Berkshire South to Host 16th Annual Splash-A-Thon for Adaptive Aquatics

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Berkshire South Regional Community Center (BSRCC) will host the 16th annual Splash-A-Thon fundraiser on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
 
The event, held in the Norris Aquatics Center, begins at 8:00 a.m. and benefits the center’s Adaptive Aquatics programs.
 
The fundraiser supports inclusive swim instruction and water-based therapy tailored to meet the individual needs of participants. This year, the BSRCC has set a fundraising goal of $20,000 to help offset the program's $50,000 annual operating cost. Remaining expenses are covered through various grants.
 
Participants can support the initiative by swimming laps or enrolling in two special-edition adaptive classes: "Aqua Thrills" for adults at 10:00 a.m. and "Swim Jam" for children at 11:00 a.m. Community members may also sponsor swimmers, volunteer, or provide direct donations.
 
Adaptive Swim Instructor Catherine Blake has been named the 2026 Splash-A-Thon Ambassador. Blake, who currently teaches five adults and 12 children, noted that the program has expanded significantly from its original four participants and now maintains a waiting list.
 
"For so many in the adaptive community, safety around water is a huge issue," said Blake. "Learning about safety in and around the pool is incredibly important. Being able to teach someone how to swim is a necessity—even if it takes years."
 
Funds raised during the event are allocated toward specialized instruction and assistive equipment designed for diverse physical abilities. Benefits of the program include improved range of motion, increased physical strength, and community connection for dozens of local residents.
 
Those unable to attend the event on April 11 may schedule an alternate swim day. For every donation received, the BSRCC will display a paper droplet with the donor’s name in the facility’s lobby.
 
For more information, to register, or to donate, visit: www.berkshiresouth.org/splashathon
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pryor & Peacock's Whimsical Furniture Environmentally Friendly

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
 

The company uses digital printing to create the upholstery fabric, saving water and saving vintage furniture from ending up in landfills.

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — A unique furniture store has popped up on Elm Street this month.

Mom-and-daughter store Pryor & Peacock is hosting the pop-up storefront from Aug. 13 to Aug. 25 at 6 Elm. The New Marlborough business is co-founded by Rosalina Wright and Luca Shapiro, who is also the creative director. 

Their online shop was created in 2024 but they wanted people to see the pieces in person, so they're renting the space for a limited time before a long-term tenant moves in.

The store sources prints to create unique fabrics and reimagines vintage and antique furniture acquired at auctions, local shops, and online.

"We source prints from all over the world that date from the late 1600s up through mid-20th century, and Luca turns those prints into fabric by manipulating them, scanning them, oftentimes has to add or subtract things, and then we manufacture the fabric using only digital printing, which is very environmentally friendly, unlike traditional textile printing," Wright said.

Upholstering the furniture can take weeks of work. Shapiro looks for the perfect design for each piece and, if need be, uses Adobe Photoshop to extend the art work to fit or enhance the print.

"One of the most difficult parts comes in marrying the fabric to a piece of furniture because we only use antique and vintage frames also to be earth friendly, and they're also more beautiful and durable than new furniture," Wright said. "So the image has to go with the furniture, so that takes a lot of work."

One of Pryor & Peacock's missions is to be environmentally friendly. Digital printing doesn't use the same amount of water as traditional textile productions do nor does it contaminate water with ink according to their website.

Not only are they saving water, but they are saving furniture from going into the landfill while also using more durable furniture that doesn't break as easily as current pieces. They started their business to create something unique and to help the environment together.

"It's creating something nobody else is doing. People can't continue to buy throwaway furniture. Six percent of American landfills is furniture, and digital printing not only opens up the possibility of being able to put unique images on a piece of furniture, but it also is, as I said, environmentally friendly. So, for us, the excitement is to take an old East Lake settee that somebody's going to store in their barn and forget about, and make it something completely new and surprising," Wright said.

They hope their furniture helps bring a pop of fun to someone's home.

"We think our furniture is very whimsical and surprising, and most furniture today is oatmeal colored couches and gray neutral chairs, and it's boring," she said.

The two named their business after their mothers' maiden names to honor them and believe the name reflects their pieces.

Shapiro works in interior design outside of the business and the two liked working together and thought it would be great to start a business together. Shapiro says they can work well together and that her and her mother, Wright, has flipped houses before and have the same eye for design.

"So it's very easy for us to work together. When we see something, generally we agree on whether it works or doesn't work on a piece. We agree on the color schemes and that sort of thing. So it's very fun and fulfilling to work together," Shapiro said. 

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