Call for Art for the Daniel Manacher Prize for Young Artists

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SANDISFIELD, Mass. — The Sandisfield Arts Center announces the 2025 Call for Art for the 4th Annual Daniel Manacher Prize for Young Artists. 
 
Works will be accepted through April 7, 2025. The prize is in support of young artists in Berkshire County. 
 
Artist Josephine Halvorson will return as judge for this year's award. Up to three artists will be selected as finalists, each receiving $400 to support their art practice as well as a group show of their work at the Sandisfield Arts Center in the 2026 Gallery season. Winners will be notified and announced the first week of June 2025.
 
The prize was created by Adam Manacher and Carol Birnbaum, Daniel Manacher's parents, in memory of their son and his passion for art.
 
"Daniel worked on different surfaces, always hand-drawn," said his parents. "He loved interacting with people in their love for art. We hope, with the Daniel Manacher Prize for Young Artists, to inspire other young artists and to assist them as they reach for their dreams."
 
Eligible artists are those working in painting, drawing, mixed media, and sculpture, aged 17-26 years of age, and residing or attending school in Berkshire County.  No fee is associated with the application, and all entrants will be judged based solely on the merit of the work presented. Past winners are not eligible to apply. Complete eligibility requirements can be found on the Sandisfield Arts Center website.
 
Halvorson is Professor of Art and Chair of Graduate Studies in Painting at Boston University. Halvorson lives in western Massachusetts and is currently building a studio in Sandisfield.
 
To apply, visit sandisfieldartscenter.org. For questions or more information email Jess at gallery@sandisfieldartscenter.org.
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Connecticut Man Killed in Otis Tractor-Trailer Crash

OTIS, Mass. — Thursday's collision between two tractor-trailers on Route 8 killed one of the drivers. 
 
Antonio Luis Marcucci, 32 of Waterbury, Conn., was northbound at about 9 a.m. Thursday when he apparently lost control of the truck and veered into the southbound lanes, colliding head-on with a southbound tractor trailer, according to police. 
 
According to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, police dispatched to 1322 South Main Road found the truck with Connecticut plates in the northbound lane and a truck bearing Oklahoma plates lodged in a snowback on south side. 
 
The officer began rendering aid to the northbound driver, identified as Marcucci. He was pinned inside the cab of his truck. He was extracated and transported to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield by Otis EMS, where he was pronounced dead.
 
The driver of the Oklahoma tractor trailer in the southbound lane did not receive serious injuries.
 
Early investigation, including dash camera footage captured by one of the tractor trailers, shows the Oklahoma tractor trailer was traveling in the southbound lane and the Connecticut tractor trailer was traveling in the northbound lane, according to the DA's Office. The Connecticut tractor trailer lost control veering off the other side of the road ultimately ending on the southbound lane. Shortly after the two tractor trailers collided in a head on collision.
 
The investigation remains ongoing.
 
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