Westside Super Soap Box Derby

10:59AM / Wednesday, August 16, 2023Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Westside Legends is hosting our 2nd Annual Westside Super Soap Box Derby on Saturday, Aug. 19 from noon to 4 pm.

There will be a rain date on Sunday, Aug. 20.

Check-in starts at 11 am and the first race starts, which features the city's mayoral candidates, at noon. The event will be held at the corner of Columbus and Robbins Ave.

There will be three divisions: young kids, teens, and adults (ages 18+). Trophies will be presented for first place and Best in Show for each division. The racers will "zoom" down Robbins Ave and the finish line

will be at Southern Ave.

Partners include Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Blue Q, Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Interprint, Mill Town Foundation, PCTV, Premium Water, Inc. and TDI Mass Development. Please come have fun and meet the neighborhood. While you are there, please enjoy food provided by Grampie's Hot Dogs, Smokey Divas and Cravins Ice Cream. Hot dogs and ice cream will be free for the first 100 kids eighteen and under.

Westside Legends, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit entity that looks to improve the quality of life of others on a Community/City/County level, through such items as education, local events, and fundraisers.

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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.

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