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The city spreads 500,000 pounds of sand curb-to-curb along Eagle Street to create the urban beach

Eagle Street Beach Party Returns Saturday

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Prizes will be awarded for the most creative sand castles or sand sculptures.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City of North Adams once again will transform historic Eagle Street into an urban beach on Saturday, July 13.

An annual downtown tradition that originated with artist Eric Rudd in 1999, the beach party is a fun and creative summer staple in North Adams.

Specialty Minerals donates 500,000 pounds of sand, which is spread curb-to-curb along Eagle Street to create the urban beach and is reclaimed by the city Department of Public Services following the beach party for use in various city projects. Anyone interested in volunteering to spread sand is invited to Eagle Street beginning at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, July 13; shovels and tools will be provided.

Family fun begins at 3:30 p.m., with local entertainer Lita Williams DJing the event. Beach attire is encouraged. Children, adults and families are invited to dig, play, sculpt and enjoy the city beach. Prizes will be awarded for the most creative sand castles or sand sculptures using sand toys and tools donated by local businesses, and copies of Eric Rudd's 20th anniversary beach party book have been donated by MountainOne. In addition, the North Adams SteepleCats will give away 250 game tickets to children 12 and under.



The beach party winds down at 7 p.m to make way for an evening fiesta, including an on-street cash bar from Desperado's restaurant along with music and dancing courtesy of Lita Williams and other local musicians.

The rain date for the beach party will be Saturday, July 20. Any decision to postpone to the rain date will be made by noon on Friday, July 12, and announced to local media. As a reminder, smoking is prohibited on all city property and at all city-sponsored events.

The Eagle Street Beach Party is co-presented by the City of North Adams and artist Eric Rudd, and sponsored by the Berkshire Art Museum and Greylock Federal Credit Union. Additional supporters include Specialty Minerals, Desperado's Restaurant, Mildred Elley, Adams Community Bank, MountainOne Bank, North Adams SteepleCats, A-1 Septic, and the merchants and businesses on historic Eagle Street.

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Beverly Gans Marks 60 Years & Counting in the Pittsfield Schools

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Public Schools recognized Beverly Gans for her 60 years of service with the district with a lunch and crystal plaque on Friday. Gans will mark 40 years as secretary to principal at Taconic High School in June.
 
"It's been a wonderful experience, and I wouldn't trade it … I've seen generations go through,"  she said. "I've seen kids go through, I've seen their kids go through, I've seen their grandkids go through … it's just been a wonderful life for me to have this,"
 
Her former students will come back to the school surprised to see the secretary they connected with years prior. 
 
The students, staff, and administration are what make this school great, she said. 
 
"I bleed green and gold," Grans said. Last year on her 77th birthday, the faculty bought her green and gold Nike sneakers that she wears every Friday. 
 
She has become a pillar of the district over the last six decades, so much so that even district leaders look up to her. 
 
"Most people come to me for anything and everything, even in the district. I mean, there's so many new people. I mean, most of the secretaries today, I don't even know them," Gans said. 
 
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