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Debbie Storie, owner of Baker's Golf Center, poses with a plaque presented to her by the Select Board.
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Baker's Golf Center is marking its 80th year.

80 Years of Baker's Golf Commemorated by Lanesborough Officials

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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Debbie Storie is congratulated by the Select Board on Monday. 

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Baker's Golf Center has been recognized for its long history of providing recreational fun to the town and beyond.

The Select Board presented owner Debbie Storie with a plaque on Monday to commemorate the golf center's 80-year anniversary.

"You do so much for our community," Chairman Michael Murphy said.

"Baker's Golf, staff, you yourself personally. So much for our community. This is just a small token of our appreciation in the hopes that you will continue to do this for another 80 years."

Baker's Golf offers 18 holes of miniature golf with whimsical obstacles and a driving range. It is the county's only facility with both range and mini golf.

Storie has spent the greater part of her life at the golf center, working there since 1983. She has owned it now for three years and kicked off its 2022 season with new amenities, including a dinosaur that now guards the fourth hole.

The golf center's founder Ernie Volin originally had a driving range on Putnam Road. The Baker property on South Main Street was formerly a farm and when its barn burned down in 1941, Volin asked to rent the land for his business and opened in 1943. The rest is history.



Volin ran the golf center until 1968 when it was taken over by the Bakers.

Storie felt that it was very thoughtful and generous for the Select Board to commemorate her business's legacy.

"It was a legacy long before me and I am just going to continue it for as long as I can," she said.

With such a long history, Baker's Golf is undoubtedly part of many residents' childhood memories.  Storie said she appreciates the community's support, as she wouldn't be able to continue without it.

She wishes that former owner Malcolm Baker could have seen the plaque, explaining that it is his legacy that she will try to continue. Baker passed away in 2020.

"He left something good to continue in the community," Storie said.


Tags: minigolf,   recognition event,   

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CATA's 'I Am a Part of Art' Exhibit Celebrates Creativity and Inclusion

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Inclusion is at the heart of Community Access to the Arts, and this year's annual art show showcases that commitment through a diverse mixed-media exhibition featuring interactive elements that make the experience engaging and accessible for visitors of all abilities.
 
The annual "I Am a Part of Art" exhibit is the organization's biggest exhibit of the year, this year featuring over 300 works of art by 250 artists with disabilities, spanning the Lichtenstein Center and Clark Art Institute, said Chris Watford, CATA communications director. 
 
"This gallery right now is CATA's mission in action, and I hope that you see each piece as a window into each artist's perspective and an invitation to step into our CATA world," Executive Director Margaret Keller said.
 
On Thursday, the nonprofit kicked off the exhibition with an opening celebration at the center, where joy and pride were evident as community members smiled, admired the artwork and celebrated the artists behind it.
 
"How amazing it is to stand in the middle of this room and witness the radiance and the beauty of these perspectives, and to take in all of this individuality and talent. Every artist needs an audience, and all of you here today are so important to our ongoing work," Keller said.
 
Last year, CATA started using the Bloomberg Connects app, which not only showcases the artworks but also provides viewers with behind-the-scenes insights, allowing them to learn more about the exhibit and hear from the artists through video and audio recordings.
 
"We learned a ton last year and had incredible feedback from the community about how impactful that app was," Watford said. 
 
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