Berenstain Bears will stick around Stockbridge

12:00AM / Friday, June 06, 2003Print Story | Email Story

STOCKBRIDGE - The Norman Rockwell Museum has extended the run of its popular exhibition "The Berenstain Bears Celebrate: The Art of Stan and Jan Berenstain" through October 26, 2003. "We have been extremely pleased with the enthusiastic response to this exhibition," notes Museum director Laurie Norton Moffatt. "The Berenstain's universal themes and uplifting messages have really struck a chord with our visitors, especially young children." Family events and programs based on the exhibition will continue through the fall. "A Festival of Bears" day is planned for Saturday, April 26. In 1962, illustrators Stan and Jan Berenstain published the first of many stories chronicling the adventures of a family of bears. The Berenstain Bears would go on to become one of the most successful children's book series of all time, with worldwide sales of more than 240 million books. At least four generations of children have eagerly followed the Berenstain Bears' exploits. Along the way, these young readers have picked up gentle life lessons with themes ranging from junk food and messy rooms to such complex issues as truth and the concept of God. The first major museum exhibition to focus on the series' prolific creators,:"The Berenstain Bears Celebrate: The Art of Stan and Jan Berenstain" explores the evolution of the couple's work from their student days through their mature work as illustrators in the fields of cartooning, children's books, and animation art. The exhibition includes several interactive components including a life-size Bear Country game board, special Read Along With Stan and Jan stations, an Inside Outside Upside Down Box to try on for size, and more. Sponsorship support for the exhibition has been provided by BerkshireBank. Additional support for this exhibition has been provided by the Board of Trustees of the Norman Rockwell Museum. Educational programs have been supported by Nelvana, the producers of "The Berenstain Bears," an animated series currently airing on PBS-TV. "A Festival of Bears" Saturday, April 26, 2003 The Norman Rockwell Museum will present "A Festival of Bears," a day of family-oriented events inspired by the Museum's popular exhibition, "The Berenstain Bears Celebrate: The Art of Stan and Jan Berenstain," on Saturday, April 26, 2003. The day begins at 10 a.m. with a pictorial cancellation and special presentation of the popular United States Postal Service Teddy Bear stamps. At 11:30 a.m., give your favorite teddy bear a makeover with a costuming workshop conducted by artist Crispina ffrench, or bring your bear to the Teddy-Bear Hospital for any overdue repairs. At 1 p.m. discover some interesting facts about bears in the wild with lieutenant Tom Kasprzak. Musician Lui Collins will keep the celebration going with a performance of bear-themed songs at 1:30 p.m., followed by safety tips and true stories of bears about town from Stockbridge police chief Rick Wilcox. At 2:30 p.m. meet the Berkshire Black Bears baseball team mascot, Tater, who will sign baseball cards and pose for drawings and photographs. The Berenstain Bears characters will join the celebration throughout the day to meet their fans, and a variety of vendors will offering great bear-related merchandise and food provided by Guido's Fresh Marketplace. Support for "A Festival of Bears" is made possible by Nelvana. About the Rockwell Museum Norman Rockwell Museum is open daily. General public admission is $12 for adults, $7 for students, and free for visitors 18 and under (four per adult). The Museum is open daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., May through October; from November through April, weekday hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and weekend/holiday hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Gallery tours are available daily, beginning on the hour. Rockwell's original Stockbridge studio, located on the Museum grounds, will open Saturday, May 3 for the season. The Norman Rockwell Museum is dedicated to art appreciation and education through new scholarship that illuminates Rockwell's unique contributions to art, society, and popular culture. As a center devoted to the art of illustration, the Museum also exhibits the works of contemporary and past masters in an ongoing series of compelling artist showcases. Previous exhibitions at the Museum have presented the work of Charles Schulz, Winslow Homer, Howard Pyle, J.C. Leyendecker, Maxfield Parrish, Rockwell Kent, Al Hirschfeld, Robert Weaver, and others. Established in 1969, the Museum moved in 1993 to its present home, designed by renowned architect Robert A.M. Stern. Set on a picturesque 36-acre estate in the hometown of America's favorite artist, the Norman Rockwell Museum is one of the crown jewels of the Berkshires. For more information, the public is invited to call 413-298-4100, ext. 220. Visit the Museum's Web site at www.nrm.org.

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McCann Recognizes Superintendent Award Recipient

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:32PM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Landon LeClair and Superintendent James Brosnan with Landon's parents Eric and Susan LeClair, who is a teacher at McCann.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Superintendent's Award has been presented to Landon LeClair, a senior in McCann Technical School's advanced manufacturing course.

The presentation was made last Thursday by Superintendent Jame Brosnan after Principal Justin Kratz read from teachers' letters extolling LeClair's school work, leadership and dedication.

"He's become somewhat legendary at the Fall State Leadership Conference for trying to be a leader at his dinner table, getting an entire plate of cookies for him and all his friends," read Kratz to chuckles from the School Committee. "Landon was always a dedicated student and a quiet leader who cared about mastering the content."

LeClair was also recognized for his participation on the school's golf team and for mentoring younger teammates.

"Landon jumped in tutoring the student so thoroughly that the freshman was able to demonstrate proficiency on an assessment despite the missed class time for golf matches," read Kratz.

The principal noted that the school also received feedback from LeClair's co-op employer, who rated him with all fours.

"This week, we sent Landon to our other machine shop to help load and run parts in the CNC mill," his employer wrote to the school. LeClair was so competent the supervisor advised the central shop might not get him back.

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