Public Memorial Planned for Jarvis Rockwell

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A community gathering to remember Jarvis Rockwell will be held on Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. at MCLA Gallery 51. 
 
The artist died on April 25 at the age of 94. He was a longtime resident of the Berkshires and North Adams, and a frequent participant in the Downstreet Art events held in the teens.
 
"A chance for the Northern Berkshire Community to come together for Jarvis," wrote Jonathan Secor, former director of special programs at Massachusetts College of Liberal Art and founder and organizer of the summer downtown events. 
 
Rockwell exhibited his pop culture "Maya" pyramid installations at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and later in a downtown storefront. A small portion of his massive character and action figure collection is on display at Hotel Downstreet. Some of his collage works are installed at Bowman Hall at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. 
 
Rockwell was from a family of artists, the his father being Norman Rockwell, the celebrated illustrator and artist. Secor said a more formal memorial was to be held at the Norman Rockwell Museum. 
 
Gallery 51 is located at 51 Main St. in North Adams.

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Affordable Housing Advocates Look to Ballot Initiatives, State Legislation

By John TownesSpecial to iBerkshires
This five-part series looks at the challenges in building affordable housing and at some solutions in Berkshire County. Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5.
 
Regulatory reform is widely considered an important key in the overall effort to increase the supply and affordability of housing.
 
It's estimated that building a modest house can cost as much as $500,000 today.
 
While the rising price of materials and services are also responsible for this, a significant factor is the expense and delays that are required to meet stringent requirements and regulations. This impacts projects ranging from large developments to renovations by individual homeowners.
 
Despite differences and some controversies over specifics, there is widespread consensus on the need to streamline bureaucratic hurdles and red tape for new housing and rehabilitation of existing properties.
 
Reforms are intended to address excessive or unnecessary regulations and procedures in zoning, building codes and other requirements that proponents say stifle affordable construction and more efficient land-use.
 
One statewide advocacy group is Abundant Housing Massachusetts, a coalition of local community groups and others who
support pro-housing policies.
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