Big Weekend Ahead At Joe Wolfe Field

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. —As the summer edges closer to its final month, Joe Wolfe Field is jammed full of great summer baseball action this weekend for the whole family to enjoy.

Starting on Friday, the North Adams SteepleCats return home to take on the Upper Valley Nighthawks at 6:30 PM. The SteepleCats look to get back on track as they hope to make a final playoff push in the last few weeks of the season.

Then beginning on Saturday, a North Adams staple in the 28th annual LaFesta Baseball Exchange holds its first game at 6 PM pitting local youth against those from the North End of Boston. As many from around the area have fond memories from playing in the exchange, Saturday’s game also will mark their 100th game played, hitting another milestone in their rich history. The teams will then play another game on Sunday at 10 AM to conclude the contests at this end of the state. Admission to both games is free.

Following the second LaFesta game, the SteepleCats hold another battle against the Upper Valley Nighthawks on Sunday, this time at 4:30 PM. The SteepleCats will also welcome a special guest in former professional baseball player Pedro Sierra to throw out the first pitch. Sierra, the last player to play in both the Negro Leagues and the Major League, also spent time playing baseball in Pittsfield as a member of the Pittsfield Senators. After his pitch, Pedro will be selling various baseball collectibles at the ballpark.

Tickets for any of this weekends SteepleCats games can be found online at www.steeplecats.org or one hour before the game’s start at the ticket booth.

Northern Berkshire United Way: 1970s Has Its Ups and Downs

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
06:17PM / Wednesday, June 03, 2026

The Northern Berkshire United Way sets its highest goal yet in 1979, and the first time going over $200,000. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Over three decades, the Northern Berkshire United Community Services had raised some $3 million for its affiliated agencies. 

 

That number was announced that the organizations "fifth" annual meeting in 1974, marking the time since Adams had joined, and counting the funds raised by the North Adams Community Chest and the North Adams and Adams United Funds and Northern Berkshire United Fund. 

 

The report that year was dedicated to past 24 volunteer campaign chairs, of whom 17 were still in the area and three — Russell Lanoue, George Higgins and G. Churchill Francis — had since died.

 

The amount of money raised seemed significant for the time, but the united fund found itself struggling in the early '70s as the economy dipped and its the need for its services grew. 

 

The campaign in 1970 saw an ambitious goal of $184,952 to support 16 agencies, with Northern Berkshire Child Care as the latest addition. The drive kicked off that goal at the Midway with Chair George Bateman, but it reached only 80 percent of its goal by the end. 

 

Batemen said it might not be a financial success but "I believe it was a spiritual success" because of the hard work and enthusiasm of so many drive volunteers.

 

But President Henry Pierpan said there would be allocation cuts for 1971 despite "a substantial sum" voted from reserve funds.