MCLA: Panel of Drag Performers to Celebrate Queer Identities and Performance Art

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) invites the community to an evening of discussion and insight featuring a panel of local drag performers as part of the annual Lavender Lecture.  
 
Panelists Vuronika Baked, Gemini DaBarbay, and Jackie Leggs will take the stage on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 5 p.m. in Venable Theater to share their personal experiences with drag and their journeys in exploring their queer identities. 
 
This panel, presented in a moderated Q&A format, offers an opportunity to hear from the performers about the role of drag in their lives, the challenges and triumphs they've faced, and how the art form has shaped their self-expression and activism. 
 
The event is sponsored by the MCLA Foundation Lavender Fund Donors, whose contributions continue to enrich campus life for LGBTQIA+ students. The Lavender Fund, launched in 2019, plays a critical role in bringing LGBTQIA+ speakers to campus, sending students to LGBTQIA+ conferences, and sponsoring trips to historic sites tied to the LGBTQIA+ civil rights movement. This initiative aims to foster a campus culture where LGBTQIA+ students feel supported and empowered. 
 
This event is free and open to the public. 
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Brown Street Bridge Reopens in North Adams

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff

Mayor Jennifer Macksey is the first to drive across the bridge, closed since early 2023.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Mayor Jennifer Macksey led a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, Dec. 15, marking the official reopening of the Brown Street Bridge.
 
"We are very excited despite the cold weather," Macksey said before the ribbon-cutting. "… We are chipping away at these projects, but this is long overdue."
 
The bridge had been closed to all vehicle traffic since March 2023 after being deemed structurally deficient by the state Department of Transportation (MassDOT). The 26-foot steel structure, built in 1952, was flagged after its superstructure rating fell to 3.
 
The reopening follows a temporary repair project designed to safely restore access while the city and state determine a long-term plan. The temporary repair contract was awarded to J.H. Maxymillian at a cost of $349,920.
 
Funding for the project included $75,000 from state Chapter 90 road funds, with the balance was covered by state flood money the city had been previously awarded following a severe storm in July several years ago.
 
The mayor emphasized the critical need to reopen the span, particularly for public safety. 
 
"The perception behind that was we have flooding on West Main Street and River Street, we have to use this bridge," she said. "We are very excited to have it open. Not only to alleviate traffic problems down at the intersection of Big Y and the intersection of City Hall, but to help our friends at emergency management with the ambulance."
 
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