North Adams Mayor's Fitness Challenge June 2023

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Mayor's Fitness Challenge (MFC) is back for the month of June, calling on the community to make a conscientious effort at healthier habits by participating in this community-wide fitness challenge.

This will be the 7th Annual MFC for North Adams.

Community members of all ages are encouraged to register and participate either as individuals or as part of a team, to wrack up points for the chance to earn prizes at the conclusion of the challenge. Participants will be working to build and track points by eating fruits and vegetables, drinking water, and participating in physical activity. There are also daily challenges for points.

Registration will be held on Thursday, June 1, and Friday June 2, 2023. nbCC will be tabling in front of the office, located at 61 Main Street, North Adams, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

on June 1, registering participants and handing out tracking packets and t-shirts. On June 2, members of the nbCC team will begin the day at 7:30 a.m. at the kick-off of the Eagle Street Coffee Date series, signing participants up while they enjoy free coffee and baked goods hosted by Mayor Macksey and the City of North Adams.

The Coalition team will also be registering participants during June's First Friday festivities which will include the Mayor's Fitness Challenge Kick-off. The theme of June's First Friday is "Proud of Progress" and will include the painting of a new street mural, exhibition openings, live music and business specials.

The MFC kick-off event will include registration, free games, demonstrations from various local MFC partners, information tables, and activities located either on Main Street or Eagle Street. Some examples of activities include a gong bath at the Terra Nova Church space on Main Street, a bike rodeo on Eagle Street, and free smoothies hosted by the First Baptist Church youth group. Mayor Macksey will be out and about and plans to demonstrate some sparring with Gail Grandchamp. Registration for MFC will be available from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Just look for the nbCC tables and MFC shirts! T-shirts are in limited supply and will be first come, first served.

Weekly events in this year's challenge include outdoor yoga classes, lawn games at Windsor Lake, the downtown bike around, and weekly hikes in places like the Cascades, Tannery Falls, Sunset Rock Trail, and Natural Bridge State Park. Additionally, several local fitness studios will be offering deals of membership, free classes, and other incentives to participate.

The challenge runs throughout the month of June. The final day to track points will be Monday, June 26, and all participants must turn in their tracking packets by 6:00 p.m. that afternoon. There will be a Wrap Party at Windsor Lake, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. where the individual and team winners will be announced and receive their  prizes. There will be live music from the band Pandemic Relief, lawn games and everyone is encouraged to bring a picnic dinner. Snacks will also be available for purchase from the BFAIR concession stand.

This event has been organized by the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, the North Adams Mayor's Fitness Challenge Planning Team, and the City of North Adams. The full calendar of MFC Events can be found below, online at  nbccoalition.org calendar page, or on the back of the MFC points tracker that every participant receives. For daily updates or weather announcements, participants can  follow the nbCC facebook or instagram accounts.

2023 MFC Schedule 

Week 1 | June 1-3 |Registration & Kick-off 

6/1 | 8:30a.m. - 6p.m. |  nbCC Office, 61 Main Street, North Adams  - Register teams/individuals & pick up your MFC packets and t-shirts

6/2 | 7:30 - 9:00a.m. | Eagle St. - Register during the Eagle Street Coffee Date kick-off sponsored by Mayor Macksey and the City.

5:00-8:00 p.m. | Eagle St. - Register during First Friday and enjoy MFC kick-off events and activities!

 6/3 | 9a.m.-1p.m. | Shop at the North Adams Farmers Market.

9:30-11a.m. | Help the River St. Community Gardening Group 

11:30a.m. | Walk w/ Mayor Macksey at Natural Bridge  (Transportation available)

2:00p.m. | ROOTs Teen Center/nbCC Bike Collective Build a Bike Workshop |  206 Ashland St.

 

Week 2 | June 4 - 10th

6/4 - 10:00a.m. | Basketball games  |  Noel Field Courts, 310 State St.

7:15p.m. | Relaxation Yoga  |  North Adams Yoga, 26 Holden St.

6/5 - 3:30-5:30p.m. | Bike Collective Workshop hours |  206 Ashland St.

5:30p.m. | Downtown Bike Around  |  206 Ashland St.

