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Winner Anita Curtin with the mayor.
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Winner Taylor Turner with Mayor Daniel Bianchi.

Pittsfield Students Honored In Berkshire Jazz Art Contest

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Honorable mention Leanne Hamilton with Mayor Daniel Bianchi, and Berkshire Jazz President Edward Bride.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Three high school students were honored by the mayor on Tuesday for winning the annual Berkshire Jazz art contest.
 
Taylor Turner, a senior at Pittsfield High School, Max Whalen, a PHS freshman, and Anita Curtin, a junior at St. Joseph's High School, were chosen as the winners. The work of one of those three winners will be the symbol of the annual Pittsfield City Jazz Festival in October.
 
The winners were chosen by judges Diane Firtell, Scott Taylor, and Julio Granda, who chose a winner for each of three genres — representational art, abstract art, and graphic design. They also awarded three "judges choice" awards and five honorable mentions. 
 
The judge's choice awards were given to Shane McMahon, a PHS sophomore, Alicia Williamson, a PHS junior, and Andrew LaPatin, also a PHS junior.
 
The honorable mentions were given to two PHS juniors, Tegan Lyon and Kaylin Barcus, and Ethan Kittles, a PHS senior, Leslie Tayi, a Taconic High School junior, and Leanne Hamilton, a St. Joe junior.
 
More than 100 students from Pittsfield HIgh, Taconic, St. Joe and Miss Hall's entered the seventh annual contest. The contest is intended to be a cross-genre creative activity coupling painting with music. 
 
PHS art teachers Colleen Quinn, Lisa Ostellino, and Barbara Patton; Taconic teachers Marybeth Eldridge and Mike Boroniec; St. Joseph's teacher Dale Zola; and Miss Halls teachers Ellie Kreischer and Sophia Lee were all participated in the contest. 
 
Project coordinator is Art Niedeck, a jazz musician and music educator, and co-chairman of the Education Committee of Berkshires Jazz, Inc., which is responsible for planning the Pittsfield CityJazz Festival and other events throughout the year.
 
Berkshire Jazz Inc. is chartered to promote jazz education throughout Berkshire County. The non-profit is supported by ticket sales from the festival, as well as donations from sponsors, which this year include Greylock Federal Credit Union the Feigenbaum Foundation, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, North Coast Brewing Company, Cultural Pittsfield, and jazz education pioneer Jamey Aebersold.

Tags: artists,   awards,   jazz,   

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Afternoon Arrival Estimated for Harris on Saturday

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to arrive in Pittsfield early Saturday afternoon, according to emerging information about the campaign event.

Gov. Maura Healey will greet her at Westfield-Barnes Airport around 12:30 p.m. The Pittsfield event is expected to start around 1:30 p.m.

"Please be advised that due to a special event occurring in the downtown area, we ask the public to follow all posted detours between 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 27," a press release from the city reads.

"Drivers should also expect delays downtown and should consider alternate routes. Parking restrictions will also be in place. Residents, visitors and event attendees should keep these temporary closures in mind when traveling."

Harris was scheduled for the sold-out event in downtown Pittsfield before being suddenly elevated to presidential candidate on Sunday. The original Biden-Harris fundraiser is now a Harris fundraiser but it was unclear if she would continue with her scheduled appearances.

Tickets sold out almost immediately, ranging from $100 to thousands of dollars.

"For security purposes," event details have not been disclosed such as the time and location.  It is assumed to occur at the Colonial Theatre based on a seating chart in the Eventbrite ticket link though, a representative from the theater last week denied knowledge of the event — then directed the caller to the Eventbrite link.

Josh Landes, WAMC's Berkshire bureau chief, has confirmed that he will be at the event and posted details to social media on Friday.

"We expect the program [at the Colonial Theatre] to begin at approximately 1:20 p.m. ET and for the show to conclude at 2:40 p.m. ET," the post reads.

"The program will include remarks from Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Ed Markey, Congressman Richie Neal, Fmr. Governor Deval Patrick and Heather Cox Richardson as well as performances by James Taylor, Yo-Yo Ma, and Emanuel Ax. Concessions will be available for purchase at the venue."

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