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Weekend Outlook: Cabin Fever

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
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Check out the events happening in Berkshire County this weekend, including art, fun, maple sugar and more.

Editor's picks

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

Music, art, and games will fill downtown North Adams for its First Friday event, themed "Cabin Fever." 

Participating businesses will have extended hours and many galleries will host openings, closings, and other special events.

More information here

Multiple Days

Berkshire Botanical Bulb Show
Feb. 20 to March 20

The Fitzpatrick Greenhouse at Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to welcome the new season amongst hundreds of flowering bulbs.

The greenhouse is free and open to the public. More information here.

Lee High Drama Presents 'The Addams Family'
300 Greylock St., Lee
Friday through Sunday

Lee Memorial High stages the musical comedy of the infamous Addams family in the auditorium. 

Tickets are $10 adults and $8 for students and seniors. 

More information and tickets here.

Maple Weekend
Various Sugarhouses
Saturday and Sunday

Local sugarhouses will be open for tours and selling products during Maple Weekend. Read our story here. More information here.

Friday

Disney After Dark Karaoke
Methuselah Bar, Pittsfield
Time: 9 p.m.

Enjoy drinks and belting out your favorite Disney tunes.

More information here.

'Glow Ocean': First Friday Opening Reception
Eagle Street, North Adams
Time: 6 to 10 p.m.

Future Gallery's opening reception makes it look like you're under water. The walls will be glowing with underwater creatures, coral, and more. The work was made by 75 locals.

Stay for the after-party dancing at 8.

More information here.

AYJ Musical Bingo
American Legion, North Adams
Time: 7 p.m.
 
Great prizes, raffles, and snacks, all supporting children with cancer. Hosted by AYJ Fund's volunteer and princess Rhaya Wright.
 
Tickets are $30; more information here
 

Saturday

Cosmic Bowling: Strike Out Glioblastoma
K&M Bowling, Pittsfield
Time: 6 to 10 p.m.

Enjoy music, black lights, party lights, and of course bowling for a good cause. There will also be raffles and T-shirt sales to help raise money for glioblastoma research.

More information here.

Nice & Easy Trail Hike
Greylock Glen, Adams
Time: 1 p.m.
 
These easy-paced, 1 to 3-mile guided hikes are geared for seniors, but open to all ages. A wonderful opportunity to join other hiking enthusiasts who share in the joy of the great outdoors. Hiking times may vary from 90 minutes to two hours. Be prepared for variable weather, wear appropriate clothing and sturdy boots.
 
For weather information and to register, call 413-499-4262. More information here
 
CATA 'Garden Dreams'
Berkshire Botanical Garden, Stockbridge
Time: 11 to 3 
 
The exhibit features more than 40 paintings, drawings, prints, and sculptures created through Community Access to the Arts' year-round workshops serving children, teens and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Works are professionally matted, framed and available for sale, with proceeds supporting commissions for the individual artists.
 
Exhibition hours are Tuesdays through Sundays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free.
 
More information here
 
'Dance the Blues Away'
Stationery Factory, Dalton
Time: 5 p.m.
 
The 5th annual "Dance the Blues Away" Gala to support Love of T and peer-to-peer suicide prevention services in memory of Teresa Fitzgerald. Features Dave Bartley Jazz Quartet, a silent auction, food by KJ Nosh and DJ Connor Ryan to cap off the night.
 
Tickets are $95, $750 table; more information here
 
Edgar Allen Poe Speakeasy: Chapter Two
Monument Arts & Cultural Center, Bennington, Vt.
Time: 6 p.m.
 
The Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy returns for a haunting sequel that delves even deeper into the macabre. Four new tales from Poe's dark imagination, each paired with a fresh selection of classic cocktails.
 
Tickets are $65; more information and tickets here
 
Flannel Kings
Proprietor's Lodge, Pittsfield
Time: 8 p.m.
 
From grunge and alternative to power pop and punk, the Flannel Kings play all the hits that made the era iconic in their debut at the lodge. 
 
Admission is $10 at the door. More information here
 
Sunday

Dale Derby Cardboard Box Race
Bousquet Mountain, Pittsfield
Time: 11 a.m.

Get your friends and decorate a fun cardboard box using only that and duct tape. Bring it to Bousquet and race others in the snow for the snowbox derby.

More information here.

Cabin Fever Storytime: Artists and Authors of Mount Greylock
Mount Greylock Visitor Center, Lanesborough
Time: 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Enjoy a story near the fire from park interpreter Mike as he tells you about the artists and authors who helped to shape the image of Mount Greylock through their work. Participants are encouraged to share their own works from the county as well. 

More information here.


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Armed North Adams Man Arrested Following Domestic Standoff

Staff Reports

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Matthew Parker, a 44-year-old North Adams man, is set to face multiple counts of attempted murder and weapons charges in Northern Berkshire District Court on Friday morning following an hours-long, armed standoff at a Houghton Street home.

The defendant is being arraigned for:

  • Domestic Assault and Battery
  • Assault with the Intent to Murder (3 counts)
  • Carrying a Firearm While Under the Influence of Alcohol (3 counts)
  • Possession of a hi-capacity firearm (4 counts)
  • Improper Storage of a hi-capacity firearm (2 counts)
  • Improper Storage of a firearm (6 counts)

According to a report, on June 10, at approximately 8:42 p.m., officers responded to 365 Houghton St. following a report of a domestic assault and battery. The caller said she and her husband had been involved in a physical altercation.

She said her husband was intoxicated, making suicidal statements about shooting himself, and had access to both a shotgun and a pistol.

Upon arrival, officers made contact with both the caller and Parker. During the encounter, Parker threatened to shoot officers before retreating into the home and refusing to exit.

Officers believed that Parker was armed.

To ensure public safety, police established a perimeter around the home and requested assistance from the Berkshire County Special Response Team (SRT) and North Adams Police crisis negotiators. The Brien Center was also contacted and promptly provided an emergency mental health clinician to assist with the incident.

Special Response Team personnel deployed drones to monitor the residence and provide aerial illumination. During the operation, officers saw Parker exit the house carrying a rifle. He pointed it at the drones, stated a report. Parker subsequently pointed the rifle toward several officers positioned behind their cruisers. After officers attempted to de-escalate the situation, Parker returned inside the residence.

Trained crisis negotiators maintained communication with Parker for several hours in an effort to peacefully resolve the situation. At approximately 2 a.m., Parker ceased communication with negotiators.

Drone operators later observed Parker unconscious in a recliner on the first floor of the residence, with a rifle and shotgun on the floor nearby.

Members of the Berkshire County SRT then executed a coordinated operation. Diversionary devices were deployed through a window while an entry team simultaneously entered the home, secured the firearms, and took the defendant into custody.

A search warrant was executed after Parker was in custody. North Adams Police seized four shotguns, six rifles, two handguns, and thousands or rounds of ammunition from the home.

During the operation, one SRT member sustained a minor injury related to a less-lethal bean bag deployment. Parker also sustained non-life threatening injuries during the arrest and was transported to Berkshire Medical Center for medical evaluation.

"We thank the community for its patience and cooperation throughout this incident, particularly residents in the affected area who complied with temporary shelter-in-place requests," Police Chief Mark Bailey said.  "The North Adams Police Department extends its sincere appreciation to the agencies that provided mutual aid and assisted by handling calls for service during this incident. We are especially grateful to the Berkshire County Special Response Team for its professional and decisive response, the Brien Center for the rapid deployment of a mental health clinician, and our crisis negotiators whose efforts helped maintain dialogue and contributed significantly to the safe resolution of this incident."

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