6/6 - 12:00-1:00p.m. | BHS: Top 10 Most Powerful Lifestyle Interventions  | UNO Center, 157 River  St.

5:00p.m. | Tick Talk w/ CHP  |  UNO Center, 157 River  St.

6/7 - 5:30p.m. | Evening at Windsor Lake: Intro to Disk Golf,  live music, pack a picnic | Windsor Lake, Kemp Ave & Bradley St.

6/8 - 4:15p.m. | Free Yoga w/ Barb Malkas  |  Colegrove Park

6/9 - 7:30 - 9:00a.m. | Eagle Street Coffee Date | Eagle Street Parklet

        5:30 p.m. | Bocce Ball | UNO Center, 157 River  St.

6/10 - 9a.m. - 1p.m. | Shop at the North Adams Farmers Market.

9:30-11a.m. | Help the River St. Community Gardening Group 

11:30a.m. | Walk w/ Mayor Macksey at Cascades Trail (Transportation available)

2:00p.m. | ROOTs Teen Center/nbCC Bike Collective Build a Bike Workshop |  206 Ashland St.

         

Week 3 | June 11 - 17th

6/11 - 10:00a.m. | Basketball games  |  Noel Field Courts, 310 State St.

6/12 - 3:30-5:30p.m. | Bike Collective Workshop hours |  206 Ashland St.

5:30p.m. | Downtown Bike Around  |  206 Ashland St.

6/13 - 6:00-8:00p.m. | Appalachian Train (Overlook) Hike w/ Jeff K. | DCR trail head just past  Wigwam Western Summit

6/14 - 5:30p.m. | Evening at Windsor Lake: Lawn Games,  live music, pack a picnic | Windsor Lake, Kemp Ave & Bradley St.

6/15 - 4:30p.m. | Relay Races  |  Downtown & at MASS MoCA

6/16 - 7:30 - 9:00a.m. | Eagle Street Coffee Date | Eagle Street Parklet

          6:00 p.m. | Self Defense with Gail Grandchamp | UBG Park

6/17 - 9a.m. - 1p.m. | Shop at the North Adams Farmers Market.

9:30-11a.m. | Help the River St. Community Gardening Group 

11:30a.m. | Walk w/ Mayor Macksey at Tannery Falls (Transportation available)

 

Week 4 | June 18 - 24

6/18 - 10:00a.m. | Basketball games  |  Noel Field Courts, 310 State St.

6/19 - 3:30-5:30p.m. | Bike Collective Workshop hours |  206 Ashland St.

  5:30p.m. | Downtown Bike Around  |  206 Ashland St.

6/20 - 12:00p.m. | Lunch time stroll with nbCC  | Meet at 61 Main St.

  6:00p.m. | Conversation on Alzheimer's & Dementia  |  NA Public Library, 74  Church  St.

6/21 - 5:30p.m. | Evening at Windsor Lake: Nature Walk  live music, pack a picnic | Windsor Lake, Kemp Ave & Bradley St.

6/22 - 4:15p.m. | Free Yoga w/ Barb Malkas  |  Colegrove Park

6/23 - 7:30 - 9:00a.m. | Eagle Street Coffee Date | Eagle Street Parklet

         12:00 - 12:30 p.m. | BHS:Stretch & Strength |  UNO Center, 157 River  St.

          6:00-8:00 p.m. | Ice Skating Party! | 1267 S. Church  St.

6/24 - 9a.m. - 1p.m. | Shop at the North Adams Farmers Market.

9:30-11a.m. | Help the River St. Community Gardening Group 

11:30a.m. | Downtown Dog Walk w/ Mayor Macksey

 

Week 5 | June 25 - 28

6/25 - 10:00a.m. | Basketball games  |  Noel Field Courts, 310 State St.

6/26 - 3:30-5:30p.m. | Bike Collective Workshop hours |  206 Ashland St.

  5:30p.m. | Downtown Bike Around  |  206 Ashland St.

  6:00p.m. | DEADLINE TO TURN IN TRACKERS | 61 Main Street, Suite 218

6/28 - MFC Wrap Party! Winners announced, live music, games and celebration! | Windsor Lake, Kemp Ave & Bradley St.


Tags: fitness challenge,   mayor,   NBCC,   

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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

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