The Colonial's August Calendar of Events

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Tom Chapin
Sat 8/01/09 2pm
All seats: $15

Three-time Grammy winner Tom Chapin presents a lively, interactive and fun-filled performance that will engage the hearts, minds and imaginations of children and adults alike. His witty and clever songs convey positive messages about family and the environment. Parents Magazine says, “Nobody today is writing and performing better kids’ songs.” Recommended for ages 4 and up
 
Harry Chapin: A Celebration in Song with Tom Chapin and The Steve Chapin Band featuring John Wallace and Howard Fields
Sat 8/01/09 8pm
A: $45 B: $25

In an evening to remember, the famous, musical Chapin Brothers come together to celebrate and bring alive the music of the late Harry Chapin. Songs like “Taxi,” “Cats In The Cradle,” “Mr. Tanner” and “Circle” are sung by those who know them best—Harry’s original band and his amazing family. An evening full of story, emotion, humor and transcendent music, this is a concert to fill your ear and stir your heart.
 
Steve Ross: Live At the Algonquin
In Association with Ligeti Artists LLC/Theshowstore.com
Tues 8/04/09 7:30pm
A: $45 B: $35

Steve Ross performs classic songs from Dietz & Schwartz, Kurt Weill and Cole Porter, with more recent evergreens by Jim Croce and Stephen Sondheim. The San Francisco Inquirer raves, “attending a Ross performance is like opening a treasure chest of great, often rare, songs. No one performing today is his equal.”
 
Assume the Position with Mr. Wuhl Starring Robert Wuhl 
Sat 8/08/09 8pm
VIP: $65 preferred seating with post-show Artist meet & greet
A: $45 B: $25

In an all new follow-up to his acclaimed HBO specials, Emmy-winning, Robert Wuhl, best known from his long running series, Arli$$ on HBO, delivers an imaginative, irreverent, hysterical take on history that ingeniously examines some of the facts, myths, and myths-that-became-facts that have permeated American history. Robert Wuhl is the history teacher you never had—but wished you did!
 


Andrea Marcovicci: I’ll Be Seeing You…Love Songs of World War II
Mon 8/17/09 7:30pm
A: $45 B: $35

Through songs, stories and poetry, Andrea Marcovicci takes the audience on a journey through America’s dramatic era of 1939–1945, when every song became irrevocably intertwined with precious memories. Highlights include “Skylark,” “Sentimental Journey” and “The White Cliffs of Dover.”
 
An Evening with Mountain Featuring Leslie West & Corky Laing
Wed 8/19/09 7:30pm
A: $45 B: $35

Few artists can be credited with forging a style and sound that forever changes the face of rock music. The innovative music of Leslie West, Felix Pappalardi, Corky Laing and Steve Knight and their seminal rock band, Mountain, is one of those elite examples. Hits include “Mississippi Queen” and “Nantucket Sleighride.”
 
FILM: Woodstock
Thurs 8/20/09 7pm
All seats: $5

Woodstock is a 1970 documentary on the Woodstock Festival that took place in August 1969 at Bethel in New York. The film was directed by Michael Wadleigh and was edited by (amongst others) Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker; Schoonmaker was nominated for an Academy Award for Film Editing. It received the Academy Award for Documentary Feature, as well as a nomination for Best Sound.

The film was also screened at the 1970 Cannes Film Festival, but wasn't entered into the main competition.  In 1996, Woodstock was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". New DVD and Blu-ray versions of Woodstock: The Director's Cut are scheduled for release by Warner Home Video on June 9, 2009. The "Ultimate Collector’s Edition" reportedly includes an hour of performances not seen in the film, or not seen in full. Director Michael Wadleigh is overseeing the release, Warner said. Robert Klein's documentary The '60s and the Woodstock Generation will be among the extra features. Woodstock is being restored and re-mastered for the release. (NOTE: THE COLONIAL WILL BE SHOWING THE NEW DVD “DIRECTOR’S CUT” VERSION, BUT NONE OF THE SPECIAL FEATURES EXTRAS)
 
An Evening with Melanie
With very special guests Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion
Fri 8/21/09 8PM
Tickets: $65 (preferred seating with artist meet & greet) and $25

Melanie has sold more than 80 million records over a 40 year career. Her hits, including “Brand New Key” and “Look What They’ve Done To My Song, Ma,” plus her classic Woodstock performance of “Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)” have made her a legend.  “Authentic.” “Timeless.” “Harmonious.” “Exhilarating.” Any or all of these adjectives could describe the folk-rock sound created by Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion. The musical richness and psychological depth of their initial collaboration, Exploration, is irrefutable proof that the disarming granddaughter of Woody/daughter of Arlo and the prodigious South Carolinian quite naturally bring out the best in each other.

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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.

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