Clark Art Presents Constant Smiles and Ava Mirzadegan

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Clark Art Institute's Music at the Manton Concert spring series concludes with a performance by Constant Smiles and Ava Mirzadegan on Sunday, May 5 at 5 pm.
 
The performance takes place in the Clark's auditorium, located in the Manton Research Center.
 
According to a press release:
 
Constant Smiles began in 2009 in leader Ben Jones' home of Martha's Vineyard. Inspired by the island's now-defunct community record store Aboveground Records, the group made their live debut as a noise duo opening for Ralph White (Bad Livers). Fourteen indie-folk albums later, Constant Smiles returns to their electronic roots with their latest release Kenneth Anger, evoking the eponymous filmmaker with hypnotic, '80s-inspired synth classics that examine how rituals and community can heal feelings of isolation.
 
Ava Mirzadegan opens for Constant Smiles. Mirzadegan writes quiet songs about heartbreak, longing, letting go, and befriending the night sky. Accompanied most often by fingerpicked nylon string guitar, her work rings of unembellished honesty.
 
Tickets $10 ($8 members, $7 students, $5 children 15 and under). Accessible seats available; for information, call 413 458 0524. Advance registration encouraged. For more information and to register, visit clarkart.edu/events.
 
Presented in collaboration with Belltower Records, North Adams.

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Companion Corner: Priscilla at Second Chance Animal Shelter

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

ARLINGTON, Vt. — There is a sweet girl awaiting her new family at Second Chance Animal Shelter.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.

Priscilla is 2 years old and came to the shelter from a hoarding house.

Feline Program Administrator Santana Snyder introduced us to her.

"She came to Second Chance from a hoarding situation, and she had two little kittens with her when she came in. Her kittens have been adopted, but she's still looking for her forever home," she said.

She has been at the shelter for about a year and has not had anyone visit her.

"She came in April of 2025. There was a point in time where she wasn't available on the floor because she was still taking care of her kittens. So that is partially why she's been here this long, but also overlooked for unknown reasons," Snyder said. "She's very sweet. She's very playful. She gets along pretty well with the other cats."

She can go home with respectful kids, other cats, and a respectful dog as well, as she does like her boundaries sometimes as most cats do. She especially loves people and will follow you around.

"She is a bit bossy, so cats that kind of can give her some space, and know that when they get in her space, she will tell them that she's had enough," Snyder said. "Not sure how she would do with dogs. However, she is very confident in herself and not a very timid cat, so I think she would be fine with a feline savvy dog.

"She loves people. She loves to be around people. There's often times where she'll escape out the door from us because she's trying to follow the people that were in here loving on her."

Priscilla enjoys sunbathing and looking out the window at people or birds.

"This is a favorite pastime of hers, sitting and watching out the window. So she loves being up high and watching the cars and the birds."

Priscilla is healthy, litter-box trained, and knows her scratching posts, but does have a sensitive stomach.

"She does, right now, eat a sensitive-stomach diet, but it's not prescription, so easily accessible, not super expensive. She was just having some issues with vomiting up the food that wasn't sensitive stomach," she said.

Priscilla is ready to go to her new home where she can play and lay in the sun all day.

"She's really is a great cat, like I said, not sure why she's been here this long. She just wants to find her people and be loved."

Priscilla is sponsored by someone anonymous.

If you think Priscilla might be the cat for you, reach out to Second Chance Animal Shelter and learn more about him on the website.

Second Chance Animal Shelter is open Tuesday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. It is located at 1779 VT Route 7A. Contact the shelter at 802-375-2898 or info@2ndchanceanimalcenter.org.

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