Pasko's and Marguerite Bride Partnership

Print Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. - Pasko Frame and Gift Center has been named the officialMarguerite Bride and Judy Gallup in front of new display at Pasko's Frame and Gift Center, 243 North Street, Pittsfield headquarters for Berkshire Fine Art Reproductions by Berkshires watercolorist Marguerite Bride. Under an agreement announced today by proprietor Judy Gallup, Pasko is now the only venue in the northeast where customers can find at least one reproduction of all of Bride's watercolors of Berkshire scenes.

Bride has been painting many of the region's most popular sights, as well as many out-of-the-way vistas, landscapes, and buildings, for the past 12     years. Her "Local Color" series now numbers 99 individual paintings. Many of her originals have been sold, and Pasko is the only venue to be offering a reproduction of every one as a print. Pasko is carrying some of the more popular reproductions in multiple sizes and framing options.

Fine art note cards from this series, individually or in boxed sets, are also available.

To introduce this partnership, Gallup is offering a 15% discount on any Bride print and framing combination through the rest of this year, including custom orders. Special orders from the catalog are promptly filled, usually within 24 hours.

Pasko Frame & Gift Center, located at 243 North Street in Pittsfield, has been regularly voted "Best Frame Shop in the Berkshires." In expanding her retail offerings, owner Judy Gallup said, "Our customers are looking for high-quality and reasonably-priced gifts of art, and are increasingly coming to Pasko for more than our expert framing and professional consultation. While their demands, and their gift lists, are expanding, at the same time they are interested in controlling their costs. Having such a broad, complete series all in one place meets both of those goals, and simplifies the search for unique or hard-to-find gifts."

Additionally, works by many other local artists on display and available at Pasko include landscape photography in barnboard frames by Jeff Gardner; oil and acrylic paintings by Russ Potak; reproductions by Walt Pasko and Leonard Weber; framed photography by Keith Emerling; Pittsfield Parade prints by Suzanne Goudreau; and assorted works by Cheri Allison and Linda Sylvestri.


"Our repeat customers, as well as those who are just discovering us, tell us they want to concentrate on artists of the Berkshires," said Gallup. "We are dedicated to supporting the local economy, as well as showcasing our own environs, by offering the works of a number of our local artists."

In addition to the reproductions and original works by local and regional artists, Pasko’s has also been focusing on expansion of fine gift selections which now includes Irish jewelry, musical statues, P. Buckley Moss ornaments and prints, framed reproductions (including Rockwell's Main Street at Christmas and Leonard Weber’s very popular Berkshire landmarks), pottery by Bill Campbell, assorted fine glassware and new baby gifts in silver.

Pasko will be participating in the Open Studios event sponsored by the Storefront Artists Project and Art On North, on December 13, hosting an open house from 12noon – 4pm. Pasko Frame & Gift Center is located at 243 North Street, Pittsfield, Mass. Hours are Monday – Saturday 9:30a.m. – 5p.m., Thursdays until 8 during the holiday season. 413-442-2680.

Bride's entire collection can be seen on-line at www.margebride.com

Caption for attached picture: Marguerite Bride and Judy Gallup in front of new display at Pasko's Frame and Gift Center, 243 North Street, Pittsfield.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.

Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.

The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.

Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is  appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.

Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.

Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.

Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.

The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.

The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.

Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.

Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years. 

He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.

Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.

Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve  a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.

Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories