How local law enforcement agencies are turning into paramilitary

Transcription

may • vOL. 4 nO. 5
day+night Plan Your Month Pages 21-23
The berkshires’ alternative newspaper
JTF: Lenoxology revisited Page 6 • Live Music pages 32-33 • music: Immune friction’s surf-grunge sound Page 25
BERKSHIRE
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How local law enforcement agencies are turning into paramilitary organizations
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`contents
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Militarizing the police
PAGE 11
How Berkshire County Law Enforcement agencies are turning into
paramilitary organizations.
By Eoin Higgins
PAGE 6 Letters
Court Beat
A look back at
Lenoxology
Day + Night
Rhode Island’s recent marketing flop, the
“Cooler and Warmer” slogan, is reminiscent Music
Just The Facts
of the Lenox marketing flub, Lenoxology.
By Terry cowgill
Venues28
Local Bands30
Live Music32
Vibe
36
Art When it comes to finding the right property
one real estate agency always comes through.
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“Remix, Reshoot, Research”
Theater
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34
Metro
The new Commonwealth Commitment college
affordability and completion plan announced
by Gov. Baker should help more students in
their journey to receiving a college degree.
By Kameron Spaulding
Turbulence
Barnbrook
Right agency. Right time. Right now.
271 Main St., Great Barrington (413) 528-4423
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`Letters
`
Still we need to stand
up to Kinder Morgan
At the Tuesday, March 29 Department of Public Utilities hearings on Tennessee Gas and Kinder Morgan’s request
to be allowed use eminent domain to gain
access to and use of private property for
their pipeline routes, demonstrators had
signs reading “no eminent domain for
private gain.” A fellow attendee commented that was a catchy phrase, but he
thought that it was an expression of an
opinion with no basis in law. In fact, it
has a strong basis in law.
Most readers are familiar with the
“Citizens’ United” Supreme Court case
in which the court found that under free
speech, corporations should be free as
private parties to give unlimited amounts
to campaign organizations. In 2005 the
Court, by the same 5-4 split, rendered an
equally preposterous decision.
In Kelo Vs. the city of New London,
it decided that “economic development”
constituted a “public use” that justified the
taking of private property through eminent
domain. According to this decision, the
government can utilize eminent domain to
seize property when it deems it necessary
for “economic development.”
In her dissent, Justice Sandra Day
O’Connor stated “Under the banner
of economic development, all private
property is vulnerable to being taken and
transferred to another private owner.”
A year later, President George W.
Bush was so concerned about the implications of this decision that the White House
issued Executive Order 13406 which
stated in Section 1 that the federal government must limit its use of taking private
property to “public use” with “just compensation” for the “purpose of benefiting
the general public.” The order limits this
use by stating that it may not be used “for
the purpose of advancing the economic
interest of private parties to be given
ownership or use of the property taken.”
In other words, “No eminent domain for
private gain.”
The routes of both the Northeast
Direct Pipeline and the Connecticut
expansion project in Sandisfield would
cross private farm lands and lands that
taxpayers have paid to protect from
development. NED also would go through
pristine lands that constitute the drinking
water resource for nearly half of Berkshire
residents. With less than a third of the gas
volume contracted for use in New England, and with none of it going to towns
through which the pipelines pass, Kinder
Morgan cannot possibly demonstrate a
benefit to the general public, and thus
the only benefit would be the economic
interest of Kinder Morgan, a private party
whose free speech rights were upheld in
Citizens’ United.
It is obvious that if the Department of
Public Utilities is unwise enough to find in
favor of Kinder Morgan, there is a strong
likelihood that the decision could be
overturned under a legal challenge in the
courts.
Douglas McNally
Windsor
Need to keep the fight
Positive steps are being taken in Massachusetts in confronting the opioid crisis.
The governor and Legislature devoted funds
for Narcan, which has saved lives. There
is preventive education in schools, doctors
are required to check into the prescription
database, a first-in-the-nation seven-day limit
on first-time opioid prescriptions has been
established, and more.
Now, we welcome the news that Berkshire Health Systems is opening a 30-bed
facility for essential longer term care of 1430 days. An application to expand the Brien
Center’s program for women at Keenan
House by 16 beds has been submitted but
The Eagle indicates the center is “yet to
receive a response.”
People know well the ripple effect that
impacts the families, children and everyone
else surrounding an addict. Often, children of
addicts are appropriately taken into the care
of the Department of Children and Families
and placed in foster homes.
