Norman Rockwell's 'Four Freedoms' Return to Stockbridge

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Norman Rockwell's "Four Freedoms" paintings return to Stockbridge

Returning to New England this fall after a six -city international tour is an exhibition devoted to Norman Rockwell's iconic depictions of Franklin D. Roosevelt's Four Freedoms—Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Fear, and Freedom from Want.
 
"We are tremendously honored that so many people from around the world have enjoyed Rockwell's work over the past 2 plus years, as the exhibition traveled around the U.S. and to France, and now comes home for its finale in the Berkshires," Norman Rockwell Museum Director Laurie Norton Moffatt said. "Perhaps now more than ever, the exhibition offers timely reflection into how far our nation has come, yet how much farther we need to go in pursuit of universal human rights, inviting viewers to consider the concepts of common good, civic engagement, and civil discourse."
 
"Norman Rockwell: Imagining Freedom" explores how the 1943 paintings came to be embraced by millions of Americans, providing crucial aid to the War effort and taking their place among the most indelible images in the history of American art. 
 
More than 40 Rockwell artworks are joined by paintings, drawings, photography, artifacts, and writings from artists across the decades in the expression of freedom, including Dorothea Lange, Gordon Parks, Arthur Rothstein, Mead Schaeffer, Arthur Szyk, Martha Sawyers, Langston Hughes, Thomas Lea, Boris Artzybasheff, and Denys Wortman, among others.
 
The exhibit opens Saturday Oct. 17. There will be a virtual gala at 5:30 pm.
 

Pop Up Bistro and Virtual Ghost Tours at The Mount 

Starting Friday Oct. 16 The Mount will collaborate with local food trucks. Menu items will vary weekly and are inspired by seasonal flavors. A selection of craft beers, wine, cider, and specialty cocktails will also be available. The Bistro will run from 3 pm to 7 pm every Friday and Saturday in October through Oct. 24.
 
Sunday brunches will run 10 am to 1 pm every Sunday through Oct. 25.
 
Also, virtual ghost tours begin Friday Oct. 16 from 8 to 9 pm through Oct. 30.  
 
Veteran tour guide Robert Oakes will lead tours through The Mount, sharing tales of the many eerie encounters that have been reported over the years. 
 
Reserve tables for the bistro or sign up for the ghost tour at EdithWharton.org.
 

The Solomon Wright Public Library Open House 

The Solomon Wright Public Library will hold an open house Saturday Oct. 17 to celebrate the recent interior renovations.
 
The self guided tour of the new library interior will follow COVID -19 safety protocols. Participants will enter the front door, stop at eight socially distant points of interest and exit the rear door of the library. Participants will be required to wear masks. Doors and windows will be open. 
 
The celebration will include a raffle of a folding wooden bookshelf and a gift certificate to the Where'd You Get That store in Williamstown. Commemorative individually wrapped cookies and bookmarks will cap off the celebration.
 
The Library's address is 97 Main St. Pownal, VT.
 

Lenox Library's Distinguished Lecture: "What Will the 2020 Election Say about the United States?"

Dr. Michael Hannahan, director of the University of Massachusetts Civic Initiative, will discuss "What Will the 2020 Election Say about the United States?"
 
Michael Hannahan has managed over 50 different exchange programs over nearly 15 years and has spoken in Pakistan, Iraq, Indonesia, and Argentina. He has also managed programs in Croatia, Russia, and Bulgaria. Dr. Hannahan's research examines the effects of political campaign activity, especially direct mail and phone banks.
 
Dr. Hannahan has worked for political parties; managed campaigns and political consulting firms; and served as senior advisor to former Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift. He teaches American Political Thought, American Government, Campaign Finance and Reform, and Modern Political Campaigns.
 
The lecture will take place Sunday Oct. 18 at 4 pm on Zoom .
 

Community Recreation Association to hold food drive

As part of the effort of "Staying Connected to Our Community," the Community Recreation Association (CRA) is holding a Food Drive on Sunday, Oct. 18 from 9 am to 12 pm to benefit neighbors in need. The drive will be held rain or shine.
 
Donations collected during the drive will support the St. Agnes and the United Methodist Church Food Banks in Dalton and The First Congregational Church Food Bank in Hinsdale.
 
For safety, canned goods or non-perishable food items should be left on the curb in front of the Community House at 400 Main Street, Dalton. 
 
 
 
 
 
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Healey Announces Housing Development Supports at Former Pittsfield Bank

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Gov. Maura Healey poses with the bank's old safe. The building is being refurbished for housing by Allegrone Companies. The project is being supported by a commercial tax credit and a $1.8M MassWorks grant for infrastructure improvements. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Gov. Maura Healey stood in the former Berkshire County Savings Bank on Tuesday to announce housing initiatives that are expected to bring more than 1,300 units online. 

"People come here from all over the world. We want them to stay here, and we want kids who grew up here to be able to afford to stay here, but the problem is that for decades, we just weren't building enough housing to keep up with demand," she said. 

"And you guys know what happens when there isn't enough supply: prices go up. We have among the lowest vacancy rates in the country, so against that challenge, we made it our priority from day one to build more homes as quickly as possible." 

Approximately $8.4 million from the new Commercial Conversion Tax Credit Initiative (CCTCI) is designed help communities transform empty or rundown commercial buildings into new homes along with $139.5 million in low-income housing tax credits and subsidies through the Affordable Housing Development grant program. 

The historic 24 North St. with a view of Park Square has been vacant for about two years, and Allegrone Companies plans to redevelop it and 30-34 North St. into 23 mixed-income units. The administration announced its Commercial Conversion Tax Credit Initiative (CCTCI) and the Affordable Housing Development grant program as ways to aid housing production, both of which Pittsfield will benefit from. 

The state is partnering with Hearthway for the construction of 47 affordable units on Linden Street, utilizing the former Polish Community Club and new construction, and Allegrone for its redevelopment of the block. 

The Linden Street project is one of the 15 rental developments the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities is supporting through $25.7 million in federal low-income housing tax credits, $32.4 million in state low-income housing tax credits, and $81.4 million in subsidies. 

Allegrone's project is supported by the commercial tax credit and was recently awarded $1,800,000 from the MassWorks Infrastructure Program. 

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said she fully comprehends the importance of housing and how crushing it is in communities that need it and want to build, but face difficulties with high construction costs. 

"Housing is the key to keeping people in the community in a safe way and giving them an opportunity to fill those many roles that we need throughout the Commonwealth in cities and towns, large and small, urban and rural, these are all important work. Having somebody fix your boiler, fix your car, we want those individuals to be able to live in our communities as well, particularly in our gateway cities," she said. 

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