We are already more than a week into the new year! Unwind with local events this weekend including bingo, nature activities, dance parties, and more.
Editor's Pick
Officer Michael J. Silver Memorial Game
Berkshire School, Sheffield
Time: Saturday, Jan. 11, noon
Berkshire County law enforcement hockey team will take on Boston Bruins alumni in the fundraiser to benefit the Silver family, a mental health and wellness initiative for local law enforcement and the Warrior For Life Program. Silver was a Pittsfield Police officer who died unexpectedly in October 2024 at the age of 42, leaving a wife and three children.
The center invites the trans and non-binary community to paint, draw, and sketch with them. More information here.
Rees Shad & Meghan Cary
Studio 9, North Adams
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Singer-songwriters Rees Shad and Meghan Cary will perform solo sets followed by a collaborative performance in the studio on the grounds of Porches Inn, 18 Veazie St.
Heat up the dance floor with some Latin moves. There will be an intro to Latin dance class at 6:30 p.m. followed by a salsa class at 7.
The night concludes with a social dance party starting at 8 featuring merengue, salsa, bachata, and more.
The classes are $15 per person. More information here.
Parent's Night Out
Citizens' Hall, Stockbridge
Time: 6 p.m.
Adults will make art while children ages 3 and older attend a separate class. Each session will be led by different faculty artists, linked by a central theme. The event is free, and pizza will be provided. More information here.
Screening of Kiki's Delivery Service
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington
Time: 7 p.m.
The theater will be showing the 1989 animated Studio Ghibli film "Kiki's Delivery Service."
The film follows a witch-in-training who leaves home to find her role serving a new city with her gifts.
There will be a dance party in the factory's North Room featuring drinks and tunes mixed by DJ BFG. Tickets are $11.63. More information here.
Saturday
Greylock Photography Group Meet-Up: White Birches in Winter
Mount Greylock Gould Trailhead, Adams
Time: 1 p.m.
Mount Greylock State Reservation will host a free photography group meetup during which nature enthusiasts can walk along the trails at Gould Trail, which features birch tree groves and views up to the summit.
There will be immersive audiovisual performances featuring electronic musicians from Massachusetts and Upstate New York, presented in collaboration with the New England Synth Fest.
The program focuses on tracking wild cats and dogs by examining their footprints and signs. Participants will explore how these long-legged creatures move across the landscape.
Attendees should dress for the weather, and traction spikes or snowshoes may be available to borrow.
Participation costs $20 for adult members and $25 for adult nonmembers. More information here.
Sober Sweaty Dance Party
Wander Berkshires, Pittsfield
Time: 8 p.m.
There will be a sober dance party featuring live music by DJ Bengey and a substance-free and full-of-life atmosphere.
Tickets are $10, but no one is turned away because of lack of funds. More information here.
Ghost Tours
Ventfort Hall, Lenox
Time: 8 to 10 p.m.
There will be a ghost tour with "Ghosts of the Berkshires" author Robert Oakes.
Oakes will lead guests through the rooms and halls of the estate, sharing tales of its hauntings.
Admission is $30, and the minimum age to attend is 12. Reservations are required. Purchase tickets here.
Sunday
Cabin Fever Story Time
Mount Greylock State Reservation Visitor Center, Lanesborough
Time: 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Relax by a hearth fire for an hour as Park Interpreter and folklore fan Mike tells stories of the mountain's past, including legendary fisherman Dave Lilly, the Boys of Bob's Hill, Snowshoe Hare and the Mysterious Spirit Woman, and many more.
The free event will include complimentary hot chocolate will be provided. More information here.
Boreal Forest and Waterfall Snowshoe
Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center, Savoy
Time: 1 p.m.
The center's director and naturalist, Aimee Gelinas, will be leading a trek on the center's conserved land, which will feature a new round-trip trail, bridge, and cascading waterfall.
In addition, there will be boreal/northern forest tree identification, wildlife tracking, and forest ecology.
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Former Adams Police Chief Facing Fraud Charges
Staff Reports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The former chief of police in Adams was indicted Tuesday on fraud charges by a Berkshire County grand jury. He is accused of taking nearly $20,000 in overtime funds he didn't earn.
Kevin Scott Kelley, aka K. Scott Kelley, 46, was relieved of duty in September and placed on a paid leave of absence until December. Adams town officials declined to say if he was fired or resigned at that time.
He is accused of submitting fraudulent reimbursement claims under a municipal traffic enforcement grant administered by the Office of Grants and Research in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, according to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office.
The alleged conduct began in or about January 2024 and continued through at least January 2025 and was reported by officers under Kelley's command.
The members of the Adams Police Department identified discrepancies in the reimbursement submissions and gathered evidence indicative of fraudulent activity. They subsequently requested assistance from the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit and the DA's Office.
Based on the materials initially collected by Adams Police, State Police conducted a formal investigation, which concluded that the defendant submitted and received $19,123.15 in overtime compensation for dates on which he either absent from work or performed duties not consistent with the requirements of the grant program.
Kelley was sworn in on January 2021 to replace the retired Chief Richard Tarsa. He came with more than 25 years experience in law enforcement, most recently as police chief for Spartanburg (S.C.) Community College.
Legislators say they are advocating for programs and services that Berkshire County residents need the most, amidst federal funding cuts. click for more
During Jazz Appreciation Month, Pittsfield High students' jazz artworks bring a pop of color to the halls of City Hall and the city's annual Berkshire Jazz Festival. click for more