Change is good
Pittsfield, MA - Meet local companies, institutions, and organizations involved in the Berkshires’ creative economy and renewable energy fields, including the Berkshire International Film Festival, Hancock Shaker Village, Center for Ecological Technology, Jacob's Pillow, MCLA, Topia Inn, Berkshire Biodiesel, and the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
Hosted by the Berkshire Brigades, the event will be attended by Senator Kerry, Lt. Governor Murray and a host of other luminaries and followed by a Democratic campaign kick-off and presidential straw poll, on Friday, Jan. 11, from 5-6:30 p.m., at Spice Restaurant, 297 North Street in Pittsfield. (413-443-1234)
Tickets for the event are $25 per person. For tickets or additional information, call 413-441-2321 or e-mail victory2008@berkshirebrigades.org.
On November 28, 2007, Berkshire Creative is hosting three delegations from eastern Massachusetts to tour Pittsfield and North Adams and discuss our flourishing creative economy.
The visitors are from Lowell, New Bedford, and Brockton Massachusetts and we have a full day planned. See the itinerary below, and please feel free to join at any point in the visit.
If you plan to participate, please RSVP to Helena Fruscio, Program Coordinator for Berkshire Creative, by phone: 413-499-4000 x21 or email: BerkshireCreative@gmail.com.
Berkshire Creative Economy Tour Itinerary
10:00am- Guest arrive in Pittsfield, to Colonial Theatre
Welcome from Tyler Fairbank and Megan Whilden
10:30 am-Walking Tour of Downtown Pittsfield
Guided by:
Tyler Fairbank, Berkshire Economic Development Corporation
Helena Fruscio, Project Coordinator, Berkshire Creative
Megan Whilden Director, Pittsfield Cultural Development
Stops on the Tour:
Colonial Theatre, David Fleming
Berkshire Museum, Stuart Chase
Storefront Artist Project, Peter Dudek
Litchenstein Center for the Arts, Megan Whilden
Crispina Design Workshop, Chrispina
Ferrin Gallery, Leslie Ferrin
12 Noon- Lunch/Discussion @ Burger
Creative Economy Open Discussion
Joined by:
Tyler Fairbank, Berkshire Economy Development Corporation
Deanna Ruffer, Pittsfield Cultural Development
Megan Whilden Director, Pittsfield Cultural Development
Members of Berkshire Creative Economy Council
1pm-Travel to North Adams
1:30pm-Tour Mass MoCA
Guided by:
Katherine Myers, Director of marketing & public relations
2:30pm-Trolley Tour
Guided by:
Helena Fruscio, Project Coordinator, Berkshire Creative
Rod Bunt, Director of Tourism and Cultural Development
Stops on the Tour:
Porches Inn at Mass MoCA
Eclipse Mills (Artist Studios and Lofts)
North Adams Antiques
Gallery 51, Jonathan Secor
4pm- Reception with Mayor Barrett
Discussion Topic: Government's Role in the Creative Economy
Adams, MA - Come celebrate the opening of the first rooms at Topia Inn, 10 Pleasant Street, in Adams on July 7th between 5pm and 8pm.
Open house celebration will feature the Zen Room design by Artist Sophia Ali Pandeya, and other artist decorated rooms. Prepare to take off your shoes and feel the pure New Zealand hand-tufted sculptural carpet by designer Hansine Pederson Goran of Current Carpets, watch the solar meters turn as we generate electricity, enjoy the sparkle of the recycled glass Icestone countertops, run your hand over the smooth surfaces of the Amercian Clay earth plaster walls and learn how to build "green" from two eco-veterans.
RSVP stay@topiainn.com or call 413-743-9605
Williamstown, MA - Images Cinema's annual meeting of the Board of Directors is coming up and you are invited. The meeting will be held on Thursday, June 7 from 5:30-6:30pm at the cinema, 50 Spring Street in Williamstown, followed by light hors d'oeuvres and cash bar next door at The Red Herring. If you want to learn more about the inner workings of the cinema and take a look at the year in review, please RSVP to 413-458-1039 or sandra@imagescinema.org.
