BRPC Hosting Aging in Place Workshop

07:29AM / Wednesday, August 12, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) is proud to announce the award of a 2026 AARP Community Challenge Grant.

The grant will fund an Aging in Place Workshop and individual technical assistance to older adults. The Aging in Place Workshop will be held on Aug. 19, 2026, from 10:30-11:30 AM at The Common Room (Zion Lutheran Church) at 74 First Street in Pittsfield.

The Aging in Place Workshop will provide examples and lessons on how to modify your home to successfully age in place, which allows older adults to live in the homes and communities of their choice. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to register for a one-on-one technical assistance appointment with an experienced housing specialist to determine what modifications could be made to your home to successfully age in place. Participants will then be connected with the Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP), which helps fund those required modifications.

HMLP is a state-funded 0 percent interest deferred payment loan for home modifications for the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and families of children with disabilities. Possible modifications include but are not limited to bathroom and kitchen modifications, ramps, stair lifts, platform lifts, sensory/therapy spaces, hard-wired alarm systems, fences, accessory dwelling units, and more. This is not a home repair program; repairs to roofs, windows, and heating systems are not eligible.

All are welcome to join BRPC on Aug. 19 at 10:30 AM at The Common Room (Zion Lutheran Church) in Pittsfield for the Aging in Place Workshop. If you are unable to attend in person but would like to attend on Zoom, please register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OxWXX1tXRd2Ct0GEMVGUeg

Please contact Michaela Grady at HMLP@berkshireplanning.org or 413-442-1521 ext. 55 if you have any questions.

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Berkshire Museum Explores Ancient Egypt With ‘Soulful Creatures’

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
11:33AM / Friday, October 09, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Following its multimillion-dollar renovation, the Berkshire Museum is welcoming an exhibition unlike any it has been able to host before.

Marking the museum's first major exhibition since its renovation, "Soulful Creatures: Animal Mummies in Ancient Egypt," opening Saturday, Oct. 10, thins the veil between the ever-evolving history of Egyptian culture and society and modern day people.

"The most important thing about history is recognizing people from the past as actual people. Ancient Egyptians are no different than us," said William Dore, the museum's chief curator. "They have different cultures and beliefs and different viewpoints, but you can say the same thing about people today."

When audiences experience the exhibit, they will see the humanity in the people of the past, which in turn helps them connect with different views and perspectives around the world today, he said.

Combining archeology with modern scientific imaging, Brooklyn (N.Y.) Museum curators Yekaterina Barbash and Edward Bleiberg designed an exhibit that works to uncover the mysteries behind these objects and the beliefs and rituals that surround them.

"I think something that people kind of misunderstand about history is none of it's ever settled. ... History is a science that is constantly questioned,” Dore said. "It only works if everyone's constantly rethinking things, learning new things ... which is for me super exciting because as much as we know a lot about the ancient Egyptians, there's a lot we don't know.”

The installation features dozens of artifacts on loan from the Brooklyn Museum that explores the practice of animal mummification and the role animals played in ancient Egyptian religion.

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