The Pittsfield Ethnic Fair

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Pittsfield Ethnic Fair celebrates the many cultures that make up our region.
PITTSFIELD - On Sunday, August 3, the first two blocks of North Street will be closed to traffic and filled with thousands of pedestrians enjoying tantalizing aromas, captivating rhythms and colorful costumes as once again the Pittsfield Ethnic Fair celebrates the many cultures that make up our region.

Free and open to all, the Pittsfield Ethnic Fair will be held, rain or shine, from noon to 6 p.m. with dozens of international food and craft vendors and two stages of music and dance including African music and dance, salsa  rhythms, Irish fiddles, Scottish bagpipes, Indian dance, and much more from around the world. In addition, a veritable United Nations of birds will be featured in the immensely popular Raptor Project Birds of Prey show and exhibit at the Pittsfield Ethnic Fair.

Mayor James Ruberto is a big fan of the Fair. “As the grandson of Italian immigrants I believe it is important for our community to celebrate its cultural heritage and to welcome and celebrate new immigrants and cultures as well. That’s why we have made Pittsfield a ‘Welcoming Community’ for new immigrants and why each year we help sponsor the Pittsfield Ethnic Fair, to highlight and enjoy the many contributions that both old and new immigrants have made to our community.”

The Pittsfield Ethnic Fair committee is chaired by Mario DeMartino, a longtime community leader. He noted, “The Pittsfield Ethnic Fair highlights and celebrates the best of our community. I’m glad my children and grandchildren are able to attend and enjoy the rich diversity found here and the wonderful music, dance, food and craft that is featured every year. Please bring your kids and grand kids to the Pittsfield Ethnic Fair so they can learn about and experience different cultures – and have fun too!” 

The Fair stretches over the first two blocks of North Street, which will be closed to traffic, as well as onto Dunham Mall, Fenn Street and in front of City Hall. Plentiful and free parking is available at the McKay Street parking garage, the First Street parking lot and the Columbus Avenue parking lot.

Vendors from around the world will be offering mouthwatering treats from Colombia, Italy, Brazil, India, Ireland, Poland, Greece, Africa, Ecuador, the Caribbean and more, as well as wine and beer tents for those over 21 years old. Food vendors include La Fogata Colombian Restaurant, Papa Joe’s Ristorante, House of India, Corinne’s Greek Restaurant, the Polish Falcons, the Brazilian Restaurant & Pub, the German-American Club, The Italian-American Club, UNICO of Pittsfield, the Irish-American Club, Berkshire Amistad, Sabor Restaurante, Hot Harry’s Fresh Burritos, the Crowne Plaza, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Guido’s Fresh Marketplace, Sons of Italy Itam Lodge, and more. Craft booths will feature Kenyan handicrafts, international jewelry, Indian clothing, Russian and Greek items, and other products.

The Pittsfield Ethnic Fair is generously underwritten by the Berkshire Bank Foundation, Greylock Federal Credit Union, and General Systems, and cosponsored by the City of Pittsfield and Downtown Inc. Hillcrest Commons is the sponsor for the Birds of Prey exhibit and performances. For more information, please visit www.culturalpittsfield.com or call 413-499-9348.

2008 Ethnic Fair Performance Schedule

Main Stage: North Street at West Street

Noon Welcome

12:15 to 12:45 p.m. Berkshire Highlanders

12:45 to 1:15 p.m. Albany Berkshire Ballet

1:15 to 2:15 p.m. Jimmy McCardle & Irish Country


2:15 to 2:45 p.m. Flamenco dance with Maria Bermudez

2:45 to 3:30 p.m. Jimmy McCardle & Irish Country

3:30 to 4 p.m. Gayathri traditional Indian dance

4 to 5 p.m. Akwaaba Ensemble African dance and drumming

5 to 6 p.m. Afonso Lopez y Orchestra La Perfecta

Second Stage: North Street at Columbus Avenue


12:30 to 1 p.m. Youth Alive Step Dance & Drum Line

1 to 2 p.m. Mark VI Polka Orchestra

2 to 2:30 p.m. Gayathri traditional Indian dance

2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Mark VI Polka Orchestra

3:30 to 4 p.m. Michael Farrell School of Irish Dance

4 to 6 p.m. Mark VI Polka Orchestra
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

ADOPTED! Companion Corner: Cali and Kyzer at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Great news, Kyzer and Cali found a home for Christmas already! Still looking for a new friend for the holidays? There are plenty of dogs and cats and small animals at Berkshire Humane who would love to go home with you.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a bonded dog pair awaiting a new family at the Berkshire Humane Society.

Kyzer and Cali are both poodles. Kyzer is the male and is 7 years old, a quite a bit bigger than his sister Cali, who is a miniature of Kyzer and 8 years old.

Canine adoption counselor Rhonda Cyr introduced us to the two.

"They came from a household that couldn't hold on to them, and it sounds like they may have been abandoned by their previous owner with somebody else, and so they came to us looking for a new home," she said.

The two love to be around you and snuggle. But both are very happy dogs.

"Kyzer is 7 years old, and his personality is that he kind of wants to be in everything. He's very loving, very snuggly, as you can tell. And Callie here, she's 8 years old, and she is kind of like the life of the party," said Cyr. "She wants to tell you everything about her day, and she's a little bit of a little ham."

The two are considered seniors and really like soft treats as Cali just had a few teeth removed and Kyzer has a tooth procedure coming up.

"Currently, they really like soft treats, because they are both on the senior side of things. So they have had some dental work, so they are really in need of something softer. They are not big chewers at this age, really, their main focus right now is just really socializing and cuddling," Cyr said.

The two would love a quiet home with someone who wants to snuggle. They shouldn't go to a home with bigger dogs but if you have a dog, you can bring them in for a visitation with the poodles to see if they will get along. Cats will be fine and the preference is for older and more responsible children so that the pups don't get hurt, as they are senior citizens.

"The perfect home for them would be a quiet home that's not too active. Like I said, they're very social, so they could handle some visitors," she said. "They're very friendly, but I don't think that they would really enjoy any other dogs in the home."

Poodles need to be regularly groomed, and the prospective adopter will have to keep an eye on their health. Kyzer has a heart murmur that needs to be monitored. This doesn't mean he is in bad health, as he could live a perfectly normal life, but he will need to be checked by a veterinary specialist routinely.

"Ideally, he would go to a home that could provide further health care with a specialist in cardiac care. And you know, he could very well live out the rest of his life comfortably and happy," Cyr said. "We just don't have all that information at the moment, but I think that you know the way he's going right now. He's got a good spirit, and he seems to be pretty happy."

The shelter is hoping the to get them a home for the holidays.

"We would love to get them a home in time for the holidays. They've been here since the eighth of November, and they're really, really looking as much as the staff loves them here, we're really looking to get them into a home and somewhere nice and cozy so they can spend the rest of their life together," she said.

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