Third Thursday Season Canceled

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield Office of Cultural Development has canceled the Third Thursday street festival for what was to be its 14th season because of concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.  

"While there is a possibility that ‘street festivals’ may begin in Phase 4 of the Reopening Massachusetts Plan, the magnitude of planning, organizing, implementing, and hosting a Third Thursday is more than we ought to undertake at this time, especially if we begin to see increasing infection rates because we are spending more time together and more business and activities are reopening," Mayor Linda Tyer said.

The city-run street festival hopes to move many of the sponsors, vendors and performances scheduled for this season to 2021. 

The office is focusing on public art this summer and helping to promote all of the virtual offerings that the cultural venues in Pittsfield have to offer.


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Toy Library Installed at Onota Lake

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Feel free to use or leave a toy at Onota Lake's newest infrastructure meant to foster community and benefit kids.

Burbank Park now has a toy library thanks to Wahconah Regional High School senior Alexandra Bills. Located along the wall at the beach area, the green and blue structure features two shelves with sand toys that can be used to enhance children's visits.

The Parks Commission supported Bills' proposal in February as part of her National Honors Society individual service project and it was installed this month. Measuring about 4 feet wide and 5.8 feet tall, it was built by the student and her father with donated materials from a local lumber company.

Friends and family members provided toys to fill the library such as pails, shovels, Frisbees, and trucks.

"I wanted to create a toy library like the other examples in Berkshire County from the sled library to the book libraries," she told the commission in February.

"But I wanted to make it toys for Onota Lake because a lot of kids forget their toys or some kids can't afford toys."

Bills lives nearby and will check on the library weekly — if not daily — to ensure the operation is running smoothly.  A sign reading "Borrow-Play-Return" asks community members to clean up after themselves after using the toys.

It was built to accommodate children's heights and will be stored during the winter season.

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