Downtown Pittsfield Announces Holiday Downtown Passport

08:21AM / Saturday, November 23, 2024Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (DPI) will be facilitating a Holiday Downtown Pittsfield Passport giving shoppers a chance to win one of three prize packages made up of donations from the 35 participating local businesses.

The prize packages are valued at $500, $300 and $200. The promotion will run Friday, Nov. 29 through Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024.

A person can collect one sticker from every business/location where they make a purchase. If a person shops on Small Business Saturday on Nov. 30, a person can get an additional bonus sticker at each place they make a purchase.

The more stickers a person collects, the greater their chance of winning one of the Downtown Pittsfield Prize Packages. Each sticker equals one entry to win the prize packages.

The Downtown Pittsfield Passport will be available at participating businesses and locations starting Friday, Nov. 29. (Bonus locations will only have them available during their event.)

Passports must be turned in to the Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. mailbox at 431 North Street by Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025 to be eligible to win a prize. You may mail your passport or drop it in the mailbox. If mailing, please have it postmarked by Jan. 2, 2025.

Valid passports must have at least one sticker under the “made a purchase” section in the center of the passport.

Purchases include:

Dine in/Take out
Gift Card Purchases
Fitness Classes, Passes, and Memberships
Movie and Theatre Tickets
Anything money is spent on

Participating Locations:

Retailers:

413Shirts, 1595 East Street

Bomb Shack Vintage, 307 North Street

Bottomless Bricks, 163 South Street

Budhaus, 239 West Street

Carr Hardware, 547 North Street

Deidre's Special Day, 2 South Street

Dory & Ginger, 299 North Street

Mana Crypt Gaming Center, 139 West Housatonic Street

Museum Outlets, 31 South Street

Nene's Deco, 144 South Street

Paul Rich & Sons Home Furnishings + Design, 242 North Street

Peace Train Tees, 2 South Street

Sally Tiska Rice Art Studio, Clock Tower, 75 S Church Street

The Plant Connector, 46 West Street

Thistle & Thorn Floral, 393 North Street

Truffles by Tarah, 48 North Street

Witch Slapped, 78 North Street

Wellness:

Berkshire Fitness and Wellness Center, 137 North Street

Berkshire Yoga Dance & Fitness, 55 North Street, Suite 201

On Pointe Barre & Fitness, 740 Williams Street

Experience:

Berkshire Theatre Group, 111 South Street

Phoenix Theatres / Beacon Cinema, 57 North Street

Restaurant/Bar:

101 Restaurant & Bar, 1 West Street

Espetinho Carioca, 48 B North Street

Hot Harry's, 37 North Street

Hot Plate Brewing Co., 1 School Street

LuLu's Tiny Grocery, 137 North Street

Marie's North Street Eatery and Gallery, 146 North Street

Marketplace Café, 53 North Street

Methuselah Bar and Lounge, 391 North Street

Otto's Kitchen & Comfort, 95 East Street

Patrick's Pub, 26 Bank Row

Thistle & Mirth, 44 West Street

Tito's Mexican Bar & Grill, 34 Depot Street

Wander, 34 Depot Street

Bonus Passport Stickers can be obtained at the following locations:

Wreath Art Auction

Friday, Dec. 6, 5 to 7 pm

Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Avenue

Photos Ops with Santa

Saturday, Dec. 7, 12 to 3 pm

Dunham Mall, 100 North Street

Marguerite Bride Watercolors Art Show

Sunday, Dec. 8, 10 am to 12 pm

Framework by Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., 437 North Street

Pittsfield Farmers Market

Saturday, Dec. 14, 9 am to 1 pm

Zion Lutheran Church

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If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

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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