North Adams, MA - As a part of its series of Seminars for Excellence in Nonprofit Management, the Nonprofit Support Center of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation presents BOARDS AND EXECUTIVES: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES with Michael E. Burns on Wednesday, May 2, from 9 am-noon at Gallery 51, Main Street, North Adams. Cost per person: $40; teams of two:$60.
Do your board and executives have clearly demarcated roles? Are they fulfilling their responsibilities?
A strong organization relies on an effective board and executives who understand their roles and responsiblities. This workshop will help participants understand and explore the challenges of governing their nonprofit organizations.
The workshop will introduce the stages of development paradigm to frame this conversation. We will also discuss structural and process tools that distinguish between governing and volunteering.
At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to judge better how their exectuves or board are performing and why, and understand their options for subsequent change.
Michael E. Burns is a partner in the firm Brody Weiser Burns, based in Branford, CT. Prior to joining BWB in 1994, Mike was hte executive director of the Development and Technical Assistance Research Center in New Haven. For 10 years, Mike was associate professor of management at the Antioch-New England Graduate Schools of Organization and Management and Environmental Studies. Mike has 25 years of consulting experience; he has written and edited several books on non-profit management and fundraising.
To register call the Berkshire Taconic Foundation at 413-528-8039
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- The Spring Street commercial building hit by a pre-dawn blaze March 29 is so badly damaged that rebuilding it will require renovations to bring it up to current building-code requirements, the town has told the o
wner in a letter. The floor underneath the location of A Perfect Blend coffee shop "is a total loss," says the letter from deputy building inspector Ryan A. Contenda to building owner Mark Pareksy. "Most floor joist [sic] are destroyed. The two steel beams supporting the floor appear to have expanded under the intense head punching two holes in the south side of the foundation wall. Most of the roof trusses appear to be in good condition. Some of the wall of the west side of the building is damaged. There is severe smoke and water damage throughout the building."
Contenda's letter continues that under the space housing the Subway sandwich shop "the floor system is a total loss, most floor joists are destroyed. There is severe smoke and water damage throughout the building." Contenda adds that the location of the Purple Pub suffered "minor smoke and water damage throughout the building." Contenda said that along with damage to equipment, wiring, plumbing and walls in the basement, where the fire originated, "please be advised that, whether you repair the damage or build a new building, the provisions of the code for new construction are applicable." The letter was dated April 3. It notes that copies were sent to Ron Zucco, Daniel Connors and Mary Michel, owners, respectively, of Perfect Blend, Subway and Purple Pub. (Click on image to view text) EARLIER STORY
North Adams, MA - Warmer weather brings visitors to the city of North Adams and marks the opening of the Tourist Booth on Union Street. The booth will be open from 10:00 4:00 PM, seven days a week, from the first weekend in June through Columbus Day, October 8, 2007. Working at the tourist booth is easy and rewarding; training will be provided and transportation to the booth can be arranged. All volunteers will be feted at an appreciation brunch at the North Adams Holiday Inn on May 9th. Please consider joining our team! Call 413.652.3246 or loomis.berkshirerides@gmail.com
No matter which town or city you call home, there's an Information Booth that needs your help!
If you're interested in volunteering at the North Adams visitors booth call 413-664-6180 or email tourism@northadams-ma.gov
If you're interested in volunteering in Williamstown call the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce 413-458-9077 or email info@williamstownchamber.com
The Adams visitor booth is at the Berkshire Visitors Bureau. Call 413-743-4500 for info.
Waterfront Media, the Brooklyn, N.Y., based provider of services and support to health-related websites which has a major office operation on Main Street in North Adams, has secured $8 million in additional "venture debt financing", according to a news release from the company. Village Ventures of Williamstown is one of Waterfront's investors. NEWS RELEASE.
Recent Comments