Palermo and Smith to Perform 'In the Night' Album at Studio 9

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Musicians Mary Ann Palermo and Dave Smith will present a live performance of their recently released album, "In the Night," on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.

The event will take place at Studio 9, located on the Porches Inn campus at 18 Viazie Street in North Adams.

"In the Night," released in late 2024 by Averosa Records, features Palermo's vocals and Smith's Steinway grand piano interpretations of jazz standards and lesser-known classics. The recording was engineered and produced by Smith.

Palermo stated that they are pleased to debut the album at Studio 9, citing the venue's Meyers Constellation sound and recording system as conducive to replicating the audio quality of the album in a live setting.

The album comprises eight American jazz ballads and torch songs, with Palermo's vocals and Smith's piano accompaniment. According to the announcement, the recording aims to create a sonic environment that enhances the emotional tone of the songs.

Palermo's vocal interpretations are described as a new take on familiar and obscure jazz songs. Smith's piano playing is presented as his interpretation of these classics, combined with his audio engineering expertise to optimize the balance and clarity of the music.

Tickets for the event are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Event information is available at https://studio9porches.com/performance/studio-9-presents-mary-ann-palermo-and-dave-smith-in-the-night-album-release-performance/.

North Adams Updated on Schools, Council President Honored With 'Distinction'

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
12:31PM / Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Superintendent Timothy Callahan gives a presentation on the school system at Tuesday's City Council meeting. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council got an update on what's up in the school system and its president was inducted into the mayor's Women's Leadership Hall of Fame.

 

Mayor Jennifer Macksey, as the city's first woman mayor, established the Hall of Fame in 2022, during March, Women's History Month, to recognize local women who have had a positive impact on the city. Past inductees have included the council's first woman president Fran Buckley, Gov. Jane Swift and boxing pioneer Gail Grandchamp. 

 

She described President Ashley Shade as a colleague and a friend and a former student. 

 

"Ashley is known not just for her leadership, but for her compassion, her ability to listen, to understand and to stand up for those whose voices are often gone unheard," the mayor said. "She has been a tireless advocate for the LGBTQ plus community and marginalized communities at both the local and national level here in North Adams."

 

Elected in 2021, Shade is the first openly transgender person to hold the role of council president in Massachusetts. She also leads the first-ever woman majority council in the city's history. 

 

The McCann Technical School graduate also has served on boards and commissions, "always working to make our city more inclusive, equitable and welcoming," said the mayor. "Ashley not leads not only with strength, but with a heart, and our community is a much stronger place because of it."

 

Shade, wearing her signature pink suit, was presented with a plaque from the mayor designating her a "woman of distinction."