However, already overburdened DCF
needs more social workers, more foster
homes and related services to deal with the
increase in children coming into their care.
Waiting lists for supportive mental health,
substance abuse and treatment services are
impossibly long when people need immedi-
ate support to get and keep clean and reclaim
their lives and those of their children.
We’re moving in the right direction,
but the Legislature also needs to focus on
the ripple effects and maintain its sense
of urgency by allocating additional funds
to touch every corner of this crisis. Our
Berkshire legislators understand this — the
governor could use a nudge!
Cathy Deely
Pittsfield
Del Gallo talks record
I was shocked when I went to the
WAMC website and listened to the March
2 interview by Jim Levulis, “Another
Democrat enters western Mass. state Senate race.” At 1:10, Mr. Levulis stated, “[Andrea] Harrington has said she is undecided
on the proposed Northeast Energy Direct
Pipeline that will run through the region.”
At 3:05 Mr. Levulis reports, “[Adams
Hinds] said the pipeline is a big issue, but
did not take a stance for or against it.”
When I took out nomination papers
(I have not formerly announced), I was
interviewed by Mr. Levulis, resulting in
the WAMC piece, “More Contenders in
western Mass. Senate Race,” which aired
March 31, and is also available online for
listening. Boy, did they sing a different
tune.
All of a sudden, there was a Bernie
Sanders progressive in the race. Now
both were opposed to the pipeline. I
share Sanders’ progressive stand against
fracked gas, which both pipelines would
transport. I was instrumental in leading
the charge to ban Styrofoam in Pittsfield.
I inspired Brad Verter to lead the fight to
ban Styrofoam and single-use plastic bags
in Williamstown. Both of my opponents
steadfastly deny that I pulled them to the
left, but the evidence shows otherwise.
In the April 20 WAMC piece, “Pipeline Becomes an Early Point of Contention
in Mass. Senate Race,” Hinds says that
his failure to initially come out against
the pipeline and only doing so after I took
out nomination papers “has absolutely no
connection to my policy positions.” The
evidence is quite strong that he reacted to
my presence in the race.
Harrington said, “I was opposed to
the pipeline as a private citizen living in
Richmond where the pipeline was going to
be going through, and I’m opposed to the
pipeline as a candidate for state Senate.”
She added, “I’ve been opposed to the pipeline, always.” She makes it sound as if she
was never undecided, and this is just not so.
Voters should want someone as state
senator who is firmly opposed to both
pipelines and will fight with conviction
and passion. The pipeline that is the
Massachusetts loop of the Connecticut
expansion project is still scheduled to go
(there are court delays), and something
tells me Kinder Morgan’s “suspension”
may be just a ploy to get more customer
commitments. My opponents were not
clearly resolved to oppose the transportation of fracked gas. But even if you are
for the pipeline or don’t have a strong
position, do you really want a candidate
who entered the race and did not have a
position on one of the most pressing issues of the day?
Rinaldo Del Gallo
Pittsfield
5
`Just
`
The Facts
Rhode Island
marketing
flop feels like
Lenoxology
By Terry Cowgill
A
s anyone who practices the
trade will tell you, marketing
is more art than science. Despite what they may tell you,
marketing experts have no idea what
will work. And even high-priced talent
with proven track records will stumble.
To wit, the state of Rhode Island’s
pricey marketing campaign fizzled
recently before it even got off the
ground. Dubbed “Rhode Island: Cooler
and Warmer,” the slogan had observers scratching
►► Lenoxology their heads in
campaign
wonder. Was this
never got
a reference to the
traction
weather, or to the
state’s hipness and
the kindness of its residents?
As one might expect, social media
exploded, in part because the ridicule
so readily lent itself to rejoinders of
140 characters or less. Some derisively called the campaign “Dumb and
Dumber.”
The video of the campaign included
footage shot in Iceland. The state’s
newly launched tourism website featured photos of Massachusetts restaurants and chefs who had died or moved
away from Rhode Island.
Then heads started to roll. Gina
Raimondo, the nerdy first-term governor more comfortable with spreadsheets than creative sloganeering, put
the freeze on Cooler and Warmer. The
state’s chief marketing officer resigned
amid the outrage. Rhode Island’s
commerce secretary, however, fresh
from a stint as Connecticut’s education commissioner, took responsibility
but stayed on the job and collected his
paycheck.
