It's going to be a hot and steamy weekend in the Berkshires but there's plenty of cool things to do.
First Friday Block Party
Eagle Street, North Adams
North Adams will be closing Eagle Street to turn this First Friday into a block party from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The monthly downtown event will feature music, street games, activities and gallery openings. Mayor Jennifer Macksey will host a downtown gathering and Desperados Mexican Restaurant on Eagle Street will offer beer and wine for sale.
It's the First Friday of the month! Artists and artlovers know what that means, Pittsfield's First Friday Artswalk is here starting at 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Art exhibits will be on view at a variety of venues in downtown Pittsfield with most of the art being on display all month long.
During the event, participants will have the opportunity to meet the artists. Participants can download the Downtown Pittsfield Inc. app from the Google Play or App Store to get a virtual walking tour.
Participating venues include, Hotel on North, Barrington Stage Company's Wolfson Theatre Center, Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, The Marketplace Cafe, Indoors Out! Free Kids' Paint & Sip, and more
For a complete list of participating venues and artist visit the Art Walk website.
BCHS Contemporary Artist Exhibit
Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Pittsfield
Berkshire County Historical Society launches its contemporary artist exhibit at Lichtenstein Center for the Arts this weekend starting on Aug. 5.
Participants will explore several different themes including the effect of industrialization on the natural world, ethnic stereotypes, queerness and disability through contemporary artists Jim Jasper and Christopher Volpe's work.
The exhibition runs through August 26. More information here.
Movies Under The Stars
The Adams Visitor Center, Adams
The Adams Visitor Center will be showing the Walt Disney Animation Studios' film "Encanto" this Friday, Aug. 5, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Families can bring their blankets and lawn chairs to watch the majestic Madrigals as family member Mirabel attempts to save the magic that was gifted to her family.
Comedy Night at TurnPark
TurnPark Art Space, West Stockbridge
TurnPark, located at 2 Moscow Road, will be hosting a stand-up comedy night this Friday, Aug. 5, featuring comedian, actress and writer Kate Willet.
The venue will start to serve drinks and snacks starting at 7 p.m. and the show will begin at 8 p.m.
The Pittsfield Suns will be concluding their season with three games this weekend.
On Friday, they will face off against the Westfield Starfires at Bullens Field in Westfield starting at 6:30 p.m.
On Saturday, they return to Wahconah Park to play against the Nashua Silver Knights starting at 6:05 p.m.
They will finish off their season on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. when they will be up against the Norwich Sea Unicorns.
Band Jam 2022 to benefit PopCares
Greylock Community Club, North Adams
Local non-profit PopCares is hosting its annual Band Jam this Saturday at Greylock Community Club, located at 548 State Road, from 2 until 10 p.m.
The event will feature auctions, live music, food, raffles, and more. This fundraising event costs $10 for entry and all proceeds will go to Berkshire County residents struggling with cancer. Tickets are available with the bartender at Greylock Community Club.
WAM Theatre will be presenting a play reading of "Escaped Alone" by Caryl Churchill this Sunday, starting at 2 p.m. in the The Mount's Stable auditorium.
The play follows the visions of apocalyptic horror that play out inside their minds of three old friends and a neighbor who chat during a series of summer afternoons.
Tickets cost $25 for in-person and $15 for virtual. Tickets can be purchased on the WAM Theater website.
The Sheffield Farmers' Market is open this Friday from 3 until 6 p.m. at First Congregational Church located at 125 Main St.
The market will feature healthy food and products from a variety of local vendors in an attempt to nourish the community by protecting "local small farms, land, bees, and economy."
Powered by Roots Rising, the market is open every Saturday rain or shine from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. through Oct. 8.
Each week the market will have fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables, along with meat, eggs, cheese, baked goods by local vendors. Participants can shop for flowers, and artisan goods while listening to music and participate in family activities.
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North Adams Schools Talk Final Budget Numbers for Public Hearing
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
The elementary schools will be phasing in a new math curriculum over the next two years.
The subcommittee is recommending the budget of $20,357,096, up $302,744 or 1.51 percent over this year. This was expected to be funded by $16,418,826 in state Chapter 70 education funds, local funding of $3,938,270 (up $100,000 over this year) and a drawdown of school funds of $575,237. This will also include the closure of Greylock School at the end of this year and the reduction of 26 full-time positions.
A hybrid public hearing on the budget will be held on Thursday, May 23, at 5:30 at Brayton School, with a vote by the School Committee to immediately follow.
The extra $100,000 from the city will likely not be part of this funding package, warned Mayor Jennifer Macksey, chair of the School Committee.
"Going through all my process on the city side, so to say, with the rest of my departments, it's going to be really hard for me to squeak out the additional $100,000," said the mayor, alluding to a budget gap of $600,000 to $800,000 for fiscal 2025 she's trying to close.
"I just want to be fully transparent with everyone sitting here, and as your School Committee chair, I don't know if the city budget is going to be able to squeak out that $100,000. That number will most likely change."
Director of School Finance and Operations Nancy Rauscher said the $100,000 had been a placeholder with administration understanding that it could change.
The closure was announced on the store's Facebook page late Sunday night, where it immediately drew comments of remembrance and well-wishing.
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Spring arriving in all its raucous and deliberate awakening is heralded by a symphony of vanguard spring peepers, hyla crucifer, that transform the cold and drear into a circus of vivacious trilling. click for more
The fate of the facility attached to Brayton School has been in limbo since the closure of the pool last year because of structural issues and the departure of the Berkshire Family YMCA in March.
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The School Committee will be presented next week with a $20 million spending plan for fiscal 2025 that includes closing Greylock School and a reduction of 26 full-time positions.
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