is the local government's job to move this project forward to ensure that children learn in an environment that is conducive to their thriving academically.
 
"The process of meeting this responsibility needs to begin here tonight," he said.
 
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