Cultural Pittsfield This Week: Aug. 7-13

05:31PM / Friday, August 07, 2020Print Story | Email Story

For the month of August, the First Friday Artswalk has been re-imagined to encompass outdoor locations perfect for a socially distanced walk around downtown, plus three indoor locations. Enjoy four new art shows, PHS student art, and Artscape's Pittsfield Paintboxes featuring work by more than a dozen accomplished regional artists on Friday, Aug. 7 from 5-8 p.m. and all month long! Be sure to maintain a physical distance of six feet from other individuals and wear your mask. See you soon!

FUN & LEARNING

A shy Midwestern man leads an outrageous double life as a cocky Londoner in Barrington Stage Company's sexually charged and wickedly funny one-man thriller Harry Clarke, starring Mark H. Dold. Moving to NYC, Harry presents himself as a Brit and charms his way into a wealthy family's life, but his increasingly risky behavior threatens to undo more than his persona. Now - Sunday, Aug. 16.

This week at the Virtual Pillow: As part of its virtual summer festival offerings, Jacob's Pillow invites you to dance with your family, hear from choreographer Liz Lerman, take a modern master class with Darrell Grand Moultrie, catch a performance by Bereishit Dance Company, and more.

Plus...

FAMILY FRIENDLY

Mass Audubon's properties are now open and the organization is currently holding in-person and online classes for all ages. Children can explore the ins and outs of Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary or participate in virtual camp adventures. Adults can enjoy hikes and birding at The Mount or virtual ecology talks.

Sign up now to join Otha Day and Berkshire Music School for Drum2TalkTEENS from August 17-21. FREE. Space is limited; pre-registration required at 413-442-1411. This is a hands-on experience for teens to experience drumming while connecting with each other. This is an opportunity to process emotions and experiences they've encountered during a very stressful 2020, including their own relationships to race, diversity, and belonging in America.

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SHOP LOCAL / EAT LOCAL

Hotel on North's outdoor culinary and cocktail experience, "The Backlot," welcomes back M & J's Taste of Home, plus lawn games and a full bar! Friday & Saturday from 4-9 p.m. Reservations are recommended.

Roots Rising's Virtual Farmers Market is open for viewing all week long! Online shopping is available from Monday at noon until Tuesday at 7:30 a.m., or until the maximum order limit is reached. Shopping for Benefits Day is on designated Tuesdays at noon. If you would like to volunteer to help Roots Rising with Saturday packing and delivery, click here.

RESOURCES

Do you have a photograph, story, song, video, artwork, letter, or object that captures some aspect of your or your community's experience with the COVID-19 pandemic? Share them with Berkshire Museum, the Berkshire Athenaeum, and the Berkshire County Historical Society! In the future, your contributions will help tell the story of how our lives were changed during this remarkable time in history.

1Berkshire has compiled a list of online sites where you can find information on a number of topics, including an explanation of our state's reopening plan. You can also visit the City of Pittsfield's COVID-19 webpage for updates and helpful resources.

Plus...

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

Pittsfield FY27 Budget Up Only 2.9%

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
02:32PM / Monday, May 11, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— On Tuesday, the City Council will refer the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget of $232,782,090.

It is about 2.9 percent, or a $6.5 million increase from the previous year. The budget public hearing will be held on May 19.

The FY26 spending plan, which was described as "best that they could," was a nearly 4.8 percent increase from the previous year.

Budget line items were separated by personnel and non-personnel costs to show the impact of salaries on the operating budget. For example, $1,335,684 of the finance and administration budget goes to personnel, $207,500 to non-personnel, and $14,565,313 of the police budget is for salaries, $1,874,108 for non-personnel costs.

The DPU water treatment enterprise has been budgeted $6,738,952, $1,255,584 for the sewer enterprise, and $11,796,683 for the DPU wastewater enterprise.

Also on the agenda for Tuesday is a request to use $2,000,000 to reduce the Fiscal Year 2027 tax rate, and a 5-year Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Years 2027-2031.

The School Committee has approved an $87,200,061 school budget for FY27 that includes $68,886,061 in state Chapter 70 funding, $18 million from the city, and $345,000 in school choice and Richmond tuition revenues. It is an approximately $300,000 increase from the Pittsfield Public Schools' FY26 budget of $86.9 million.

Pittsfield's proposed 5-year improvement plan invests more than $455 million in important capital projects with a focus on roadway quality, parks and recreational opportunities, facility improvements, safe and functional vehicles and equipment for staff, and modern information technology.

"The proposed General Fund (GF) Capital Investment Strategy recommends a commitment of 6.5% of GF revenues for capital projects," the document reads.

"The plan also includes funds for all water and wastewater capital projects from enterprise fund revenues (i.e. water/sewer rates and retained earnings) and reflects the City's substantial efforts to seek State grant funds and other funding sources for capital projects."

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