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Cultural Pittsfield This Week: Jan. 31-Feb. 6

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On Thursday, Feb. 6, bakeries throughout Berkshire County will compete in the 6th Annual Cupcake Wars in the categories of Best Tasting, Best Presentation, Most Creative, and People's Choice at the Berkshire Hills Country Club from 5:30-8 p.m.

In addition to samples of these sweet treats, attendees will receive an Italian dinner provided by Pittsfield Unico. At the end of the evening, all attendees will be eligible to bid on a dozen full-size cupcakes from each participating bakery!

Tickets are available online and at Elm Street Hardware (129 Elm St. in Pittsfield). Tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the door. NAMI members receive $5 off the price of admission. 
All proceeds support NAMI Berkshire County, which provides information, referrals, classes, workshops, support groups and advocacy to family members and caregivers of people living with mental illnesses throughout the Berkshires.
 
MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE
 
Hailed by the original Beatles promoter as "the best on the scene," The McCartney Years is a period-true, technically stunning and explosive live concert show that performs the music of Paul McCartney, spanning two decades from The Beatles to Wings. The Colonial Theatre, 7:30 p.m. $25 and up.
The annual Pittsfield Rotary Splish-Splash Auction and After-party celebrates the new splash pad at Clapp Park, funded with support from previous Rotary events. Enjoy cocktails, bid on all of the great auction items, and then stay for an after-party around the pool with DJ BFG. Plus, a portion of each ticket sale will go to the auction-within-the auction beneficiary, Roots Rising! Holiday Inn & Suites, 5 p.m.
Plus... 
FRI Jason & Trev at Hotel on North | FRI Desserts & Sing-along at Dottie's | FRI Livio Gravini at Proprietor's Lodge | SAT Australian Wildfire Benefit Concert at The Lichtenstein | SAT Melissa Brinton at Proprietor's Lodge | SAT Hair Ballz Pre-Super Bowl Party at The A | SUN Super Bowl Party at Proprietor's Lodge | SUN JB's Acoustic Gravel at O'Laughlin's | MON Jazz Night at Mission | WED Gruppo Mondo at Rainbow | WED Open Mic Night at Methuselah | THU Jazz Vespers at Zion Lutheran Church | THU Latin American Jazz w/Natalia Bernal & Jason Ennis at Berkshire Athenaeum | THU The Picky B's at Mission
 
FAMILY FRIENDLY
Learn to Podcast is a new weekly program for teens interested in learning how to create and design their own podcast. The first session will cover the basics of what a podcast is and how to get started. The goal is for teens to design and create their own podcast to enter NPR's Student Podcast Challenge! 6-7 p.m.
Plus...
ONGOING 5x5 RAP Call for Art - for Kids! | FRI WeeMuse Adventures at Berkshire Museum | FRI-THU Parenting Classes & Play Groups at 18 Degrees SAT Saturday Morning Cartoons at Berkshire Museum SAT WeeMuse Art Lab at Berkshire Museum SAT Chow Time at Berkshire Museum SAT We Shape History at Berkshire Museum SAT FREE Public Ice Skating at Boys & Girls Club SUN Discovery Tank Program at Berkshire Museum MON Tiny Tots Story Time at Berkshire Athenaeum MON Dungeons & Dragons at Berkshire Athenaeum TUE WeeMuse Littlest Learners at Berkshire Museum THU Preschool Play & Learn at Berkshire Athenaeum THU Lego Club at Berkshire Athenaeum THU Family Night at Friends
 
WELLNESS
 
Join Joy Ruben at Berkshire Yoga Dance & Fitness for an ongoing Gentle Yoga class on Sundays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. This class moves at an easy pace and props are used for beginner poses, with an emphasis on comfort. Meditation and breathwork are incorporated to deepen the practice. $10 per class.
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 Berkshire Salsa FRI-THU Various Classes at Pilates Fit SUN Super Bowl Cycle Spectacular at Berkshire Running Center TUE Early Bird Cycle at Berkshire Running Center TUE Lunch Break Yoga at Berkshire Yoga Dance & Fitness
  COMMUNITY
The One Book, One Community initiative welcomes Rachel Louise Snyder, the author of No Visible Bruises: What We Don't Know About Domestic Violence Will Kill Us, to The Colonial Theatre. The award-winning journalist's intimate investigation of the true scope of domestic violence reveals how the roots of America's most pressing social crises are buried in abuse that happens behind closed doors. The evening will include a lecture and reception. Child care, Spanish translation and ASL interpretation provided. FREE. 5 p.m.
Plus...
ONGOING Woolfest Poster Contest | ONGOING 10x10 RAP Call for Art | SAT Antique Tool & Plant Sale at Township Four SAT FREE Public Ice Skating at Boys & Girls Club | SAT Australian Wildfire Benefit Concert at The Lichtenstein | SUN Brunch w/Tumo-Kohrs at Dottie's | SUN Super Bowl Party at Proprietor's Lodge | MON Berkshire Trans Group at Berkshire Athenaeum | THU Community Production Meeting at Pittsfield Community Television | THU Open Swim at Gladys Allen Brigham Center
  LEARNING
On Saturday at 10 a.m., search for tracks, scat and other signs of wildlife that are active in winter at Wildlife CSI. Discover the mysteries that take place in nature while we're inside our homes. On Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., the Moonlight Owl & Wildlife Prowl invites you to listen and watch for nocturnal wildlife. Explore fields, forests and wetlands to learn about animal adaptations for night hunting.
Plus...
FRI Financial Scams Forum at Berkshire District Attorney's Office FRI Paint "Sunshine Dragonflies" at St. Charles Church | MON West African & Caribbean Drumming Classes at The Lichtenstein MON The Process of Aging at Knesset Israel TUE Drawing from Photographs at The Lichtenstein
 
FILM
FRI-MON Oscar-Nominated Shorts at The Little Cinema
For the 15th consecutive year, Shorts HD and Magnolia Pictures present the Oscar-nominated short films. With all three categories offered - Animated, Live Action and Documentary - this is your annual chance to predict the winners! 
Plus...
ONGOING See What's New at The Beacon

 

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Pittsfield CPA Committee Funds Half of FY24 Requests

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A few projects are not getting funded by the Community Preservation Committee because of a tight budget.

The projects not making the cut were in the historic preservation and open space and recreation categories and though they were seen as interesting and valuable projects, the urgency was not prevalent enough for this cycle.

"It's a tough year," Chair Danielle Steinmann said.

The panel made its recommendations on Monday after several meetings of presentations from applications. They will advance to the City Council for final approval.  

Two cemetery projects were scored low by the committee and not funded: A $9,500 request from the city for fencing at the West Part Cemetery as outlined in a preservation plan created in 2021 and a $39,500 request from the St. Joseph Cemetery Commission for tombstone restorations.

"I feel personally that they could be pushed back a year," Elizabeth Herland said. "And I think they're both good projects but they don't have the urgency."

It was also decided that George B. Crane Memorial Center's $73,465 application for the creation of a recreational space would not be funded. Herland said the main reason she scored the project low was because it didn't appear to benefit the larger community as much as other projects do.

There was conversation about not funding The Christian Center's $34,100 request for heating system repairs but the committee ended up voting to give it $21,341 when monies were left over.

The total funding request was more than $1.6 million for FY24 and with a budget of $808,547, only about half could be funded. The panel allocated all of the available monies, breaking down into $107,206 for open space and recreation, $276,341 for historic preservation, and $425,000 for community housing.

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