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Children gaze at one of the trees on display at the Berkshire Museum's Festival of Trees opening event on Nov. 15. The festival runs through Jan. 5; starting Jan. 1, children will receive free admission to the museum.

Berkshire Museum Will Be Free for Children Under 18 in 2020

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — All children under 18 years of age will receive free admission to the Berkshire Museum in 2020 through an initiative honoring Elizabeth "Buzz" McGraw, president of the museum's Board of Trustees.

The museum's annual gala in June raised more than $300,000 to support the museum's education programs and expand free access to its youngest visitors. Free admission for youth will begin in January 2020.

"We are so grateful to the many supporters who are making it possible for us to give back to the community in such a powerful way," said Jeff Rodgers, executive director of the Berkshire Museum. "And all of this in honor of Buzz McGraw who has worked so tirelessly to keep open the doors of this wonderful museum. There has been no stronger advocate for the Berkshire Museum."

This year, the museum welcomed all school groups free of charge thanks to funds raised at the museum's 2018 gala combined with support from Greylock Federal Credit Union and the Beauregard Family. Greylock Federal Credit Union has committed to fund free school admissions for next year as well.

"The center of the museum’s mission is education, which is so near and dear to me. I am so honored to be recognized in this way and thrilled that this wonderful museum will be even more accessible and more valuable to the young people of Berkshire County and this region," McGraw said. "Everyone’s generosity that evening was astounding and the support for the Berkshire Museum is stronger than ever. There is so much to learn and discover at the Berkshire Museum and now the youth in our community can return again and again in 2020."

 


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Flushing of Pittsfield's Water System to Begin

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city of Pittsfield's Department of Public Utilities announces that phase 1 of the flushing of the city's water system will begin Monday, April 22.
 
Water mains throughout the city will be flushed, through hydrants, over the upcoming weeks to remove accumulations of pipeline corrosion products. Mains will be flushed Monday through Friday each week, except holidays, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
 
  • The upcoming flushing for April 22 to May 3 is expected to affect the following areas:
  • Starting at the town line on Dalton Avenue working west through Coltsville including lower Crane Avenue, Meadowview neighborhood, following Cheshire Road north.
  • Hubbard Avenue and Downing Parkway.
  • Starting at the town line on East Street working west through the McIntosh and Parkside neighborhoods.
  • Elm Street neighborhoods west to the intersection of East Street.
  • Starting at the town line on Williams Street, working west including Mountain Drive,
  • Ann Drive, East New Lenox Road, and Holmes Road neighborhoods.
Although flushing may cause localized discolored water and reduced service pressure conditions in and around the immediate area of flushing, appropriate measures will be taken to ensure that proper levels of treatment and disinfections are maintained in the system at all times. If residents experience discolored water, they should let the water run for a short period to clear it prior to use.
 
If discolored water or low-pressure conditions persist, please contact the Water Department at (413) 499-9339.
 
Flushing is an important operating procedure that contributes significantly to the maintenance of the water quality in the water distribution system. 
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