Weekend Outlook: Painted Ponies, Cantering Canines
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It's a "Carouselabration" this weekend in Pittsfield. The two-day fundraiser — a gala auction on Saturday night and a family day on Sunday afternoon — will benefit the creation of an enclosed 36-horse carousel and museum.
The project is the dream of developer Jim Shulman, a Pittsfield native who purchased part of the former Falcon Chevrolet property on Center Street for $325,000 and is recruiting area artisans to carve each of the horses.
The events will take place under a big tent on the now vacant lot.
It's too late for the sit-down gala dinner on Saturday, but area residents can still bid on a range of items and activities, including time with local celebraties. Bid on lunch with MSNBC's Jenna Wolfe in New York City or a weekend at Kripalu, or a carousel cake from Apogee Catering, or sports memoriabilia or comic art.
Try for lunch with your favorite mayor — John Barrett III or James M. Ruberto — or for dinner with Sen. Benjamin B. Downing. Bid online at the Berkshire Carousel Web site.
On Sunday, it's family time from noon to 5 under the big tent. The free afternoon includes songs with David Grover, fun with the "Meatball Guys," face painting, Bowey the Clown, a climbing wall, the Eagles Band, Andy Kelly and the Berkshire Carousel Orchestra and the Pittsfield Police Department Command Center.
There will, of course, be carousel rides at a $1 a pop to help purchase a carousel horse.
Mom and Me
It's not too late to make the second annual Mother and Son Dance at St. Anthony's Parish Center in North Adams.
The semi-formal event is for mothers and sons of all ages and runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Party Dr. D.J. of Adams has created a special mix for the event. There'll also be contests and activities.
Tickets are $12 at the door.
Spring Cleaning
Anyone walking through North Adams can't miss the litter uncovered by the melted snow. It's an unsightly mess that shouldn't be tolerated so the city and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are teaming up for a good, old-fashioned spring cleaning on Saturday, May 3.
<L2>Volunteers are needed to help pick up the debris. Individuals, families, organizations or entire neighborhoods are encouraged to sign up to make North Adams sparkle.
Registration begins at 9 a.m. at the MCLA Church Street Center. Refreshments will be served; call 664-6180 for more information.
Further south, the fifth annual Housatonic Clean Up Day runs from 8 to noon in the village of Housatonic. Participants are asked to meet at the fire station to get route maps and bags; there will be a barbecue lunch station following the clean up. The town of Great Barrington will pick up the bags of rubbish following the event.
In Pittsfield, the volunteers are needed to clean up the West Branch of the Housatonic River beginning at 9 a.m. with assignments at Wahconah Park. The rain-or-shine cleanup is being co-sponsored by a number of local environmental organizations.
For our neighbors to the north, it's the annual Green Up Day in Vermont. Now in its 37th year, the statewide event encourages citizens to pick the trash and litter along the Green Mountain State's roadways. Green trash bags were made available to town clerks and garages through the state Agency of Transportation.
Participants in all the cleanups should dress appropriately with bright-colored clothing, long sleeves and pants, boots or water-resistant shoes, hats, heavy duty gloves, insect repellent and sunscreen.<R3>
Living the Green Life
Sponsored by the Lenox Environmental Committee, a Green Living Fair is being held at the Lenox Middle and High School on Saturday from 1 to 6 p.m. It will feature talks on the environment, workshops, exhibits and games for children. There will be a few surprises, including special gifts for the first 100 families who come to the fair.
Spring Showcase
Students at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield will be showcased Friday night in the first of three free concerts.
The first event is the annual spring concert tonight in the Boland Theatre at 7:30. The program features the BCC chorale; the a capella singing group; and two dance performances. There will also be solo and small-ensemble performances.
Play Ball!
<L4>Williams and Amherst will be at Wahconah Park in Pittsfield on Sunday afternoon to determine the winners of the West Division Championship and mark the 149th anniversary of college baseball — and the 149th anniversary of its oldest rivalry.
The game had to be canceled for rain three weeks ago, but here's hoping the first pitch makes it across the plate at 1:10 p.m. There'll be a short ceremony celebrating Pittsfield's role in baseball and a kids' baseball clinic will run earlier in the morning for local youth leagues.
Ball park admission is $5 for adults; Williams students and kids get in free.
Run, Spot, Run
Sunday is dog day at Mount Greylock Regional High School in Williamstown as runners and their canine companions compete in the annual 5-kilometer Humane Race. The sixth annual event benefits the Berkshire Humane Society.
You can register online until 11:59 tonight (Friday) for $20; after that, it's $25 the day of the race. The 1-mile fun run for kids is $5 online and $10 race day.<R5>
If you can't run, you can still walk or jog, with or without a pooch at your side. Or just come and cheer on the racers.
Registration starts at 8 a.m. and awards will be presented at 10:45.
Williamstown Police Officer Michael Ziemba and Blue the bloodhound will visit and there'll be dog agility demonstrations by Sugar Bush Farm of Stephentown, N.Y., music by "D.J. Feel the Love" Mark Santella and refreshments and food for all racers.
