Clark Art Hosts Summer Solstice Festivities

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Clark Art Institute celebrates the 2025 Summer Solstice on Saturday, June 21 with a full series of free outdoor activities and "ritual events."
 
Foraging Walk, 5:30–6:30 pm
 
Join herbalist, park ranger, and museum educator Misa Chappell for an interactive foraging walk through Ground/work 2025, the Clark's outdoor sculpture exhibition. Along the way, explore plant species, conservation status, cultural and natural history, and folklore.
 
Advance registration required for the foraging walk; capacity is limited. Register at clarkart.edu/events. Meet on the Fernández Terrace by the Reflecting Pool.
 
Workshop: Flower Crowns, 5:30 pm
Get creative and make your very own flower crown with Full Well Farm (Adams, Massachusetts).
 
Tarot Readings, 5:30–7:30 pm
Step into the mystical world of tarot with Rebecca Guanzon. Whether you're seeking clarity or curious about what the universe has in store, Guanzon's readings will add a dash of magic and insight to your journey.
 
Spirit Drawings, 5:30–7:30 pm
Sit for a spirit drawing session with artist Alison Pebworth, during which she creates unique, one-of-a-kind artworks inspired by brief interactions. Her drawings aim to capture the essence or "spirit" of each participant, drawing from a historical period in Shaker history when young girls created mysterious ink drawings as gifts.
 
Solstice Rituals, 7:30–8:30 pm
 
Featuring community singing, drumming, dancing, and merriment. Bring your own drum or noisemaker and join the fun!
 
Official Welcome: justin adkins
7:30–7:40 pm
 
Smoke and Bell Cleanse
7:40–7:50 pm
 
Calling of the Directions
7:50–7:55 pm
 
On Summer Solstice: justin adkins
7:55–8:25 pm
 
Bidding the Directions Farewell
8:25–8:30 pm
 
Free. All events except the foraging walk take place at Thomas Schütte's Crystal atop Stone Hill. Picnic blankets encouraged. Cider from Berkshire Cider Project available for purchase. Inclement weather moves the event to Sunday, June 22. 

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Williamstown Finance Committee Finalizes Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Proposal

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The tax bill of a median-priced single family home will go up by 8.45 percent in the year that begins July 1 under a spending plan approved by the Finance Committee on Wednesday night.
 
After more than a month of going through all proposed spending by the town and public schools and searching for places to trim the budget and adjust revenue estimates, the Fin Comm voted to send a series of fiscal articles to the May 19 annual town meeting for approval.
 
The panel also discussed how to appeal to town meeting members to reverse what Fin Comm members long have described as an anti-growth sentiment in town that keeps the tax base from expanding.
 
New growth in the tax base is generated by new construction or improvements to property that raise its value. A lack of new growth (the town projects 15 percent less revenue from new growth in fiscal year 2027 than it had in FY26) means that increased spending falls more heavily on current taxpayers.
 
The two largest spending articles on the draft warrant for the May meeting are the appropriations for general government spending and the assessment from the Mount Greylock Regional School District.
 
The former, which includes the Department of Public Works, the Williamstown Police and town hall staffing, is up by just 2.5 percent from the current fiscal year to FY27 — from $10.6 million to $10.9 million.
 
The latter, which pays for Williamstown Elementary School and the town's share of the middle-high school, is up 13.7 percent, from $14.8 million to $16.8 million.
 
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