Mayor Linda Tyer tells how she used to tend a community garden at Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The expanded 9th annual 10X10 Upstreet Arts Festival returns to cure those winter blues this February with a new emphasis on outdoor recreation.
Mayor Linda Tyer announced this year's festival events Thursday at Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary along side Parks and Open Spaces Manager James McGrath, Director of Cultural Development Jen Glockner, and Becky Cushing of Mass Audubon as a way to recommit to the city's efforts to capitalize on its recreational economy.
"The art festival has amazing events and programs that give us something to look forward to in the winter months," Tyer said. "This year's festival will feature a brand-new outdoor recreation experience for residents and visitors. This will be between our thriving art and culture scene and our magnificent natural resources. It truly is the best of both worlds."
The festival, which is organized by the Office of Cultural Development and Barrington Stage Company, is sponsored this year by Milltown Capital, which kicked in $6,000 to help fund the 65 events throughout the city.
Tyer said outdoor recreation and its relation to the city's economy will be a main focus in her new term and she hopes to "elevate" what resources already exist in the city.
McGrath said joining outdoor recreation with the festival is the perfect way to drive this focus and vision.
"All of this is being done as part of a larger plan and blueprint for how the city will accommodate outdoor recreation in the future as part of our larger economy," he said. "We recognize that outdoor recreation promotes healthy lifestyles, contributes to a high quality of life for our residents, and perhaps most importantly attracts and sustains employers and families in our city."
He said 59 percent of state residents participate in outdoor recreation and that it generates more than $16 billion in consumer spending, more than $6 billion in salaries, and creates 120,000 jobs.
He said this foundation along with different partnerships will help guide the city's own plan that is based on a list of principles: aligning the city's natural resources and assets with the regional and state outdoor economy, supporting and enhancing opportunities for new and existing businesses, and ensuring that natural resources are accessible to all members of the community.
The events kick of Feb. 13 with the opening reception for the "Ten Spot Sculpture Show" at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts and the "Getting to Yes: Women's Suffrage in the Berkshires and Beyond" exhibit at the Berkshire Athenaeum.
The Mastheads Lit Party at Methuselah Bar & Lounge on North Street will take place that night and Barrington Stage's 10X10 New Play Festival also will host the first show of the festival.
"There is truly something for everyone and we encourage you to join us," Glockner said. "Last year over 10,000 people came to the events so we are hoping to up that number ... this is evidence that people do come out during the winter."
Other events include ice sculpture at the Berkshire Museum, a dance workshop hosted by Jacob's Pillow, fireworks at the Common and much more.
Glockner said instead of only organizing 10 outdoor recreation featured events this year, they did 11, which are as listed:
Thursday, Feb. 13
A $10 tubing night at Bousquet.
Berkshire Natural Resource Council walk at Fred Garner Park at 4 to search for animal tracks and identify trees.
Friday, Feb. 14
Valentine's Day one-mile owl watch walk at Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary. Event starts at 6:30; register here.
"We are encouraging people to go out at night in the winter. So two things people may not have done before," Cushing said. "To look for owls because this is the time they are out mating and having babies in the dead of winter."
Saturday, Feb. 15
Fat-tire bike race at Springside Park. Registration opens at 9 a.m.
Free skating at the Boys & Girls Club from 3:30 to 5.
Sunday, Feb. 16
Ice fishing derby starting at 6 a.m. at the Controy Pavilion at Burbank Park.
Tuesday, Feb. 18
Free skating at Boys & Girls club starting at 1 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 20
Berkshire Environmental Action Team hosts an introduction to "Winter Woodland Botany" in Springside Park from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 21
Berkshire Environmental Action Team hosts an invasive hardy kiwi eradication at 10 a.m. at Burbank Park.
BEAT also hosts an "Introduction to Wildlife Tracking" in Burbank Park from 4 to 5:30.
Saturday, Feb. 22
"Discover Curling" at the Boys & Girls Club starting at 5:30 p.m.
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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.
The students have also been able to build friendships and experience new things, such as dancing for community events, taking a trip to Ireland and participating in competitions.
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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.
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Independent Connections officially unveiled its Massachusetts branch on Thursdsay with a ribbon cutting. The IT solutions company's specializations include consulting, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.
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Taylor Garabedian scored a team-high 22 points and grabbed five rebounds, and Abby Scialabba scored 16 points for the ‘Canes, who got 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists from Ashlyn Lesure. click for more