Lenox Library Will Host Playful Pennants Program with Second Nature Arts

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LENOX, Mass. — Join Second Nature Arts and Lenox Library for an afternoon of creativity and snacks.
 
On Friday, April 3, 2026, from noon to 1:30 p.m., kids (ages 6 and up) and adults are invited to design a whimsical pennant banner for their walls using paper, felt, and yarn. First, experiment with bold color combinations, shapes, and lettering. 
 
Registration is required for this free program. To sign up, stop by the Lenox Library youth department or email Vanessa at vjustice@lenoxlib.org.
 
According to a press release:
 
Founder/Director Susan Lynn Smith holds a BFA from New York University and a MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. Susan has been an artist-in-residence at VCCA, Penland School of Craft, The Hambidge Center, Vyt - Art Students League of NY, The Rensing Center, and the Lillian E. Smith Center. In 2008, Susan joined the staff at The Oxbow School in Napa, CA, where she was faculty for Oxbow Summer Art Camp before taking on the directorial role from 2011-2020. In 2010, she co-founded Green Art Workshop, a San Francisco based nonprofit for which she acted as co-director and lead facilitator for nearly a decade. From 2019 to 2023, Susan contributed her expertise to the Berkshire Hills Regional School District’s OST programs at Muddy Brook Elementary School, as both an instructor and coordinator. She founded Second Nature Arts in the Berkshires in 2019, where she continues to lead the organization.
 
This program is funded in part by a grant from the Lenox Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Josh Billings Athletes Can Support Local Non-Profits

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. - A new fundraising initiative is giving participants in  one of the Berkshires’ most recognized community traditions a simple way to support local  nonprofits.
 
Launched this year by the Josh Billings RunAground and Mill Town Foundation, the Finish Line Fund allows participating teams to select a Berkshire-based nonprofit and invite friends, family members, colleagues, and others to support the organization through a  team fundraising page.
 
With time still remaining before the Sept. 20 event, participating teams already have raised more than $16,000 for local nonprofits.
 
“The Finish Line Fund is about expanding participation in local philanthropy,” said Andy Wrba, Program Director at Mill Town Foundation. “You don’t need to make a large gift to have an impact. When hundreds of people contribute $10 or $20 to organizations they care about, those individual gifts can add up to something significant. We want to make local  giving accessible, personal, and connected to an event people are already excited to be part of.”
 
Rather than directing all fundraising to a single beneficiary, the Finish Line Fund places the  choice in the hands of participants. Teams select a Berkshire nonprofit that is meaningful to them and use their own networks and personal stories to build support for the organization.  Donations made through each team’s fundraising page go directly to its selected nonprofit.
 
The initiative reflects a peer-to-peer approach to philanthropy in which individuals become  ambassadors for the organizations and causes they value. In addition to raising funds, the  program is designed to introduce more people to Berkshire nonprofits, expand their networks of supporters, and encourage community members to see themselves as active participants in local giving.
 
To encourage broad participation, Mill Town Foundation will also contribute an additional $500 to the nonprofit represented by each of the five teams that attracts the greatest number of individual donors. The incentive is based on the number of unique supporters – not the total amount raised – reinforcing the message that gifts of every size matter.
 
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