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Pittsfield Shows Some Love With 10x10 Fest Ice Sculpture

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The sound of power tools could be heard in downtown Pittsfield as two artists crafted icy letters in front of the Berkshire Museum.

Peter Vacchina and Robert Markey spent hours on Thursday creating a large frosty display that reads "Love 10x10" as part of this past week's 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival.

"We feel like love is all around and love is what everyone needs," the city's Cultural Development Directo Jennifer Glocker said.

"So it's just a simple message of love and it's going to be here as long as Mother Nature cooperates and it stays cold, which looks very good."

With temperatures dipping into the 20s on Friday and Saturday, the frozen sign should survive well into next week.

The two men have been carving these sculptures in front of the museum for five years now.

"I am really happy and proud to be part of the 10x10 Festival here in Pittsfield," Vacchina said. "And carving these blocks of ice out in front of the museum just makes my day."

Markey, an artist of many mediums, made his first ice sculpture 10 years ago in Greenfield. He introduced Vacchina, a marble and mosaic artist, to ice sculpting five years ago.

The two were thankful for clear skies on Thursday, as there was rain and sleet later in the weather forecast. With chainsaws for the large parts and chisels for details, they worked from around 10:30 a.m. to about 2 p.m.

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.