Worst of all, Cooler and Warmer
was dreamed up by Madison Avenue
titan Milton Glaser, now 86, whose resume included the hugely successful “I
Love New York” campaign. The Cooler
and Warmer price tag: a cool $5 million.
Now rewind back to the Berkshires
in 2011 when the town of Lenox, after
interviewing several consultants who
gave PowerPoint presentations, hired
another New York marketing firm,
Bodden Hamilton, which subsequently
created a “state-of-mind” term to market the town and increase revenue from
6
Photo contributed
The recent fight over the flawed marketing plan for the State of Rhode Island has led many in the Berkshires to think back a few
years to Lenoxology.
tourism: “Lenoxology.”
The term was as baffling as Cooler
and Warmer, recalled Berkshire Record
columnist Mickey Friedman, who
complained in one column that “Only
a tone-deaf ad agency would foist
Lenoxology on us.”
“I miss Lenoxology but the problem is Lenoxology has as much to do
with Lenox as Carpology has to do
with Carp,” Friedman noted wryly
in an email this week. “Lenoxology
sounds a bit like Lexicology, which is
about words. Which is why I’d probably be more interested in visiting
Lexicology.”
At the time, Bodden Hamilton
explained the reasoning behind Lenoxology as a “unique healing treatment
for vacationers … [that] works fast to
relieve pressure from the head, chest
and lower back, often in as little as a
weekend.” Meaning it could be anything from a massage to an analgesic.
Convinced that a local firm could
have dreamed up something far better,
Lenox residents complained loudly.
Like Cooler and Warmer, Lenoxology
quickly became the butt of jokes.
“No one was really sure what
a ‘state-of-mind’ slogan was, but it
sounded good,” Berkshire Record
columnist and satirist Bill Shein wrote
five years ago.
“Unclear from the written minutes
of 2011 Lenox Select Board meetings
— most of which were burned during
the Great Lenoxology Riots of 2014 —
is whether the firm’s representatives
placed something, perhaps fabricated
from wool, over the eyes of town officials while making their PowerPoint
presentations.”
Pittsfield blogger Dan Valenti
wrote a satirical post entitled, “Lenoxology — The Vomit Comet Of Marketing Slogans Has Lacquered Lenox In A
Civil War.”
In an email exchange with The
View last week, Valenti said his views
have not changed: “Lenoxology”
proves Shakespeare wrong. There is
NOTHING in a name that dumb —
nothing, that is, of redeeming value.
That the town would waste $56,000
so an ad agency could come up with
something this feeble and flimsy does
point, however, to the serious identity
crisis that has gripped the town.”
Valenti added that when a city or
town resorts to a slogan to serve as an
“economic engine, it usually indicates
panic on the part of its officials.” He
recalled Pittsfield’s much-mocked “It’s
Happening” campaign of the mid- to
late-1990s.
“They [the officials] realize that the
locale in and of itself is not generating
enough buzz on its actual merits,” Valenti opined. “However, they also don’t
know why? It’s a bad combination for
taxpayers.”
“It allows the creation of committees, which are collections of incompetents who prove the misconception
of there being strength in numbers,”
Valenti added.
Indeed, the following year then-
Lenox Town Manager Greg Federspiel included in his proposed budget
$52,000 for a full-time staffer to
promote the town and plan events.
But the Board of Selectmen was un
convinced that town government had a
role in promoting tourism, and so they cut
the funds for the position, although voters
at a later town meeting approved a much
smaller amount for a part-time temp job.
One might think that a town like
Lenox, which boasts such attractions as
Tanglewood, Shakespeare & Company,
Cranwell and Kripalu, wouldn’t have
to advertise for tourists. But the town
fathers thought otherwise.
Like Lil’ Rhody’s Cooler and
Warmer, Lenoxology has been relegated to the dustbin of Lenox history. All
traces of the term quickly disappeared
from the websites of both the town and
its chamber of commerce.
Kameron Spaulding, the director of
the Lenox Chamber of Commerce and
a reporter for The View, added that the
town has learned a great deal from the
Lenoxology ordeal and that it won’t be
returning to that style of “big-box marketing firm” promotion anytime soon.
“We are always looking for ways to
promote our great attractions and local
businesses, but we now use a much
more measured and focused approach
when we spend money,” Spaulding
said. “Using smaller and more locally
driven approaches have worked great
for us, leading to the recent year-overyear gains our tourism industry has
enjoyed.”
