image description — People gathered to celebrate the completion of the Marshall Street murals, which are based off of doll prints produced by the Arnold Print Works, which was located at the current Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art site from 1860 until 1942.

Community Celebrates Completion of Marshall Street Murals

By John DurkaniBerkshires Staff
11:36AM / Friday, September 28, 2012Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Community members, artists and Greylock Elementary pupils joined together during Thursday's DownStreet Art festivities to celebrate the completion of the Arnold Print Works murals on Marshall Street.

"I think if you look around tonight you'll realize we didn't do this, it was you, the community," said Phil Sellers, owner of River Hill Pottery, the chairman of North Adams Open Studios and head of Art About Town.

The project, which began in March, was completed by local artists, nine students from Greylock Elementary School's after-school CAMP (Community Art Mural Project) program led by teacher Christina King and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts student Stephanie Vanbramer. The paint and related supplies was funded through a school grant and Art About Town.

The project also linked the city's history into the artwork. The paintings were based off cut-and-stitch cloth dolls printed by Arnold Print Works, which was once located at the current Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art site from 1860 through 1942, a worldwide supplier of textiles and the leading employer of North Adams.

Greylock Elementary School pupils enlarged and then transferred the images onto the six columns, with three characters on each one. Local artists helped to prime, paint and coat the artwork with an anti-graffiti film.

At the celebration, Mayor Richard Alcombright was on hand to hand out certificates to the students involved with the project.

Sellers said he hopes to add more artwork under the Veterans Memorial Bridge, with intention to paint the columns on the other side.

Art About Town is an organization with goals to link artists and citizens to build community through art projects. According to its website, "Art About Town increases public awareness, participation, and appreciation of the unparalleled cultural energy and natural beauty of the city and the region."

Tags: Arnold Print Works, Art About Town, DownStreet Art, murals,

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NBSU Committee Open to Discussing Apportionment Changes

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
05:12AM / Friday, January 16, 2026

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Clarksburg's partners in the North Berkshire School Union agreed to take a look at the assessment structure for the union's administration and the union agreement.

Town and school officials have questioned Clarksburg's share of administration costs, which is now more than 50 percent.

Select Board Chair Daniel Haskins presented the "super" NBSU School Committee last week with a proposal of a base contribution of 10 percent for each district except for Monroe, which would be 5 percent, and then a ratio based on enrollment.

"Over my four years on the Select Board, I've observed a steady increase in presented percentage that Clarksburg contributes to the North Berkshire School Union as our student enrollment has grown," he said. "The reason behind this proposed adjustment is straightforward: The North Berkshire School Union provides services for all member towns. These include oversight of the principals, management of school facilities, food services and special education programs."

He also pointed to the state reporting and reviews, preparation of school budgets, and meeting attendance.

"For example, the union is not attending five times as many school committee meetings for Clarksburg as it is for Savoy, nor is it overseeing three additional principals for Florida," he said. "While I fully acknowledge that the NBSU staff does spend more time on Clarksburg-related matters than those of the smaller towns, it is worth asking whether the current ratios accurately reflect the difference."

The five towns of Clarksburg, Florida, Monroe, Rowe and Savoy share the services of central office that includes the superintendent, assistant/special education director, information technology director, business administrator, support staff, supplies and rent and utilities for the space in North Adams.

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