Reader Leaders at the Berkshire Athenaeum

07:47AM / Monday, February 24, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Athenaeum announced another session of the Reader Leaders program, a unique reading-aloud event aimed at fostering a love of reading for youth in kindergarten through third grade.

The next program will take place on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, at 3:45 p.m. and offers a special opportunity for young readers to practice their reading skills in a judgment-free, encouraging space. Additional sessions will take place on Friday, March 21, 2025 and Friday, April 11, 2025.

The Reader Leaders program pairs young readers with teen volunteers who will guide them through reading aloud, be it reading solo, being read to, or reading together. The 20-minute sessions are designed to build confidence and inspire a lifelong love of reading. In addition to the reading time, participants will also enjoy snacks and a small craft activity.

"This program is a wonderful way for the youth in our community to support one another," said Sara Russell-Scholl, youth services supervisor. "It allows teens to engage in a meaningful way by encouraging younger readers while helping them develop literacy skills. It’s also a fun and interactive opportunity for all involved."

The program is open to readers aged 5–8, and siblings are welcome to attend. Due to limited space, participants are encouraged to arrive promptly.

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Pittsfield Seeks CPA Funds for Bike Racks, AED

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
07:17PM / Sunday, October 25, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city plans to apply for Community Preservation Act funds for park bike racks and an AED machine at the pickleball fields.

On Tuesday, the Parks Commission endorsed Pittsfield’s applications for CPA funds.

"Both of those projects are certainly, relative to CPA funds, low cost but high benefit," Commissioner Anthony DeMartino said.

Through CPA, bike racks are proposed for a few city parks, and the Berkshire Mountain Pickleball league is looking to place an automatic external defibrillator at the Benedict Avenue pickleball fields.

Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath and Recreation & Special Events Coordinator Jennifer VanBramer presented the two small project applications, which will go through an eligibility period before full consideration in the spring of 2027.

During the city’s free, six-week, summer playground program, it was observed that many kids access parks by bicycle. The plan is to buy between six and eight racks to be placed at Durant Park, the Common, and Clapp Park; other parks are being considered as well.

McGrath explained that the three parks hosting the playground program don’t have bike racks, and they wind up on the ground and sometimes become a distraction.

"The ancillary benefit to having bike racks is that it encourages that mode of transportation for folks that want to come to the park on their bike," he said.

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