Jacob's Pillow announces Lorna Strassler Award

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On July 24 at 5pm, a major new scholarship award will be presented to its first annual recipient at The School at Jacob's Pillow. Winston Brown will receive the first annual Lorna Strassler Award for Student Excellence at Jacob's Pillow, which includes both a full scholarship to attend a program of professional study at The School at Jacob's Pillow and a cash stipend. The award is named for Jacob's Pillow Board Member Lorna Strassler of Great Barrington, who is a former music educator in Berkshire County schools. She comments, "I'm truly delighted to be a part of this wonderful award created by my husband, David, in honor of our 50th anniversary and a very special birthday of mine. It is our hope that this award will make a difference in the lives of those who receive it." Pillow Executive Director Ella Baff adds, "This award is a great example of the spirit of true philanthropy;- it provides both material and moral support for young, talented artists." The award is chosen as part of The School's competitive audition and application process, and selected based on their advanced technical abilities, performance skills, highly motivated work ethic, and focused commitment to the dance field. Education Director "J.R." Glover stated, "Every time I had a conversation with Winston, his passion for dance and personal goals reverberated throughout his thoughts. He is at a crossroads right now in that he has his dance degree, will move to New York City, and needs time to audition for companies while pursuing his own choreography. I hope this award spurs his faith and efforts to achieve this." The award recipient, Winston Brown says, "I'm very appreciative and happy to receive this award, which is a blessing considering all the other talented artists who were in the running." Winston Brown is an exceptionally talented dancer from Kansas City, who is attending both the Ballet Program and Contemporary Program this summer at The School at Jacob's Pillow. Prior to this summer, Mr. Brown studied at the Kansas City Ballet School and The Ailey School in New York. Mr. Brown was selected for The School at Jacob's Pillow from more than 1,000 applicants who auditioned in the U.S. and abroad. During the Ballet Program at the beginning of the summer, he studied with Anna-Marie Holmes, Robert Denvers, and Tatiana Legat, and he performed in the world premiere of "Brahms Trio" by Leslie Browne. Prior to the Ballet Program at Jacob's Pillow, Mr. Brown's own prize-winning choreography, "Grey," was performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. for the American College Dance Festival. Audiences can see Mr. Brown when he performs with the Contemporary Program of The School at Jacob's Pillow in free showings at Inside/Out, Saturday, July 17, 24, and 31 at 6:30pm. Every year, more than a hundred dancers on their way to professional dance careers attend The School at Jacob's Pillow for programs in ballet, contemporary, jazz, choreography, and cultural traditions. Dancers spend long, rewarding hours six days a week in intensive studio dance classes, rehearsing and performing repertory, interacting with living legends of the dance world, attending performances of major and cutting-edge international dance companies, learning about dance history in the Pillow's extensive Archives, and gaining weekly performance experience on Inside/Out every Saturday. This immersion in dance has proven to be a winning recipe for producing tomorrow's stars. Jacob's Pillow Funding: As of April 2004, support for Festival 2004, including presentations and educational programs, has been provided by Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; The Wallace Foundation; Surdna Foundation; The Prospect Hill Foundation; William Randolph Hearst Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency; The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; Altria, Inc.; The Shubert Foundation; Leir Charitable Trusts in Memory of Henry J. Leir; The Ridgefield Foundation; The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation; William J. and Dorothy K. O'Neill Foundation; National Dance Project and Expeditions program of the New England Foundation for the Arts; The Harkness Foundation for Dance; Alex Toys; Dance Heritage Coalition; Evelyn Stefansson Nef Foundation; CapezioR/Ballet Makers Inc. & CapezioR/Ballet Makers Dance Foundation; Banknorth Massachusetts; Berkshire Bank; Onota Foundation; Big Y World Class Market; Arch W. Shaw Foundation; Health New England; Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation; the Pillow Business Alliance; and our Members. Major endowment funding comes from the Talented Students in the Arts Initiative, a collaboration of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and Surdna Foundation; The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; William Randolph Hearst Foundation; and Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. ABOUT THE PILLOW: Located in the town of Becket, Massachusetts, internationally acclaimed Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival was originally a family farm in the 1700s and served as a station on the Underground Railroad in the 1800s. Legendary dancer, teacher, and choreographer Ted Shawn established the Festival in 1933 as a showcase for his company of Men Dancers. The Pillow encompasses 162 acres and 30 buildings, including three stages, four dance studios, a restaurant, a pub, housing, Archives, and administrative offices. During the 10-week summer festival, the Pillow attracts thousands of visitors to see world-class dance on three stages and enjoy hundreds of free events, including performances, lectures, tours, film showings, exhibits, and talks with the artists. The Festival is augmented by The School at Jacob's Pillow, which draws a world-class international roster of students and faculty; the Archives, which are open to public access; an Intern Program, which trains arts administrators and theatre technicians for professional careers; support for artist development of new work with Creative Development Residencies; commissions and world premieres; and year-round Community Programs throughout the Berkshires. Jacob's Pillow is a National Historic Landmark, designated by the federal government as an exceptional cultural venue that holds value for all Americans.
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Lanesborough Fifth-Graders Win Snowplow Name Contest

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — One of the snowplows for Highway District 1 has a new name: "The Blizzard Boss."
 
The name comes from teacher Gina Wagner's fifth-grade class at Lanesborough Elementary School. 
 
The state Department of Transportation announced the winners of the fourth annual "Name A Snowplow" contest on Monday. 
 
The department received entries from public elementary and middle school classrooms across the commonwealth to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows that will be in service during the 2025/2026 winter season. 
 
The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during winter operations. 
 
"Thank you to all of the students who participated. Your creativity allows us to highlight to all, the importance of the work performed by our workforce," said  interim MassDOT Secretary Phil Eng.  
 
"Our workforce takes pride as they clear snow and ice, keeping our roads safe during adverse weather events for all that need to travel. ?To our contest winners and participants, know that you have added some fun to the serious take of operating plows. ?I'm proud of the skill and dedication from our crews and thank the public of the shared responsibility to slow down, give plows space and put safety first every time there is a winter weather event."
 
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