`Court
`
Beat
Man gets OUI
leaving Big Y
Blythe A. Storti, 43, of North Plain
Road, Housatonic, pleaded guilty to
operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, second offense, in Great
Barrington. On March 8, a store manager
at the Big Y supermarket on Main Street
advised police that a customer believed
to be drunk was leaving the store. The
manager then obtained a license plate of
the customer’s car and told police it was
heading north on Main Street. A nearby
policeman spotted the vehicle on Main
Street and saw it cross the solid yellow
line with both driver’s side tires. The
officer attempted to stop the car, which
slowed and moved to the right side of
the road, but continued to roll forward.
During this time the officer could observe
the vehicle’s operator, Storti, move items
around on the front passenger seat.
The car came to a stop, and when the
officer spoke to Storti, he could smell a
moderate amount of alcohol emanating
from the vehicle. Storti denied consuming
any alcohol. When asked what she was
doing while the officer was attempting to
pull her over, she explained that she had
been taking off her sweater. The officer
noted that Storti was wearing a seat belt,
making it impossible for her to remove a
sweater, according to the report. He also
observed the tops of several bottles of
alcohol sticking out of her purse and some
under her coat on the passenger seat.
He asked Storti to get out of the car,
and observed that she was unsteady on
her feet and had to keep her hand on the
car to maintain her balance. Her eyes
were glassy and bloodshot, and she failed
several field sobriety tests. Her portable
breathalyzer test registered .147. Police
then found one large bottle of wine and
four small ones on the front passenger
seat during an inventory of the car. All
of the bottles were open and had varying
amounts of alcohol left in them. A check
of Storti’s license showed that she had
previously admitted to an OUI in Great
Barrington in June 2014, and been sentenced to probation. This was her second
OUI offense.
Storti was ordered to surrender her
license for two years and attend a 14-day
alcohol treatment program and comply
with all counselor recommendations for
treatment. She was also fined $350, and
ordered to pay a $65 monthly probation
fee and remain drug and alcohol free for
two years. The case was continued until
April 9, 2018. She was found not responsible for possession of an open container
of alcohol and a marked lanes violation.
Joseph C. Deraffaele, 35, of Canaan,
Conn., had a fugitive of justice warrant
dismissed upon request of the Common-
wealth. On March 25, Sheffield police
spotted a Lincoln Towncar heading south
on Rte. 7 with a license plate that was not
illuminated.
They pulled over Deraffaele, who
didn’t have a license or registration and
could not produce an ID. He originally
gave his name as Ryan Deraffaele, whom
police later learned was his brother’s
name. He admitted that he lied about
his name because his license had been
suspended. A check of Deraffaele’s
license showed that he had a warrant
from Glastonbury, Conn. for violating his
probation. Police charged Deraffaele with
being a fugitive from justice, along with
several additional counts in connection
with the stop.
He pleaded guilty to possession of
cocaine, a class B drug, at a hearing two
weeks ago in Southern Berkshire District
Court, as well as receiving stolen property, for operating a motor vehicle with a
stolen license plate. A check of the car’s
license plate showed that it had been
stolen from a 2007 Volkswagen Jetta in
South Windsor, Conn. Derffaele told police that the license plate had come with
the Lincoln Towncar he purchased recently on Craig’s List for $1,000. Asked
if he thought it was odd that a car would
come complete with a license plate when
he bought it, Derffaele said no.
Derffaele was sentenced to five days
in the Berkshire House of Correction,
with credit for four days’ time already
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served for the drug possession charge.
Charges of driving without a license,
driving an uninsured motor vehicle and
number plate violation were dismissed
upon the recommendation of the probation department.
John A Vadakin, 60, of North Street,
Sheffield, admitted to sufficient facts of
assault and battery in Sheffield. Feb. 14
2016 in Sheffield. Police responded to a
report of a domestic disturbance in progress. Vadakin told them that his daughter
had started choking him for no reason.
Another male at the premises said that
Vadakin had punched his daughter in the
face prior to his choking her.
The daughter told police she and
her father had been yelling at each other
when he got out of his chair and punched
her in the eye. She pushed him back in
his chair in response. The male witness corroborated the daughter’s story.
Vadakin had a strong odor of alcohol on
his breath, and he displayed slow movements, slurred speech and bloodshot and
glassy eyes. He repeated his story that
the daughter had choked him first, but
police did not see signs of injury on his
neck or any abrasions or redness. The
daughter’s eye was slightly swollen and
red.
