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Cultural Pittsfield This Week: Oct. 18-24

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The 15th annual Pittsfield CityJazz Festival continues through Sunday, Oct. 20. The Dayramir Gonzalez Quartet will perform at Berkshire Museum on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. The concert will be preceded by a wine bar that opens at 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m., The Colonial Theatre will host legendary vocalist Stephanie Nakasian and her daughter, Veronica Swift, in a rare pairing. The Berkshires Jazz Youth Ensemble will open.
 
 
MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE
Follow the yellow brick road to A Night in Emerald City and help Berkshire County Kids' Place raise critical funds. Enjoy dinner, entertainment, a silent auction and more, at the Country Club of Pittsfield. 5-8:30 p.m.
Plus... 
FRI MAD Crew Halloween Bash at The A | FRI The Equalites at The Colonial | FRI Story Slam (In a Slump) at Dottie's | FRI Andy Kelly at Bread & Roses Coffee House | FRI Pediatric Development Center Fundraiser w/Whiskey City at Proprietor's Lodge | FRI Blue Light Trio at Rainbow | FRI Spanish Guitarist Ben Schmolze at Mission | FRI Karaoke Night at Friends | FRI Sky Full of Dippers at Hotel on North | FRI Jay Boland at Proprietor's Lodge | FRI-SAT Wine, Cheese and Trees at Bousquet | SAT Generation X Rock at The A | SAT Lyndsay Anne at Proprietor's Lodge | SAT Django's Reserve at Mission | SAT Desserts & Live Music w/Hannah Bourdon at Dottie's | SUN Eagles Small Ensembles Concert at First United Methodist | MON Berkshire Athenaeum Book Club at Hotel on North | MON Jazz Night at Mission | WED Gruppo Mondo at Rainbow THU Comedian Gus Constantellis at The Colonial THU Haunted Hancock at Hancock Shaker Village THU Arrowhead After Dark | THU Throwback Thursday at Uncorked | THU Jim Witherell at Proprietor's Lodge | THU The Picky B's at Mission
 
FAMILY FRIENDLY
Each month, youth and their caregivers are invited to Berkshire Athenaeum for an evening make and take session. This month, make a felt monster plushie! This program is best suited for those in grades 2-5, however, siblings are welcome. All supplies will be provided. Registration for this event is required.
6-7 p.m.
Plus...
FRI WeeMuse Adventures at Berkshire Museum FRI "Little Blue Truck" Pajama Night at Barnes & Noble FRI-THU Parenting Classes & Play Groups at 18 Degrees | SAT Saturday Story Time at Berkshire Athenaeum SAT Pop-up Play Day at Berkshire Museum SAT We Shape History at Berkshire Museum SAT Chow Time at Berkshire Museum SAT Learner's Lab: DIY Soy Candles at Berkshire Museum SAT KidsAct! Jr. begins at Barrington Stage SAT Halloween Nerf War at The Infield SAT Amplify Berkshires Live Auditions at The Lichtenstein | SAT Flashlight Scavenger Hunt at Berkshire Museum | SUN Discovery Tank Program at Berkshire Museum | MON Tiny Tots Story Time at Berkshire Athenaeum | MON Dungeons & Dragons at Berkshire Athenaeum TUE FREE Basketball Clinic at Boys & Girls Club  TUE WeeMuse Littlest Learners at Berkshire Museum WED WeeMuse Parent/Child STEM at Berkshire Museum WED Petite Picassos at Berkshire Athenaeum THU Preschool Play & Learn at Berkshire Athenaeum THU Farm Friends at Hancock Shaker Village THU Lego Club at Berkshire Athenaeum 
 
WELLNESS
Run the scenic cross-country trails at Berkshire Community College to benefit BCC's nursing program in the Berkshire Healthcare Harvest Run. The Harvest Run 5K is free to attend, with registration fees and prizes for runners, and free refreshments for all. The kids' 1-mile fun run is free to enter. 10 a.m.
Plus...
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 | FRI-THU Various Classes at Berkshire Salsa FRI-THU Various Classes at Pilates Fit | FRI FREE Yoga Class at Berkshire Athenaeum | SAT 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at Radiance Yoga | SUN Sunday Morning Cycle at Berkshire Running Center | MON Journey to Health Workshop Series at Zion Lutheran Church | MON Common Yoga at Zion Lutheran Church | WED Pick-up Soccer at The Infield
 
PERFORMANCE
Barrington Stage Company presents a world premiere by Brent Askari. In the not-so-distant future, a couple is enjoying a visit from their college-aged son when a young Muslim woman comes to their door. She's looking for safe passage via a new Underground Railroad as Muslims are being detained and imprisoned. When a government official knocks on their door, the family must decide how much to risk to save an innocent woman. 
Plus...
FRI-SUN Mamma Mia! at Berkshire Community College
  COMMUNITY

The EforAll Ideas Pitch Contest is a fast-paced, fun community event designed to help early-stage entrepreneurs gain valuable exposure and feedback on their business ideas. FREE. Berkshire Museum. 6-8 p.m.
Plus...
ONGOING Pittsfield Photo Challenge | FRI ArtWeek Spark Session at The Lichtenstein | SAT Fall Tag Sale at Zion Lutheran Church | SAT Rainbow Seniors Talk & Listen Group at Berkshire Athenaeum | SUN Brunch w/DB Squared at Dottie's | SUN Jazz Brunch at Hotel on North | SUN Eagles Small Ensembles Concert at First United Methodist | MON Dine-to-Donate for Boys & Girls Club at 99 Restaurant | MON Berkshire Trans Group Meeting at Berkshire Athenaeum THU Haunted Hancock at Hancock Shaker Village THU Arrowhead After Dark
  LEARNING
 
Workshops are back at Township Four, and begin with the popular Globe Terrarium Class! These mini-gardens are made to either sit on a shelf or hang from a hook, and make great gifts. Other options are available during the class if you're looking to create in a different piece of glassware. All materials are included; choose between lush terrarium plants or neat succulents! $40 plus tax. 6-7:30 p.m.
 
Plus...
ONGOING What's in the Attic? at Hancock Shaker Village SAT Learner's Lab: DIY Soy Candles at Berkshire Museum | SUN Learn to Play Strat-o-Matic at The Lichtenstein | SUN Paint "Summer Campfire" at Berkshire Paint & Sip | MON FREE Introduction to Grants Research at BCC | MON West African & Caribbean Drumming Classes at The Lichtenstein TUE Reiki Level I at BCC THU Successful Aging at Knesset Israel 
 
FILM
FRI-MON Official Secrets at The Little Cinema
Starring Keira Knightley, Matt Smith and Ralph Fiennes, Official Secrets tells the true story of Katharine Gun, a British whistleblower who leaked information to the press about an illegal NSA spy operation designed to push the United Nations Security Council into sanctioning the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Plus...
ONGOING See What's New at The Beacon

 

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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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