Check out the events in the Berkshires this weekend, including festivals, theatre, and more. Farmers markets are open for the season.
Editor's Picks
Berkshire Mountains Faerie Festival
Bowe Field, Adams
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Celebrate creativity, learning, and stewardship of the Earth by putting on your fairy wings, and enjoying a magical day. The event features activities, music, vendors, and food.
Admission cost $12 for adults, $5 for ages 6 to 12, children 5 and under are free. More information here.
Jake's Java One-Year Anniversary Celebration
Jake's Java, Lanesborough
Sunday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Celebrate with a caramel macchiato which is usually not on the menu! There will be live music, lawn games, face painting, and a bench unveiling.
Pittsfield Community Residency: Afro Latin Jazz and Soul Experience
Various Venues
Select Times Friday thru Sunday
Jacob's Pillow will welcome Sekou McMiller's Afro Latin Jazz and Soul Experience to Pittsfield for a multi-day community residency.
There will be a series of movement workshops, listening sessions, and dance parties, led by Sekou and his collaborators Charlie Garcia, Khary Kamau, and Miriam Gallardo.
Celebrate Pride in the Berkshires with a theatrical experience of live jazz music, private tables, and Broadway stars singing songs for, by, and about the LGBTQ-plus community.
There will be art all around downtown, including at Future Labs Gallery, Installation Space, Center of Gravity Gallery, North Gallery, Open Studios on Ashland Street, and more all on Eagle Street.
The Northern Berkshire Events Committee is hosting its 4th annual golf tournament. You must register by 8:30 a.m. It's $100 including lunch and buffet, where you will get to do 18 holes and enjoy raffles, prizes, and more.
Bring in a picture of your pet friend or an animal, and North Adams Clay will help you sculpt a clay jar that looks like them. All materials are provided and will be fired.
Grab a burger or hot dog, enjoy music, a 50/50 raffle, and more while raising money for veterans in need of help. More information here.
Lamacchia Realty Berkshires Grand Opening
2 Depot Street, Dalton
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Celebrate with Lamacchia Realty at their ribbon cutting at their branch office and then head over to Pontoosuc Lake to enjoy a family fun day with boat rides and more.
There will be a beginner butterfly identification workshop where participants can use binoculars to observe and learn about butterflies.
Tickets are $20 for members and 25 for nonmembers. More information here.
Sunday
North Adams Sunday Afternoon Contra Dance
All Saints Episcopal Church, North Adams
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Come alone or with a partner and meet your neighbors while doing a contra dance. Admission is based on donation. More information here.
Father's Day Brunch
First Baptist Church, North Adams
Time: 11:30 a.m.
First Baptist Church of North Adams will be hosting a brunch in the Eagle Street room. RSVP required. More information here.
Farmers Markets
Great Barrington Farmers Market
18 Church St.
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The market is open every Saturday. Every week, locally grown food, flowers, and plants will be available, along with other local vendors. The market accepts and offers doubling SNAP, HIP, WIC, and Senior market coupons. More information is here.
Lee Farmers Market
The Town Park
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The market offers locally grown produce, prepared foods, locally created arts and crafts, and herbal products. YogaLee offers free community yoga from 9:30 to 10:30 on the first Saturday of each month.
The market accepts SNAP, HIP, Senior Coupons, and WIC Coupons and also offers Market Match. More information here.
Lenox Farmers Market
St. Ann's Church
Friday: 11 to 3.
This market is open every Friday through Sept. 12 and features fresh produce, pastries, cheeses, and more.
The market has local vendors that offer a variety of goods from produce, eggs, baked goods, jams, hand-knit items, maple syrup, and more. More information here.
North Adams Farmers Market
Main Street
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The south side of Main Street from American Legion Drive will be closed to make room for the city's weekly farmers market, which will kick off this Saturday. Explore downtown North Adams and discover local businesses and fresh produce from local farms. More information here.
Pittsfield Farmers Market
Pittsfield Common
Saturday, 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Roots Rising, the region's first teen-run market, will hold an indoor farmers market this Saturday. The event will feature live music, chef demos, workshops, children's activities, and more. More information here.
Sheffield Farmers Market
125 Main St.
Fridays, 3 to 6 p.m.
The market features healthy food and products from a variety of local vendors, aiming to nourish the community by supporting "local small farms, land, bees, and economy."
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Cheshire Speed Limits Reduced, Code of Conduct Mulled
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
CHESHIRE, Mass. — Some streets will soon be slower for cars with the Department of Public Works replacing the speed limit signs in response to community concerns.
The town adopted Chapter 90, Section 17C to reduce some local road speed limits to 25 mph. Twenty-three streets are approved by the state; signs are ordered from the state Department of Transportation and should arrive within a couple weeks.
DPW Director Corey McGrath told the Selectmen at last Tuesday's meeting that the department had received concerns from residents wanting people to be slower on the following streets:
Church Street
East Main Street
portions of Wells Road
Main Street
Furnace Hill Road
Flaherty Road
Pit Road
Prospect Street
Dean Street
Richmond Street
School Street
Railroad Street
Depot Street
Richardson Street
5th Avenue
Meadowview Drive
Wood Lane
Dean Street Extension
portions of Ingalls Road
Devonshire Drive
Yorkshire Drive
Berkshire Drive
Wilshire Drive
Chair Michelle Francesconi asked McGrath to look into the signs solar-powered "slow down" signs. She also spoke about increasing problems with electric bicycles and similar devices.
Young people are going 30 to 40 mph, often on sidewalks, weaving between cars, cutting through private property and town property and riding in the road, she said, and brought up how other towns are creating bylaws to address these problems. Francesconi thought the board should look into it as well as a matter of public safety.
The state is currently revising related laws, so the board will see what the Legislature passes and then model bylaws on other communities.
Francesconi also said that since there is limited police coverage at night during most of the behavior, she suggested shifting some patrol hours to evenings to address youth riding behavior.
Later in the meeting, Francesconi also brought up code of conduct for town employees as she has been receiving numerous reports regarding professionalism, boundaries, confidentiality, and internal relationships and communication among town hall staff, department heads, and with the public.
She said town counsel has recommended adopting a code of conduct as well as providing training. After some discussion, the board decided to get a catalog of training options and identify mandatory and optional trainings. Members are also thinking of doing them in-person.
In other news, the Fire Department's rescue boat missing from the water because motor is broken and is in the process of being replaced.
There are two applicants in the running for the police chief position who will be doing the assessment center on Aug. 17. The Selectmen will get their resumes afterward and decide on interviews.
Wilk-Chaffee joined two of her fellow Beautification Group members in an appearance before the Selectmen to update the elected officials on the non-profit's activities around town and explain its role in town.
click for more
The overhaul of 21 Park St, is complete, with all 10 two-bedroom apartments nearly rented. There are also three units on the second floor available for rent that will be move-in ready in September. click for more
On Wednesday, the select board approved a framework for a candidate screening committee and heard a potential timeline for making a decision to appoint the next leader of the 18-officer department. click for more
As America celebrated its 250th anniversary, Adams looked toward the future by creating a time capsule to preserve pieces of the community for future generations.
click for more
The fundraiser will be held at Turn Hall, 6 Turners Ave., beginning at 5 p.m. with a spaghetti dinner, followed by Santos' performance at 7:30 p.m. click for more
Town officials are seeking community input on the issues residents believe are facing the community and the leadership qualities they would like to see in the Police Department's next leader click for more