Vadakin was ordered to pay a $50
monthly probation fee and commit no
further abuse against the victim. The case
was continued without a finding until
Aug. 18, 2016.
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`Metro
`
New program
means big
savings for BCC
students
I
n a move that many hope will help Berkshire County residents graduate from
college, Gov. Charlie Baker announced
the Commonwealth Commitment, a new
college affordability and completion plan to
help more students achieve their dream of a
college degree.
The Commonwealth Commitment
commits every public campus to providing
10-percent rebates at
the end of each suc►► BCC will
cessfully completed
be given
more state
semester to qualifyfunding
ing undergraduate
students, in addition
to the standard MassTransfer tuition waiver
received upon entering a four-year institution
from a Community College. Students who
meet the program requirements will, depending on the transfer pathway they choose, be
able to realize an average savings of $5,090
off the cost of a baccalaureate degree.
This plan is the first agreement of its
kind in the nation and was signed by University of Massachusetts President Marty
Meehan, Worcester State University
President Barry Maloney and Middlesex
Pittsfield police
face tough
questions after
videos are lost
T
he Pittsfield Police Department is
still playing defense after a scathing story that was the collaboration
of several Boston media outlets
claiming the department may have deleted
data after the arrest of 88-year-old Phyllis
Stankiewicz last year.
The story begins on June 25, when Officers Dale Eason and Jennifer Brueckmann
were dispatched to respond to a person
outside with a baseball bat. The caller told
the dispatcher they were calling from the
“Wilson project,” in front of number 57,
according to police, But the dispatcher then
incorrectly sent Eason and Brueckmann to
57 Wilson St., the home of Stankiewicz.
Stankiewicz is hard of hearing and
8
Community College President James
Mabry, representing the three segments of
the public higher education system.
As part of the Commonwealth Commitment’s goal to increase cost savings
and predictability, tuition and mandatory
fees will be frozen for program participants
as of the date they enter the program.
Local students will begin their studies
at Berkshire Community College, enrolling in one of 24 Commonwealth Commitment/ Mass Transfer Pathways programs
that will roll out in the fall of 2016 (14
programs) and fall 2017 (10 additional
programs). They must attend full-time,
and must maintain a cumulative GPA of
3.0. After earning an associate’s degree in
two and a half years or less, students will
transfer to a state university or UMass
campus to earn a baccalaureate degree.
“This program was designed to
decrease the cost of a college degree and
accelerate on-time completion for students across the Commonwealth, creating more opportunities and helping more
people get into the workforce with the
skills they need,” said Governor Baker.
“The Commonwealth Commitment
will make it even easier for students to
go to school full-time and begin their
careers with less debt and we are pleased
that our higher education officials have
worked collaboratively to make this
program a reality.”
At the end of every successfully
completed semester, students will earn a
10% rebate on tuition and fees, payable
in the form of a check, or may opt to receive a voucher to use for books or other
education-related expenses. The program does not discount room and board,
was peeling apples for applesauce when
the officers arrived and she came to the
door with the knife. Officer Brueckmann
immediately removed the knife from
Stankiewicz’s hand.
Eason then claims that Stankiewicz
slapped him.
“At this point, I attempted to place Ms.
Stankiewicz under arrest. Ms. Stankiewicz resisted and had to be placed on the
ground. Officer Brueckmann assisted me
with placing the handcuffs on her,” Eason’s
report reads.
Stankiewicz was arraigned on the
charge in Central Berkshire District Court,
but the case was dismissed soon after by
the Berkshire District Attorney’s office.
The strange circumstances of the arrest
led a reporter from DigBoston.com to file a
records request for the arrest reports, booking video of Stankiewicz, police ID card
photos of Eason and Brueckmann, and all
correspondence related to the arrest.
In response to that request Capt. John
Mullin told them the video was unavailable
because of the hard drive crash.
According to Police Chief Micheal Wynn
on “June 22, 2015 one of our Crime Scene
Investigators reported, internally, difficulty
photo contributed
Now students that start at Berkshire Community College and transfer to a four year
school could see savings of $5,000 a year.
although students may choose to use their
Commonwealth Commitment savings or
other resources to offset some of those
costs. Students’ rebates or vouchers will
be calculated based on the total cost of
tuition and mandatory fees at the institutions they choose to attend.
