MCLA's Environmental Lecture to Celebrate Center for Resourceful Living

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — MCLA's Fall 2025 Elizabeth and Lawrence Vadnais Environmental Issues Lecture will be held at 7 p.m., on Saturday, Oct. 11, in MCLA's Murdock Hall, Room 218.
 
This year's event will celebrate the creation of The Center for Resourceful Living (CRL), started 50 years ago by MCLA Professor Emeritus Lawrence H. Vadnais.
 
The evening will feature the debut screening of filmmaker Sharon Wyrrick's documentary, "Did You Put Milk in the Bucket?: A Tribute to The Center for Resourceful Living." The filmmaker will be in attendance at the screening.
 
This event coincides with "Scenes from The Center for Resourceful Living," an exhibition of photographs of the Center curated by Wyrrick and on view at MCLA's MOSAIC EventSpace (49 Main St.) from Oct. 3-Nov. 2, 2025. The exhibit features photographs from the Randy Trabold Collection, donated to MCLA by Ida Trabold; images from MCLA's Freel Library archives; and additional photographs from Center participants during its existence, from 1975 to 1980. The exhibit opens with a reception on Friday, Oct. 3, from 5-7 p.m.
 
"The Environmental Studies Department is excited to celebrate The Center for Resourceful Living and its legacy," said Dr. Elena Traister, MCLA professor of environmental studies. "This forward-thinking sustainability program remains important, not only to the alumni who participated in it, but also to the hands-on approach MCLA's Environmental Studies program continues to take in preparing students to address the environmental challenges of our time. We are pleased to be able to share the story of this impactful program with the broader community."
 
These events are free and open to the public. Please call MCLA's Office of Institutional Advancement at 413-662-5224 or email advancement@mcla.edu for more information. This annual lecture series is named for Professor Lawrence H. Vadnais and is sponsored by the Vadnais Endowment.
 
To directly support the Vadnais Lecture Series through Pathways, The Campaign for MCLA, visit lnk.mcla.edu/pathways.

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Friday Front Porch Feature: A North Adams Turnkey Home

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Are you looking for a three-story home that's newly renovated? Then this is the home for you.

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 74 Washington Ave.

This home was originally built in 1880 and has four bedrooms and three bathrooms. It is 2,320 square feet on less than an acre. 

The first floor includes the kitchen, a full bathroom, an office, a large open living room and dining area, and an entry with a staircase to the second floor, which has three bedrooms, a second full bathroom, and a laundry closet. The third floor was turned into a spacious primary suite with a full bathroom.

The house comes with major kitchen and laundry appliances.

It's on the market for $349,900.

We spoke to Allison Pacelli with Pacelli Zepka Corp., which has the listing.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market? 

A house at this price point with so much space for several people is not easy to find. There are four bedrooms, three full bathrooms, large living room, kitchen, and a bonus room off the kitchen that could be an office or dining room or possibly even an extra guest room.

What was your first impression when you walked into this home?

I love some of the character of the house. For example, the banister and railing on the stairs is ornate and beautiful.

How would you describe the feel or atmosphere of this home? 

The house is light and bright. It's a great mix of some class features like the stairway and updates like the kitchen and bathrooms.

What kind of buyer do you see this home being perfect for? 

I can see all sorts of people in this house. 

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

North Adams is such a vibrant and welcoming community. You can walk to MCLA or downtown. Williams College and Mass MoCA are close. The hospital is nearby, and the house would be great for doctors or nurses. There are a lot of opportunities in the area.

Are there any standout design features or recent renovations? 

The entire house was renovated about two years ago. The owners removed all knob & tube wiring, installed a new boiler, added a new laundry setup on the second floor, and redid the third floor into a great primary suite, with private bathroom. The kitchen and all three bathrooms are also new.

You can find out more about this home on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

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