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Cultural Pittsfield This Week: March 22-28

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Berkshire Art Association will honor and celebrate Marty Rentzan extraordinary volunteer leader of BAA and many other cultural initiatives in the Berkshires. The evening begins with a community reception at The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts at 5 p.m. FREE. Donations accepted.

A party at Hotel on North begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 and include a $15 donation to Berkshire Art Association's 2019 College Fellowship Show.

 

 
MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

Trattoria Rustica will offer a 5-course tasting menu paired with Italian wines. The wines are matched with unique dishes and presented with a story. See website for full menu. Reservations required. 6-9 p.m.
Plus... 
FRI Tom Savoy at Hotel on North | FRI Karaoke Night at Friends | FRI Blue Light Trio at Rainbow | FRI Jen Durkin & The Business at The Colonial | SAT JB's Acoustic Gravel at Friends | SAT Generation X Rock at The A | SAT The Lucky 5 at Mission | SAT Acoustic Groove at Rainbow | SAT DJ Friz at Crossroads | MON WordXWord: Health in America at Berkshire Museum | MON Jazz Night at Mission | WED Gruppo Mondo at Rainbow | THU The Picky B's at Mission 
 
FAMILY FRIENDLY

Berkshire Running Center presents a 4-week
class for teens, held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-4 p.m. The focus is on cardio strength and core training using RunFit Studio, Spivi Cardio Cave and more. $10 drop-in or $75 for all 8 classes.
Plus...
FRI WeeMuse: Adventures at Berkshire Museum FRI-SAT Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella at Taconic High School FRI-THU Parenting Classes & Play Groups at Berkshire Children & Families | SAT Chow Time at Berkshire Museum | SAT Kitchen Ka-Boom! at Berkshire Museum | SAT da Vinci After Hours at Berkshire Museum | SUN Discovery Tank Program at Berkshire Museum | MON Tiny Tots Story Time at Berkshire Athenaeum | MON Peer Art Group: Teens & Young Adults at Berkshire Athenaeum | TUE WeeMuse: Littlest Learners at Berkshire Museum | WED WeeMuse: Parent/Child STEM at Berkshire Museum | TUE Teen Tech Tuesday at Berkshire Athenaeum | TUE Snack & Story Time at Berkshire Athenaeum THU Preschool Play & Learn at Berkshire Athenaeum THU Lego Club at Berkshire Athenaeum THU March Concert at Pittsfield High School
 
WELLNESS
Shake Your Soul is an exercise program led by certified instructor Barbara Pastie. It relaxes your nervous system, energizes your body, and awakens your soul through a powerful, fluid dance repertoire set to world music. All ages and abilities welcome! Shake Your Soul continues every Wednesday for 6 weeks - March 27 to May 1. Berkshire Athenaeum, 6:30-7:30 p.m. FREE.
Plus...
FRI-THU Various Classes at Berkshire Running Center | FRI-THU Various Classes at Berkshire Family YMCA | FRI-THU Various Classes at Berkshire Yoga Dance & Fitness FRI-THU Various Classes at Radiance Yoga FRI-THU Various Classes at Modig Internal Disciplines FRI-THU Various Classes at Pilates Fit SAT Long Run with Berkshire Running Center | SAT Changing Your Perspective at Berkshire Yoga Dance & Fitness | SAT Restorative Yoga w/CBD at Radiance Yoga SUN Yoga & Mimosas at Berkshire Running Center
 
PERFORMANCE
Whitney Center for the Arts presents a play by Taconic Stage Company, written by William Luce. Diedre Bollinger stars as Lillian Helman. Set in a hospital as she maintains a vigil for her longtime love, the novelist Dashiell Hammett, Hellman remembers the people and incidents that shaped her life. This is a sometimes funny, sometimes sad but always compelling view of a remarkable woman and artist. $15-$20.
Plus...
FRI-SAT Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella at Taconic High School
 
GET CREATIVE
 
Create a lush wreath, 12" in diameter, using a variety of succulent plants. All materials are included and no experience is necessary. This is a wreath that will need to be laid flat for 6 to 8 weeks as the roots grow into the substrate, allowing you to hang it just in time for summer! Township Four, 10 a.m.
Plus...
ONGOING Open Studio Hours & Specials at Bisque, Beads & Beyond | SAT Paint "Mom & Baby Giraffes" at Berkshire Paint & Sip
  COMMUNITY & LEARNING
OLLI's Spring Open House is a fun, FREE event open to both members and non-members. Enjoy refreshments, hear from OLLI's spring instructors, and get a sneak preview of Barrington Stage's 25th season! Plus, join OLLI at the open house and save 50% off a first-year membership! Held at Barrington Stage Company's Wolfson Center, 122 North Street. 10 a.m.
Plus...
FRI Share Your Sight w/the Blind & Visually Impaired at Berkshire Athenaeum | FRI Soup Fest at Civitan of the Berkshires | SAT Tyler Street Lab Launch Party at 730 Tyler Street | SUN Brunch w/The Jeff Link Trio at Dottie's | MON Berkshire House of Correction w/Al Bianchi at Knesset Israel | MON West African & Caribbean Drumming Classes at The Lichtenstein | WED Tree Pruning Workshop | THU Prosecution in the 21st Century w/Andrea Harrington at Knesset Israel | THU Foster Family Info Session at Hotel on North
 
FILM
FRI-MON Woman at War at The Little Cinema
Halla is a 50-year-old environmental activist who crusades against the local aluminum industry in Iceland. As her actions grow bolder, her life changes in the blink of an eye when she's finally granted permission to adopt a girl from Ukraine.
Plus...
ONGOING See What's New at The Beacon | TUE Cinema of Law: Bob Roberts at Berkshire Athenaeum

 

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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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