Holiday Wreath Art Auction to Benefit Pittsfield Food Pantries

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Office of Cultural Development announces the 11th annual Holiday Wreath Art Auction on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts from 4-6:30 p.m.

Approximately 50 wreaths will be on display during this ticketed event.  There will be wreaths available for grab and go with a live auction of the featured wreaths at 5:30pm.  All proceeds will benefit the Pittsfield Community Food Pantry.  Since its inception in 2015, the Wreath Art Auction has raised more than $30,000 for the South Community Food Pantry. 

The Wreath Art Auction is a $10 suggested donation ticketed event with refreshments.  The highest bidder during the live auction will receive a special gift.  This year the office once again has partnered with the Springside Greenhouse Group who will be decorating many of the donated wreaths, centerpieces and more.  Prices for grab and go wreaths start at $30. 

This event is part of the Festive Frolic taking place in Pittsfield December 5-6 with the Holiday Tree Lighting; the Berkshire Bazaar hosted by Thistle and Thorn at the Holiday Inn and Suites; a free Children's Paint & Sip at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church; an appearance from Santa Claus in Dunham Mall and more hosted by Downtown Pittsfield, Inc.  The Holiday Shindy takes place Saturday, Dec. 13. 

 

 

 

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Former Miss Hall's Teacher Arraigned on Rape Charges

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Warning: this article discusses sexual assault. 
 
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A former teacher pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to three counts of felony counts rape related to his tenure at Miss Hall's School.
 
Matthew Rutledge, 63, was indicted last month by a Berkshire grand jury following accusations dating back to the 1990s of sexually assaulting students at the girls' school. 
 
"Today, Matthew Rutledge was arraigned for raping me. He began grooming me when I was 15 years old, a student at Miss Hall's School, and his abuse of me continued for years after I left that campus," former student Hilary Simon said to a large crowd outside of Berkshire Superior Court.

"After more than two decades, this case is finally in the hands of the criminal justice system."
 
Simon and Melissa Fares, former students, publicly accused Rutledge of abuse and called out the school for failing to protect them. 
 
They provided testimony at his indictment and, on Wednesday, were in the courtroom to see their alleged abuser arraigned. 
 
Rutledge was working at the day and boarding school until the allegations surfaced nearly three years ago. Pittsfield Police investigated the claims but initially concluded no charges could be brought forward because the students were 16, the age of consent in Massachusetts. 
 
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