Flying Cloud Brings Free Science and Art Event to the BIC

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Flying Cloud Institute (FCI) will lead a free, hands-on science and art community event for students in grades K-8 and their families at the Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC) on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

This is the sixth STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) Challenge Night led by FCI, with support from the Berkshire STEM Pipeline and the BIC. The event coincides with Massachusetts' 8th Annual STEM Week to boost students' interest in STEM fields and is part of the MA Lights On After School celebration. 

"Flying Cloud Institute invites local families to celebrate creativity and innovation with us. It will be so much fun and family members can really get into the hands-on activities, too!" said FCI Executive Director Maria Rundle. 

Students and their families will spend the evening problem-solving together in ways that involve exploring, tinkering, and creating. In addition to creative science and art projects with Flying Cloud educators, several local experts and organizations will participate. Staff members from Berkshire Museum will explore how a physics zipline works, while BeatNest School demonstrates electro music stations and Berkshire Design presents a design challenge. Participants will explore 3-D scanning and printing with Berkshire Innovation Center representatives and Bottomless Bricks will help students design and build using LEGO elements. Staff from Berkshire Art Center, Greenagers, Hancock Shaker Village, Mass Audubon, and Latinas413 will also be leading kid-centered challenge activities.

Complimentary refreshments will be served. Families are encouraged to register online at flyingcloudinstitute.org but it is not required for this free event. 

This event is made possible through contributions by Adirondack Payroll Services, Associated Lightning Rod, Berkshire Design Inc., Berkshire Money Management, Blue Q, Elyse Harney Real Estate, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Guido's Fresh Marketplace, Herrington's, Interprint USA, J Kuhn Copper, Lee Bank, Onyx Specialty Papers, Warrior Trading and Webster Landscape, Inc. If you want to be a community sponsor or donate items to the event, please contact Amy Truax, Development Manager, at (413) 645-3058 or visit flyingcloudinstitute.org for the sign-up form.

WWII Veteran Reflects on D-Day at VFW Post Induction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
12:25PM / Saturday, June 06, 2026

The members in the picture are Bret Miller, Coast Guard, Desert Storm; Hank Morris, Army, Vietnam; Brad Havill, Navy, Global War on Terror; VFW Post 448 Vice Cmdr. Mark Pompi, Army, Global War on Terrorism, Afghanistan; Post Cmdr. Arnold Perras, Korea; Joe Difillipo, Army, Vietnam; Teri Billington, Navy, Desert Storm; and Carmen Ostrander, Air Force, Afghanistan.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Anthony Salatino Jr. says his memory is getting a little foggy about his time in the Army. 

But he remembers how terrible D-Day was, and feeling lucky he wasn't among those in the initial invasion force 82 years ago. 

 

"One of the most horrible things was in Normandy. We went shortly after D-Day. I got lucky, very lucky on D-Day. We went to a staging area the night before … and at the very end, somebody called, I was in headquarters, they called all the headquarters personnel at the center," the 103-year-old said. "We did not go. There's about 30 of us. The rest of the battalion was gone, and the reason for that was because there was another battalion coming from the States, and they had no headquarters. 

 

"We stayed back, but we did go to Normandy shortly after that, and when we went to Normandy, it was all over."

 

Salatino was attending an induction ceremony on Thursday at the Lt. John N. Truden VFW Post 448. Joseph Texidor, who served in the Army for 17 years with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, was sworn in as the post's newest member. 

 

Salatino served in the Medical Corps and wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, a World War I veteran wounded at Verdun. Salatino was in the Army for about three years.

 

"The whole memory is what I just told you, very, very alive to me," he said. "That is, I can never forget, never forget that."

 

D-Day on June 6, 1944, was the start of Operation Overlord, and the largest invading force to cross the English Channel since 1066. Their goal: to liberate Europe from Nazi Germany.