Innovation Playshop At The Berkshire Museum

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PITTSFIELD – The Berkshire Museum in downtown Pittsfield will offer the four-part art course, “The Innovation Playshop,” on Saturdays, May 3, 10, 17, and 24, from 10 a.m. to noon. Young artists ages 7 to 10 will imagine and concoct inventive sculptures, toys, and other artful constructions. Instructor for the course is Melanie Mowinski. Registration is $60 ($40 for members). To register, call 413-443-7171, extension 10.

Melanie Mowinski holds an MFA in Book Arts and Printmaking from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and a MA in Religion and the Visual Arts from Yale University. Her work has been exhibited both nationally and abroad, most recently in San Francisco, Pittsfield, and Venice. She's taught courses and workshops at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Williams College, the American Philosophical Society and Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia, Case Western Reserve University and at art centers in Wyoming, St. Kitts, and Australia. She currently coordinates Public Programs at the Berkshire Museum.

The Berkshire Museum is located at 39 South Street on Route 7 in Downtown Pittsfield. The galleries and aquarium are open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 3-18. Members and children 2 and under are admitted free. For more information, contact the Berkshire Museum at (413) 443-7171, ext. 10, or visit www.berkshiremuseum.org
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Bianchi-Barbarotta Foundation Holds Awards Banquet

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Bianchi-Barbarotta Foundation Friday honored outstanding contributors to the Berkshire County sports scene at its third annual Awards Dinner at the Polish Falcon Club.
 
The foundation supports youth sports throughout the county each year.
 
In 2025-26, those donations totaled more than $30,000 to groups ranging from youth football and cheerleading programs, Pittsfield Little League, Northern Berkshire Softball and the Pittsfield Boys and Girls Club Recreation Therapy Program, to name a few.
 
Funds raised by the foundation also go to support its annual Vera Barborotta Memorial Sportsman Scholarship, which this year went to Lee High School graduate Joey Abderhalden and Taconic grad Madeline Harrington.
 
Two other recently graduated high school standout athletes were recognized as winners of the Al Bianchi Memorial Athletes of the Year: Madison McCarthy and Cooper Calvert, both of Wahconah Regional High School.
 
Pittsfield High School girls basketball coach Kristy Conyers and Hoosac Valley boys basketball coach Matt Larabee received the foundation's Coach of the Year Awards.
 
John Castonguay received the Bianchi-Barbarotta Foundation Living Legend Award. A.J. Ziter took home the Connie Bianchi Memorial Award of Merit. And Mark Moulton rounded out the honorees with the foundation's Volunteer of the Year Award.
 
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