Check out the events in the Berkshires this weekend, including a school musical, a car show, plant and nature events, and more.
Editor's Pick
Ventfort Hall Community Day
104 Walker Street, Lenox
Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission into Ventfort Hall is free, giving community members the chance to see inside the mansion and walk its grounds. At noon, visitors will see the newly unveiled green and white striped awnings.
There will also be hourly presentations on the history of Ventfort Hall in the mansion's library from 10 to 3.
The high school's theater department will be performing the musical "Hadestown: Teen Edition," which is a family-friendly adaptation of Anaïs Mitchell's Tony-winning Broadway musical "Hadestown."
The jazz-inflected folk opera follows Orpheus' mythical quest to overcome Hades and regain the love of his true love, Eurydice.
Tickets are $13 for adults and $8 for students. More information here.
Friday
Karaoke
VFW Post 996, North Adams
Time: 9 p.m.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 996 is opening its doors to provide visitors the opportunity to sing. More information here.
The Barstools
The Stationery Factory, Dalton
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Acoustic rock and Americana band The Barstools will be performing. The Stationery Factory's lead sound engineer, Jay Bell, will be hitting the stage with, Drew Lopenzina and Dave Lincoln.
Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. More information here.
Misty Blues Benefit Concert
Williams College '62 Center, Williamstown
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Berkshire Nursing Families is having a benefit concert in collaboration with local legend Misty Blues.
Misty Blues will perform their Queens of the Blues set to support of BNF's mission of providing free, essential feeding and parenting support for families in the region.
Sandy Wilson and Vicki Zacharewicz will lead a mindfulness walk to guide visitors on a slow, intentional journey to de-stress while connecting with nature.
The walk incorporates elements of mindful breathing, nature connection, and meditation skills culminating in a group session for sharing and reflection.
There will be a free performance by soulful singer Lauren Calve and Rachel Ana Dobken which features a fusion of roots rock and an indie vibe. More information here.
Birding Workshop: Warblers by Sight and Habitat
Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Lenox
Time: 9 a.m. to Noon
Spring brings the arrival of colorful wood-warblers to the Berkshires, making it an exciting time for birdwatching. There will be a beginner-friendly workshop and bird walk to learn how to identify these birds.
The program includes an indoor introduction to local warbler species and their habitats, followed by an outdoor search for warblers, focusing on identification through appearance, behavior, and song.
Tickets are $35 for adult members and $42 for adult nonmembers. More information here.
Pup Daddy Production's Country Spindle
Bluebird & Co., 137 Brodie Mountain Road, Hancock
Time: 8 p.m.
Pup Daddy Productions and Bluebird & Co. restaurant team up to host "Spindle," music bingo. Players can enjoy 75 popular, country classics spun by DJ Pup Daddy.
He will play 1 to 2 minutes of a famous song, and if the song is on your playing card, cross it off for a chance to win prizes.
There is no fee to play, and Bluebird's full menu and bar will be available throughout the event.
There will be an all-ages community dance gathering where you can move freely without the pressure to perform — just a space to move, breathe, release, and reconnect.
Music will be spun by DJ Jason Manatee, founder of BeatNest. There is a $10 cover charge. More information here.
Comedy on Tap
Bright Ideas Brewing, North Adams
Time: 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Warm up at Bright Ideas Brewing for a night full of laughter. Stand-up comedians Ben Kirschenbaum and Mike Bramante will be hitting the stage at this event hosted by Charlie Nadler. Tickets are $15. More information here.
AYJ Fund Once Upon a Dream Children's Concert
Drury High School, North Adams
Time: Noon to 2 p.m.
Children of all ages are invited to join the popular children's concert to support the nonprofit AYJ Fund.
The event features music by Mary Scanlon, and children will have the opportunity to meet the princesses at noon. The concert starts at 1 p.m., and the event features a ticket raffle, bake sale and the funds Bippity Boppity Boo Boutique. Costumes welcome.
There will be performances by the Refrigerators, a 10-piece horn band from New York's Capital Region, and country and classic rock band Hotshot Hillbillies to support the Dalton Lions Club.
Tickets range from $32.64 to $37.89. More information here.
