Berkshire Roots Celebrates 4/20 With Music, Food, Garcia Line

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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If the Garcias do attend on Saturday, it will be in this custom tie-dye Airstream.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Roots is planning a 4/20 celebration that will include the addition of Garcia Hand Picked products.
 
"This year, we're obviously bringing folks together, but it's really trying to be able to provide some exciting things while they're in line," said Holly Alberti, the cannabis dispensary's marketing director, adding that last year's festivities were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Four-twenty is slang for marijuana consumption and the April 20 date has become something of a celebratory day in the cannabis community.
 
Berkshire Roots will music, food, vendors, and new products on Tuesday at its Dalton Avenue location. On Saturday is the dispensary's launch of Garcia Hand Picked cannabis products made by music legend Jerry Garcia's family.
 
Representatives of Garcia Family Providers are expected to be on hand to talk about the products. There's an outside chance some family members could make an appearance in the "Bertha Bus," a tye-dyed Airstream camper, but nothing has been confirmed.
 
"This is not a concert, this is obviously not like a gathering or anything of that nature," Alberti said. "It's really just to be able to provide something fun for our patrons while they're here visiting with us."
 
Many Berkshire Roots customers are fans of the Grateful Dead — referred to as Deadheads — Alberti said, and they are honored to be the only retail cannabis location in Pittsfield to carry the Garcia family brand.
 
Both events will be COVID-19 friendly with masking, social distancing requirements, and increased sanitization.
 
The 4/20 celebration will feature local musicians Tony Lee Thomas & Jenny Porter followed by acoustic melodies by Melissa Brinton. Betty's Eddies will be providing unmedicated samples of treats and the Chillin Grill food truck will be selling savory menu items such as grilled cheeses.
 
Berkshire Roots will launch limited-edition branded merchandise produced by Pittsfield embroidery company Elegant Stitches and a limited line of candles that are a collaboration between the dispensary and Soma Aroma's Candles.
 
"They are hand-poured, soy-based candles, and she uses therapeutic grade essential oils, which is really in line with our goal and innovation to continue to use better ingredients and everything that we do," Alberti said. "And also being from the community, we're just thrilled to be able to work with her."
 
Cannabis products must be purchased in Berkshire Roots' retail center by legal customers 21 years or older per state law, but the outside festivities are to celebrate the plant and its prevalence in the community.
 
The 4/20 celebration will begin at 10 with music starting at noon. On Saturday, the dispensary will be open at 9 for patients only, and Barrington Stage will perform from noon to 2. If the Garcias attend, they are expected to arrive in Bertha around 1 and stay until 6.
 
Ozzie's Steak and Eggs of Hinsdale will be making an appearance at the Saturday celebration from noon to 3 in with the food truck.

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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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