Radiant Nights at Hancock Shaker Village

08:02AM / Monday, December 11, 2023Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hancock Shaker Village is back with its multisensory holiday experience with the opening of Radiant Nights on Dec. 15.

"We are thrilled to partner again with artist Joe Wheaton to create Radiant Nights with his stunning video projections which will illuminate the Village and several historic buildings, including the iconic Round Stone Barn. We've added some unexpected elements of surprise along the path as our guests stroll through the Village and enhanced the core experience with several new programming components. This has become a unique winter holiday tradition and we look forward to welcoming the community to experience the spectacle that is Radiant Nights," said Carrie Holland, Director of Hancock Shaker Village.

"I am really pleased and feel privileged to create these original installations once again for Hancock Shaker Village. I have tried to both respond to the history of this majestic property and to create unique projections that reorient the viewers' perception of a space. Like music, my projections are assemblages. Sometimes straight forward, other times more abstract. Until I begin, I rarely know, where I'm headed. My hope is that each viewer will create their own story," said Joe Wheaton.

After taking in the approximate 1-mile route of light installations, sound, and images, guests are invited to visit the farm animals, relax by the fire pit and enjoy a drink and specialty fare from two locations in the Village, and shop the curated Shaker Mercantile for inspired holiday gifts.

Radiant Nights runs 5 to 8pm, December 15-17, December 22-23, and December 26-31. Tickets are discounted for members and free for children twelve and under.

For schedule information and to purchase tickets, visit HancockShakerVillage.org.

Tags: Hancock Shaker Village,

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Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective Hope

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:01PM / Monday, December 29, 2025

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A new chapter in local efforts to combat housing insecurity officially began as community leaders and residents gathered at The First on to celebrate a major expansion of supportive housing in the city.

The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. The Housing Resource Center, funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars, hosted a celebration for a project that is named for its rarity: The First.

"What got us here today is the power of community working in partnership and with a shared purpose," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said.

In addition to the 28 studio units at 111 West Housatonic Street and nine units in the rear of the church building, the Housing Resource Center will be open seven days a week with two lounges, a classroom, a laundry room, a bathroom, and lockers.

Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, challenged attendees to transform the space in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church into a community center. It is planned to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round.

"I get calls from folks that want to help out, and our shelters just aren't the right spaces to be able to do that. The First will be that space that we can all come together and work for the betterment of our community," Forbush said.

"…I am a true believer that things evolve, and things here will evolve with the people that are utilizing it."

Earlier that day, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and her team in Housatonic to announce $33.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, $5.45 million to Berkshire County.

He said it was ambitious to take on these two projects at once, but it will move the needle. The EOHLC contributed more than $7.8 million in subsidies and $3.4 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the West Housatonic Street build, and $1.6 million in ARPA funds for the First Street apartments.

"We're trying to get people out of shelter and off the streets, but we know there are a lot of people who are couch surfing, who are living in their cars, who are one paycheck away from being homeless themselves," Augustus said.

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