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Weekend Outlook: Last First Fridays of Summer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
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Check out the events happening this weekend, including the two cities' First Fridays, picnics, and more.

Editor's Picks

Ice Cream Social: Sweet Scoops and Live Tunes
320 Main St., Williamstown
Time: 1 to 4 p.m.

Celebrate the Williamstown Youth Center with live music from Vermont's TechnicalDUFFiculties and ice cream. Every scoop Saturday benefits the youth center's afterschool program for Grades 1 through 6.

More information here.

Franklin County Fair
Wisdom Way, Greenfield
Time: opens Thursday and Friday at 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m.
 
The 176th Franklin County Fair features a midway, demonstrations, truck and horse pulls, demolition derby, animals, agricultural competitions and exhibits, vendors and performers. 
 
Admission is $10 to $15; ticket purchases and more information here.

First Fridays

Downtown Pittsfield
Time: 5 p.m.

The city center will be alive with activities, including a maker's market and family fun zone on North Street, live music at Persip Park, a dance zone at Dunham Mall, an art walk, and more. 

More information here.

Downtown North Adams
Time: 5 to 9 p.m.

Music, art, and games will fill the downtown for the event themed "Play Downtown." DJ Rebelbeat Soundsystem will perform at the Eagle Street Pocket Park for a dance party with the Hatchlings. 

There will be games, art, special events, and downtown and businesses will have extended hours. More information here

Friday

Back to School Carnival
491 Berkshire School Road, Sheffield
Time: 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Celebrate back to school with live music, games, hayrides and more. Everyone is welcome to come and celebrate. Kick off the school year on a fun note.

More information here.

September Ghost Tours
The Mount, Lenox
Time: 8:30 p.m.
 
The spooky season begins with nighttime ghost tours at Edith Wharton's summer home each Friday. Tours last around two hours and include outside areas, uneven terrain and stairs. Not appropriate for young children. 
 
More information and tickets here

Saturday

Coffee Tasting Event
Adams Theater, Park Street
Time: 9 a.m.
 
Wake at the Adams Theater by going "Around the World in 80 Cups," a tasting event from 11 to noon featuring coffee and pairing from Oaxaca, Mexico. Theater opens at 9 for a la carte coffee and baked goods from Shire Cottage Bakery. 
 
Tickets are $12; more information and tickets here
 

Sheffield Fair
Frederic Lane, Sheffield
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m

Enjoy a day at the fair with food, hayrides, vendors, cars, music, food and livestock competition.

More information here.

Sunday 

 
Puppet Workshop
Adams Theater, Park Street
Time: 11 a.m.
 
David Lane of New England Puppet Arts and collaborators host a family-friendly puppet exploration with craft paper and masks. Intended for ages 8 and up accompanied by an adult. 
 
Free admission but capacity is limited; RSVP at info@adamstheater.org.
 
Lane also brings a puppetry adaptation of Emile Zola's novel "The Belly of Paris" on Saturday night at the theater. Tickets and more information here
 
Sunflower Sunday
225 Peckville Road, Shelburne
Time: 10 to 3
 
Apex Orchards hosts a sunflower fair with pick your own flowers, wagon rides, crafters and vendors, food and coffee, doughnuts and brewery. Live music by Tobey Sol La Roche at noon. 
 
Free admission; more information here
 
Jimmy Bernardo Memorial Ride
63 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield
Time: 10:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
 
This motorcycle ride honors the life of Jimmy Bernardo, who was murdered at the age of 12, and raises essential funds for Berkshire County Kids' Place to help children and families heal from abuse and violence. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m., the ride at 11. The 90-minute ride ends at the Tavern on the A; the after party is open to the public. 
 
More information here
 
Tree ID Walk
Kennedy Park, Lenox
Time: 10 to noon
 
Join Chelsey Simmons of Berkshire Environmental Action Team for an informative walk, during which participants will learn key characteristics of commonly encountered trees. Walk is 1 to 1.5 miles long, lasting around 2 hours, and will include many slow-paced stops. Meet in the parking lot of Lenox Commons off Route 7.
 
Limited to 15 participants; register at chelsey@thebeatnews.org. 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.

More information here

New Marlborough Farmers Market
Village Green
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  

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."

More information here.

Williamstown Farmers Market
Spring Street
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

The market features a diverse range of local food and artisan vendors, along with local services and live music. More information here.


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Dalton Becomes Purple Heart Community

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The town has been home to many veterans and soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in military service — a new proclamation honors their service and sacrifice.
 
The Select Board signed a proclamation declaring the town a Purple Heart Community, joining communities across the commonwealth to adopt this as a way to honor their local Purple Heart recipients. 
 
"This designation is more than a symbolic gesture; it is a public affirmation of Dalton's respect, gratitude, and enduring commitment to the men and women who have been wounded or killed in combat while serving in the United States Armed Forces," Historical Commission co-Chair Deborah Kovacs said at the Select Board meeting Monday night. 
 
The Purple Heart is the oldest military decoration that is still awarded to service members, recognizing their sacrifice, courage, and an unwavering devotion to the nation.
 
The Purple Heart originated on Aug. 7, 1782, when Gen. George Washington created the Badge of Military Merit to recognize enlisted soldiers and noncommissioned officers for exceptional service during the Revolutionary War. 
 
It fell out of use after the war but was revived in 1932 on Washington's 200th birthday under the leadership of Gen. Douglas MacArthur.  
 
Under the revival, it was still awarded for meritorious service or for combat wounds but during World War II this narrowed to service members wounded or killed as a direct or indirect result of enemy action. That wounds-only standard has remained in place ever since.
 
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