Berkshire Athenaeum to Hold Computer Recycling Event for Earth Day

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield's public library, will host a computer recycling collection in partnership with Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires and Southern Vermont from Tuesday, April 22, through Saturday, April 26, 2025, in observance of Earth Day.
 
The collection is facilitated through a collaboration with the Dell-Reconnect residential recycling program. Accepted items include monitors, scanners, computer mice, printers, keyboards, laptop batteries, ink and toner cartridges, computers, hard drives, speakers, cords, and cables. Television sets will not be accepted.
 
According to data provided by Maryam Kamangar, Goodwill's vice president of executive affairs and territory expansion, the Dell-Reconnect partnership with four Berkshire County Goodwill Stores has recycled 213,801 pounds of computer equipment between July 2018 and June 2024.
 
Olivia Bowers, adult services and programming supervisor at Berkshire Athenaeum, stated that the library is pleased to partner with Goodwill for this annual collection, noting its contribution to community engagement and environmental protection in recognition of Earth Day.
 
Recyclable items can be dropped off in designated bins during regular library hours. Individuals recycling computers and hard drives are advised to remove all personal data, as neither Dell nor the Berkshire Athenaeum assumes responsibility for data removal or protection.
 
Established in 2004, the Dell-Reconnect program involves trained staff in 44 states who sort and process collected equipment for recycling by Dell. Revenue generated from the program supports Goodwill's employment placement and job training services.
 
For additional information regarding the recycling event, the public can call 413-499-9480 or email info@pittsfieldlibrary.org.
 
 

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Colombian Artist Celebrates Immigrant Stories in New Pittsfield Mural

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Artist Laura Barrios explains the  inspiration of the mural, of immigrants building new lives in the Berkshires.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The walls along the Intermodal Center's train platform are a little more colorful following the unveiling of Let It Shine's third mural at that location, transforming a space once surrounded by bare concrete into a vibrant display of public art.
 
The unveiling on Thursday, marks the close of Let It Shine's 2026 outdoor public art season and the third year of its emerging artist program, said Mill Town Foundation Program Director Andy Wrba. 
 
Let It Shine's Emerging Artists Mentorship program was established in 2024 to support aspiring artists in the community by providing guidance, hands-on experiences, and opportunities to create large-scale public art.
 
"This mural, along with all the murals, as part of this emerging artist program, and even more broadly, all the murals that you see downtown throughout Pittsfield shows that we care about the cultural scene and we care about the creative people that live and work in our city," Wrba said.
 
The new mural, painted by Colombian artist Laura Barrios, celebrates immigrants who have built lives and found a sense of home in Berkshire County.
 
Barrios has been working on the piece for the last two months alongside mentor artist, Jesse Tobin McCauley. 
 
"It's a homage to the immigrants who work and make a home in the Berkshires … this is a very personal experience too because I am an immigrant," Barrios said in her speech.
 
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