Williamstown Harvest Supper Cancelled

Second Congregational Church in Williamstown Harvest Supper Cancelled

Second Congregational Church in Williamstown will not be holding its annual Harvest Supper this year. The mid-October event is the latest activity the congregation has been forced to cancel because of the pandemic, including the strawberry festival and the church auction and pot-luck supper fundraiser. The church has, however, resumed worship services outside, weather permitting, and indoors if necessary.

North Adams Public Library Storywalk

The Dot Storywalk will be on display on the grounds of the North Adams Public Library on Thursday, Oct. 1 from 3:30 to 5:30 PM.  

StoryWalk is an interactive way for people to enjoy reading while being outside at the same time. Participants follow a designated path around the library where laminated 2-spread pages from the children's book "The Dot" by Peter Reynolds will be displayed in intervals. 

Children who participate in the Storywalk will receive a bag of books and an opportunity to sign up for a library card.  Families interested in registering for a library card are asked to please bring a photo ID and a piece of mail with a current address.

Registration is required as space is limited. Call 413-662-3133 or email naplyouth@northadams-ma.gov with questions.

October First Fridays Artswalk

The First Friday Artwalk continues through October with a mural unveiling Oct. 2 ay 5 pm.  

Pittsfield’s Artscape will unveil the mural "THE SUN WILL RISE" at 443 North Street. "THE SUN WILL RISE" is a 20 x 16 foot mural created by Jesse Tobin McCauley along with Jay Tobin and Stephanie Quetti.

The Artswalk starts at 2 pm and ends at 5 pm.

Be sure to maintain a physical distance of 6 feet from other individuals and wear your mask.

Click here for a map of all indoor and outdoor locations, including hours for the indoor shows.

Sharing Stories: The Importance of Oral Histories and Listening in These Unprecedented Times

Join the Berkshire Museum online on Friday, Oct. 2 at 5:30 pm for a live panel discussion to open an updated, virtual version of the 2019 exhibition Their Stories: Oral Histories from the NAACP.

Judith Monachina will lead a conversation about the Housatonic Heritage Oral History Center as featured in the exhibit and the ways oral histories and sharing and listening to each other can help communities meet the unique challenges of today including the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing fight for social justice.

Panelists for the evening will include community activist, educator, and Founder of the Rites of Passage and Empowerment Program, Shirley Edgerton, and NAACP Berkshires President, Dennis Powell.

Learn more and register at explore.berkshiremuseum.org.

Andrew Erdman To Lecture For Ventfort Hall On "Eva Tanguay, The I Don’t Care Girl."

Historian and author Andrew Erdman will present for Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum a visual presentation via Zoom on "Eva Tanguay, the I Don’t Care Girl or Lady Gaga of the Gilded Age." He will give his talk from his home in New York City on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 3:30 pm.  He originally gave this talk before an audience at the museum on July 28 without Zoom.  

Erdman’s latest book "Queen of Vaudeville:  The Story of Eva Tanguay," is the first-ever biography of the performer. Showbiz circles of her day nicknamed her the "I Don’t Care Girl" after her trademark song "I Don’t Care," which she first introduced as part of a vaudeville act in 1905. 

Erdman served as a staff reporter at Fortune magazine where he wrote a weekly human-interest column and profiles of the world’s billionaires. He also has written for National Lampoon, Diversions, Women.com and LifetimeTV.com.

Tickets for the Erdman lecture are $20 per person. To view him on Zoom register at https://ventfort10032020.eventbrite.com

Reservations for viewing him at Ventfort Hall on Zoom are strongly recommended as seating will be strictly limited. For reservations to attend at the mansion call us at (413) 637-3206. Tea cannot be served until further notice due to the coronavirus.

New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction. 

 

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

 

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

 

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

 

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

 

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

 

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.