Community Contra Dance Returns to Williamstown

11:49AM / Wednesday, March 11, 2026Print Story | Email Story

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The North Berkshire Contra Dance is set to return to the First Congregational Church this Saturday, March 14, continuing a monthly tradition of community-focused dance and live traditional music.

The event, held in the church's Community Hall at 906 Main St., aims to provide an accessible social outlet for residents of all ages and experience levels. Maggie McRae, a veteran dance caller, will lead the evening's program.

The festivities begin with a 7:15 p.m. introductory lesson designed for those new to contra dancing—a folk style characterized by long lines of couples. McRae will continue to teach all sequences throughout the main dance, which runs from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

The event is designed for both novices and families with children.

Music for the evening will be provided by an "open band," a format that encourages local musicians to participate in the performance. The ensemble is led by fiddle player Rebecca Weiss and guitarist Seamus Connor.

In a move to foster the next generation of dance leaders, a free calling workshop is also scheduled earlier in the day. The workshop will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Goodrich Hall on Main Street.

Admission to the evening dance follows a "pay-as-you-can" model, with a suggested sliding scale of $\$12$ to $\$20$. Organizers noted that no one will be turned away for a lack of funds, maintaining the event's mission of community inclusivity. In keeping with contra dance tradition, attendees are encouraged to change partners throughout the night, and no pre-arranged partner is necessary to join.

Regarding public health, the organization maintains a "Respirational Health Policy," requesting that anyone feeling ill or exhibiting cold symptoms stay home. While the event is not currently requiring masks, they are welcomed. Organizers reminded prospective attendees that the nature of the dance involves close physical proximity and rotating partners.

For further details on the event or the North Berkshire Contra Dance organization, community members can visit www.NorthBerkshireDance.org.

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Williamstown Select Board Evaluates Town Manager

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:39AM / Wednesday, October 28, 2026

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — In 2022, the town still was recovering from the twin blows of a global pandemic and a lawsuit that exposed disturbing allegations against the town's police department.

The latter ultimately led to the resignation of the police chief and the town manager. To replace the manager, the Select Board at the time turned to Robert Menicocci.

Menicocci represented a break in style from his immediate predecessor, who was a more prominent voice in town government. That prominence, in part, was a product of the times: When town boards and committees were not meeting in-person and access to town hall itself was limited at the height of the pandemic, the manager's voice in Zoom meetings was more front and center.

In his four years in the corner office, Menicocci has helped shepherd the police department on its path to certification and helped the town weather the fiscal storm of skyrocketing costs linked to inflation – particularly sharp increases in the cost of health insurance that hit hard for a labor-intensive endeavor like municipal government. All the while, he has been a little more taciturn, while always willing to participate, when appropriate, with responsive answers in discussions of the Select Board and Finance Committee.

On Monday, the current Select Board – completely turned over from the 2022 edition – pushed Menicocci to be more of a cheerleader for the town.

"Do you see your role more as a behind-the-scenes guy and our role is to be out in public?" board member Matthew Neely asked Menicocci during the board's review of the manager's job performance. "Or is there more of a role for you in that? So many people, if I say your name, they're like, ‘Who?'

"I would have assumed your role would be more public facing as well, and more, for lack of a better word, leading the charge as opposed to running day-to-day operations. I feel you're strong running day-to-day. But something we all wish is we had a little more of a proactive [manager] …. Since we need development, need all these things in town so much. … I'd love to see more outward energy, I guess.

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