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City of North Adams Seeks Donation of Christmas Trees

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City of North Adams seeks donation of Christmas Trees

 
The City of North Adams is looking for two large Christmas Trees, 25 feet to 30 feet in height, to decorate the downtown area for the holiday season.
 
Trees will be sought from the Northern Berkshire area from now until the first week of November. 
 
Anyone wishing to donate trees is asked to contact the North Adams Fire Department at 662-3103.
 
If calling after hours, please leave a message and someone will return your call as soon as possible.
 

Autumn Weekend at Hancock Shaker Village

Autumn Weekend celebrates culture, tradition, artistry, and nature with over  20 artisans and food purveyors in a historic setting. 
 
The weekend includes family activities such as an egg toss competition and a scavenger hunt. 
 
Visit the barnyard animals, tour a selection of 20 historic buildings displaying some of the museum’s 22,000-piece collection, visit the farm stand, and check out an unusual vegetable display. 
 
In the afternoon there will be live music by local artists.
 
On Saturday, Lanoue Evans performs at 12 pm and The Kashmir Souls at 3 pm. 
 
On Sunday, Lanoue Evans returns at 12 pm and Misty Blues takes the stage at 3 pm. 
 
The entrance fee is the cost of admission ($20 adults, $8 youth ages 13-17, and free for kids 12 and under). 
 
Purchasing advanced admission is encouraged.  With limited capacity, there may be a wait time for those without advance tickets. 
 
Click here to purchase Saturday tickets and here for Sunday.
 

The 11th annual Berkshire Drum Fest 

 
This Berkshire Drum Fest returns to Windsor Town Park on Peru Road to support the Tamarack Hollow Nature and Cultural Center Saturday, Sept. 26.
 
The drum fest is an annual community experience to gather and celebrate in the spirit of the drum. Classes will be led by master drummer and "Djembe Fola" Namory Keita from Sangbarala, Guinea West Africa, Namory Keita, the Berkshire Rhythm Keepers led by Aimee Gelinas and members of Gaia Roots.
 
10:30 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 2:30 pm: Intergenerational drum classes in person and on ZOOM with Namory Keita. Registration is required. Class fees are $30 per class or $50 for both.
 
3 pm: Intergenerational Concert in person and on ZOOM with Namory Keita, Berkshire Rhythm Keepers led by Aimee Gelinas and members of Gaia Roots. Registration is required. The suggested donation is $10 to $20.
 
The event will also include a world marketplace and refreshments. Masks are required for classes and concerts. No walk-ins and registration required. 
 
Email Director Aimee Gelinas at aimee@gaiaroots.com to register for drum classes and concert or RSVP on Facebook.
 
Fest proceeds will support the Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center's year round environmental education for all ages, the “Raise the Roof” fund to build a sustainable nature and cultural education center and to continue to conserve 32 acres of highland boreal forest in Windsor. 
 

Dewey Hall Outdoors: Alchemy in Concert

 
Dewey Hall and the Sheffield Contra Committee will host two outdoor concerts on Saturday, Sept. 26
 
The dance band Alchemy is made of Karen Axelrod, Eric Martin, and Rachel Bell. Alchemy plays traditional English Country Dance and Contra music and has toured across North America.
 
Tickets for the 2 pm show can be reserved here. Tickets for the 4 pm show can be reserved here.
 

Kathleen Maher Will Present P. T. Barnum, An American Icon

 
Kathleen Maher, executive director of the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, Conn., will give a visual presentation at Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum on "P. T. Barnum: The Man, the Myth, the American Icon." 
 
Her lecture will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 4:00 pm and is part of Ventfort Hall's summer 2020 series of Tuesday Talks.
 
According to Maher, "The Barnum name alone conjures up ideas and imagination, preconceived notions of a man and philosophy. Known to most of the world as the ‘Great American Showman' for more than 170 years, the weight of the Barnum name has forced associations of humbug and merriment, provoked thought, and invited controversy, welcomed the cynical and engaged and challenged the skeptic."
 
Maher has been the executive director of the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport for over 20 years.  She has implemented numerous award-winning exhibitions and programs that explore a variety of 19th-century social themes and historical events.
 
Tickets for the Maher presentation either at Ventfort Hall or via Zoom are $20 per person.  Reservations are required in either case. To view on Zoom register at here.
 
Seating with six-foot spacing at Ventfort Hall will be limited. For reservations to attend at Ventfort Hall call us at 413-637-3206. The museum's traditional Victorian Teas cannot be served until further notice also due to COVID-19.
 
 
 
 
 

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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

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