Gala Celebration of Youth Alive and ROPE Legacy

11:48AM / Thursday, November 06, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A gala celebration in honor of the impact and legacy of Youth Alive (YA) and the Rites of Passage & Empowerment (ROPE) program will be held on Saturday, Nov. 8 at the Berkshire Innovation Center, 45 Woodlawn Ave. in Pittsfield.

The ticketed program will begin at 6 p.m. and feature guest speaker the Rev. Nakeida Bethel-Smith. All proceeds will support the ROPE scholars, mentors and ambassadors global service trip to Ghana in West Africa. Tickets can be purchased here.

This year, Youth Alive marks its 30th anniversary, while ROPE is celebrating a 15-year milestone. YA is a multicultural community-based arts program providing arts and educational opportunities to young people 8-18 years of age with a focus on dance forms including Step, African and Hip-Hop. ROPE's mission is to celebrate and honor the entry of female adolescents into adulthood and provide them with skills and knowledge that they need to be successful, independent and responsible people.

"I'm eternally grateful for the support our community has shown over the life of Youth Alive and ROPE There has been a generation of young adults that benefited from the mentoring, guidance. leadership development and empowerment," said Shirley Edgerton, founder of both groups. "You're invited to celebrate and plant a financial seed to ensure the future of these impactful and transformative programs continue to thrive."

Gloria Williams of Pittsfield, 16, is a scholar in the ROPE program, and says ROPE has had a tremendous impact on her life.

"I was born and raised in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. I joined ROPE four years ago, and I am so glad that I did. For me, ROPE has provided limitless opportunities. Aside from the traveling and cultural aspect, it has allowed every single young woman here to make connections with so many people in so many different places that they never would have otherwise."

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ROPEinGhana

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Lanesborough Seeks State Support for Berkshire Mall Redevelopment

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires.com
05:58PM / Monday, October 12, 2026

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The town plans to petition the state to take ownership of the Route 7/Route 8 Connector Road, which officials believe is a "critical component" of the Berkshire Mall’s redevelopment strategy.

On Tuesday, the Select Board approved a letter to state Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. John Barrett III to request their support for the vacant mall's redevelopment by helping advance transfer of the Route 7/Route 8 connector and considering funding for essential infrastructure.

"We have held discussions with the Baker Hill Road District … which will take the necessary steps to formally petition the commonwealth to take over ownership of the Route 7, Route 8 connector…Your continued support in facilitating this transfer is greatly appreciated," the letter says.

Berkshire Mall owner JMJ RE Holdings has said the potential sale and redevelopment of the mall hinges on dissolving the Baker Hill Road District, a condition of the agreement that, if unmet, would render the contract null and void.

As a result, the mall will continue to deteriorate and the litigation will proceed forward, said Tim Grogan, of JMJ.

Vera Farrell, the liaison to the Baker Hill Road District, said the district board had discussed at one of its most recent meetings that the connector road could be transferred directly to the state, rather than returned to the town; Barrett and Mark were also a part of the discussion.

"The representatives recommended that as an option, that it could transfer the connector road directly to the state, as opposed to deeding it back to the town to dispense it. If we get to that point, that would be a better option to do it that way," Farrell said.

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