Stone Hill Center's First Winter Celebrated With Family Day

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - Stone Hill Center's winter wonderland setting at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute will provide the perfect backdrop for fantastic family fun on Sunday, January 25, from 12:30 to 3:30 pm. Help Stone Hill Center celebrate its first winter with dog sledding, snowshoe excursions, snow sculpting and painting, sledding, and a campfire complete with hot chocolate. Activities are free and are weather and snow dependent. Lack of snow will cancel this family day. Visit www.clarkart.edu/family after January 21 for the latest information in case of cancellation. Admission to the galleries is also free.

Go over the meadow and through the woods by dog sled pulled by friendly Siberian Huskies from the Arctic Paws Dog Sled Team. Meet huskies Snuggles and Willow and their friends, learn the art and history of mushing, and take a turn at controlling the team on short rides on the Clark's grounds.

Explore the woodlands and fields on snowshoes with excursions for all abilities guided by the Williams Outing Club. A limited number of snowshoes will be available free of charge. People are encouraged to bring snowshoes and/or cross-country skis.

After letting that inner artist shine with snow sculpting and painting, work up the courage to go sledding. Bring a sled or borrow one of the Clark's (limited availability). Warm up and top off the afternoon with a campfire complete with free hot chocolate.

This Family Day is supported by funding from the officers and employees of Allen & Company, Inc.

In June 2008, the Clark opened Stone Hill Center, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando. The 32,000-square-foot wood and glass building houses intimately scaled galleries open during the summer, a classroom, and the Williamstown Art Conservation Center. During winter, the building's restrooms, lockers, and water fountain are available to visitors exploring the walking paths and hiking trails on the Clark's campus.

A visit to the Clark is a rewarding family experience year-round with 140 acres of scenic meadows and trails providing ample opportunities for families to cross-country ski, snowshoe, sled, or spot the many birds inhabiting the area. The Clark's grounds are open to the public free of charge. Free admission to the galleries is always offered to children 18 and under and students with valid ID.

The Clark is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, MA. The galleries are open Tuesday through Sunday 10 am to 5 pm (daily in July and August). Admission is free November through May. Admission June 1 through October 31 is $12.50 for adults, free for children 18 and under, members, and students with valid ID. For more information, call 413-458-2303 or visit www.clarkart.edu.
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Pittsfield Council Says 'Yes' to Soccer at Crane Park

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

The pitch will have the logos of the city and the US. and Massachusetts soccer associations. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is gladly accepting a "mini-pitch" from the U.S. Soccer Foundation to bring games back to Crane Park. 

Fueling excitement around the World Cup, U.S. Soccer has been working with the Massachusetts Youth Soccer League to make these facilities available to 20 communities — one of which will be at the park at the intersection of Benedict Road and Springside Avenue. 

The City Council accepted the gift on Tuesday during its regular meeting. 

A mini pitch is a compact, modular field typically used for soccer, and it can also accommodate inline skates. It has a galvanized steel border with built-in goals and a rubber plastic surface that is clicked together; installed on the existing inline hockey court. 

Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham said he has gone door to door speaking with nearby residents, and they are "really excited" about the upgrade. He also sees it as a great addition. 

"They say that nobody really uses the court a ton now, and they are excited to see kids back on there playing," he said. 

Decades ago, the Crane Park facility was a wading pool. It closed in 1980, and before the turn of the century, it was filled in and marked for hockey. 

Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath explained that the wooden border around the rink is showing its age, has been vandalized and tagged, and the facility is seeing a "real decline" in use. 

"This would seem to be an appropriate spot for us to remove the board system that's in place and install the mini pitch system through this grant," he said. 

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