Eagles Community Band Hosting a Free Stage Band Concert

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Eagles Community Band's stage band is bringing a concert to the community on Saturday, April 5, at 3 p.m. at First United Methodist Church on Fenn Street.

The event will feature local musician and trumpeter Jeff Stevens.

"This is something new for us. We typically have our concerts on Sunday at three o'clock," said stage band director James Stakenas.

The band was encouraged to bring something to Pittsfield at a time of year when it's not usually playing,  hoping it gives the community something to come and enjoy that's free.

Stakenas said, "Stage band just sort of roundly describes the fact that we're a 16-piece instrumental group, and we play music from all sorts of different genres."

The band plans to play many tunes from the '40s, "The Bare Necessities," and more including solos from Stevens and other band members.

"He's also going to solo with us on a couple of other tunes, different spots of the program, but we will also have a trombone feature, an alto sax feature, and I think a barry (baritone) sax solo. So we're going to showcase some of the other members of our stage band," Stakenas said.

"We're hoping it's an entertaining program. We have some good music picked out. Jeff’s a great soloist. We want people to relax and then just enjoy the afternoon. It should be fun for both us performing and for the people in the audience."

The band is encouraging young students to attend to help improve their own playing and enjoy a set of music that's not usually heard around the Berkshires.

"The nice thing is that they're going to see there's not many local big bands for them, for students, to come check out. And I always tell my students to go listen to other people play, because that's one of the best things you can do to improve your own playing, is listen other people," said bass player Jacob Keplinger. "There's jazz, a lot of jazz performances around Berkshire County, but not many big bands," 

The Eagles Community Band has performed in the Berkshires and beyond for nearly 90 years. The concert band has about 70 members and all ensembles combined have around 90, ranging from high school ages to musicians in their 80s. The band was originally sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 358 and became a nonprofit organization in 1993.

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.