Plant Sale
Zion Lutheran Church, Pittsfield
Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The church is having its 17th annual Plant Sale featuring perennials, herbs, and houseplants for sale. More information here.
Eagles Trombone Ensemble Performance
Tanglewood, Lenox
Time: 3 p.m.
The Eagles Trombone Ensemble, comprised of 20 members from Western Mass and eastern New York, will be performing in Tanglewood's Studio E, Linde Center for Music and Learning.
As part of the Department of Conservation and Recreation's Preservation Month series, there will be a free meadow walk.
During the easy one-mile walk, Mount Greylock's historic landscape will be revealed, going as far back as 12,000 years ago.
Participants will discover the story of Ice Age beasts, primeval forests, Native American Nomads, and 18th-century pioneer settlers like Ephraim Bradley.
The Dalton American Legion is having its annual car and truck show. The show car entrance fee is $15, but spectators are free. There will be food, awards, and of course, cars and trucks.
The Hilltown Seed Saving Network is hosting a plant swap.
Bring plants, cuttings, divisions, seeds, or gardening-related items to share with the community. No plant is necessary to attend.
There will also be a soil blocking demonstration at 2 p.m. Please label your plants and consider bringing containers for transport.
There is a suggested donation of $5 to $10, but all contributions are welcome. More information here.
Farmer's Markets
Great Barrington Farmer's Market
18 Church St.
Time: Saturday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The market is open every Saturday. Every week, locally grown food, flowers, and plants will be available, along with other local vendors. The market accepts and offers doubling SNAP, HIP, WIC, and Senior market coupons. More information is here.
New Marlborough Farmer's Market
Village Green
Time: Sunday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The market has local vendors that offer a variety of goods from produce, eggs, baked goods, jams, hand-knit items, maple syrup, and more. More information here.
North Adams Farmer's Market
Main Street
Time: Saturday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The south side of Main Street from American Legion Drive will be closed to make room for the city's weekly farmers market, which will kick off this Saturday. Explore downtown North Adams and discover local businesses and fresh produce from local farms. More information here.
Pittsfield Farmer's Market
Pittsfield Common
Time: 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Roots Rising, the region's first teen-run market, will hold an indoor farmers market this Saturday. The event will feature live music, chef demos, workshops, children's activities, and more. More information is available here.
Williamstown Farmer's Market
Spring Street
Time: Saturday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The market focuses on a wide range of local food and artisan vendors, as well as local services and music. More information here.
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CBRSD Makes Cuts to Lower Town Assessments
By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — School officials say reductions in the Central Berkshire Regional School District's budget will be felt, but remain optimistic that it will not prevent them from being "the best regional district in the state."
Throughout the budgeting season, officials said they strived to keep the seven member towns informed amid contractual increases outside their control and concerns with a state aid funding formula described as "remarkably wrong."
The initial budget was about a 9 percent increase, but with "strategic reductions" the district was able to cut that down to 2.99 percent, bringing the total budget to $37,740,005.
"This was no small feat," said Paul Farella, district's Finance Committee chair.
In earlier budget drafts, towns voiced concerns over significantly higher assessments, which ranged from approximately 7 to 15 percent, compared to prior years, when it was about 2 to 7 percent.
With the revised budget, projected net town assessments are:
Becket for $2,859,205, an increase of 5.49 percent
Cummington for $670,246, an increase of 5.11 percent
Dalton for $10,106,445, an increase of 5.86 percent
Hinsdale for $3,277,495, an increase of 10.54 percent
Peru for $1,083,751, an increase of 6.11 percent
Washington for $826,774, an increase of 6.64 percent
Windsor for $995,438, an increase of 9.37 percent
"[The cuts] will be felt, but we believe that it is what is necessary for the time being to not overburden our towns while still being able to provide a quality education to our community," Farella said.
Delivering high-quality education while responsibly managing public funds in a district, which like many rural areas, faces financial constraints is a duty Superintendent Michael Henault said he takes very seriously.
School officials say reductions in the Central Berkshire Regional School District's budget will be felt, but remain optimistic that it will not prevent them from being "the best regional district in the state." click for more
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