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Nicole Senecal puts the finishing touches on her painted crosswalk at Eagle and Main Streets. Four artists are embellishing eight crosswalks in the downtown this week.
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At Holden and Main. Holden Street will be closed in the evening on Wednesday and possibly Thursday.

North Adams Begins Decorative Crosswalk Painting

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
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Center and Marshall got a wavy design from Gail Sellers and Dan Morgan.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Watch out for road closures in the downtown as the city's crosswalks are embellished with original art over the next week. 
 
The painting began Tuesday, with some crosswalks completed and others getting some outlines down for later details. 
 
The work is expected to be finished in time for First Friday on June 6. 
 
On Wednesday, artist Nicole Senecal was painting the crosswalk at Main and Eagle, which will match the artwork at Main and Ashland. 
 
"For me, its spreading happiness, spread a little paint and get to make people feel happy," she said. "I'm grateful that North Adams is doing it so I can be a part of it. It's a really cool project."
 
Senecal's design was a path of beehive hexagons with flowers and leaves in blue, white, yellow and green.
 
At Marshall and Center streets, a wavy yellow design was painted by Gail Sellers and Dan Morgan. 
 
Some councilors have been advocating for some time for painted crosswalks, which were last done more than a decade ago by Art About Town. 
 
Councilor Andrew Fitch had promoted the idea most recently for painting crosswalks and electrical boxes. The boxes were painted last year and this year, the city put out a call for artists to paint eight crosswalks. 
 
Four artists were chosen and each are receiving an honorarium of $2,000 for design and implementation. The project is a collaboration of the North Adams Cultural District Committee, Assets for Artists, Fitch and Mayor Jennifer Macksey's office, and funded through the Cultural Council. 
 
Fitch thanked the mayor on Tuesday for moving forward with the project.
 
"Thank you so much for helping to brighten up downtown and really look forward to seeing those
completed," he said. 
 
The other crosswalks being painted are at Main Street and American Legion Drive and Holden, Center and Holden, Eagle and Church and Eagle Street and Center Street. Closures will run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 
 
Holden Street, from Center Street to Main Street, will be closed on Wednesday, May 28, from 8 p.m. until late evening and possibly again on Thursday, May 29. The street will be open for the morning commute. 

Tags: crosswalk,   

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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

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