“The Commonwealth Commitment is
an important plan which we believe will
help move the needle on our administra-
tion’s two overarching education objectives: to close the achievement gap and
strengthen the global competitiveness of
Massachusetts’ workforce and economy,”
said Education Secretary Jim Peyser,
Students who enroll in free or reduced
cost dual enrollment programs, may be
able to apply the credits they earn toward
their Commonwealth Commitment degrees, thus reducing costs even further.
in retrieving booking videos that had been
requested by the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office.”
Then on July 9, 2015 the DVR system
failed entirely. A new hard drive was
installed that day by an outside vendor. At
that time, it was undetermined if data from
the failed hard drive was recoverable.
In October 2015, due to a request from
the DA’s office for the booking video of an
arrest made on May 24, 2015, the faulty
hard drive was sent to a California firm in
an attempt to recover data, at a cost of approximately $1300. The booking video of
this arrest was determined to be unrecoverable, and is believed to be within a small
percentage of corrupted data.
It was unclear exactly how many
videos were lost prior to the July 9 crash or
how far back the drive dated, but documents relating to the matter indicate that
the 80 gigabyte hard drive could hold “up
to 1,000.”
According to Wynn, the DVR component of the current system is approximately 8 years old and the camera and control
components are significantly older.
Complicating the matter and leading to
some of Dig Boston’s conclusions are
the internal emails about the Stankiewicz
arrest.
A June 26, 2015, email from Pittsfield
Police Capt. David Granger to Wynn was
critical of the response from the officers. “I
believe if we had sent any other combination of officers from this department to the
call it would NOT have ended in an arrest,”
Granger said.
Granger also said that the incident
“something that could tarnish the reputation of the department for years.”
In another department email uncovered
by Dig Boston, Lt. Mark Trapani described
the incident as, “unfortunate,” and asked
Wynn and Granger their thoughts on
whether to drop charges or if they should
issue a press release.
Now, Mayor Linda Tyer was quick to
come to the defense of the department.
“I have had a thorough and complete
briefing from Chief Wynn on this matter.
I am confident that this was an equipment
failure,” Tyer said. “Not only was there absolutely no intent to destroy video evidence
but there was an effort made to restore a
lost video for another case that occurred
during the same time period as the incident
in question.”
`Turbulence
`
Sanders, Trump
bring campaign
rallies to Albany;
results mixed
By Eoin Higgins
T
wo political rallies in one day
in Albany this month showed
the stark differences in a
divided country. The View
attended a Bernie Sanders rally and a
Donald Trump rally on April 11, separated by a few hours and a few blocks.
Residents of the Berkshires expressing their support for the candidate
attended the Sanders rally.
Pittsfield resident Raymond Alt,
who achieved a brief moment of national fame for
his enthusiastic
►► As the
dancing at the
primaries
New Hampshire
wrap up
victory party in
candidates
February, said
came
through area he arrived at the
Washington Avenue Armory at 9 AM to ensure entry.
“The doors opened at eleven and I
was among the first people inside,” the
enthusiastic Sanders supporter said. “I
wanted to make sure I got in.”
The arena, which holds 4,700,
steadily filled through the morning and
early afternoon.
Brian Hire, the North Country and
Albany director for the campaign,
introduced the Senator. He said that
Sanders has been “on the right side” of
every issue, from the Iraq War to marriage equality.
“The most important thing any of
us can do,” he said, “Is to let people
know about Bernie Sanders.”
Lou Stack spoke next. A representative for Albany, h said he “feels the
Bern” and is a surrogate for Sanders in
the state.
Stack was followed by a representattive from the New York State
Nurse’s Association. She said that the
NYSNA endorsed Sanders because of
his support for equal access to healthcare in New York.
Activist Jim Hightower introduced
Sanders. Hightower called for Sanders to be supported because of his long
time activism and dedication to liberal
principles.
Sanders entered the arena to sustained deafening cheers. The Vermont
Senator called for a change in wealth
inequality. He said someone had asked
him how he would afford his programs.
Easy, the Senator replied.
“The top 1 percent have escaped
their responsibilities,” he said, “But
we’re going to get the money back.”
Sanders also talked about race relations and policing. While most police
officers are “good people,” according
to Sanders, there is a systemic problem that results in people of color not
feeling safe when they walk down the
street.
In addition, said Sanders, the “socalled drug war” has resulted in mass
incarceration while not having any
substantive impact on illegal drug use.
It’s time to remove marijuana from
Schedule 1 classification (the same as
Donald Trump gives his stump speech to the Times Union Center crowd.
JAMES GRADY
JAMES GRADY
Bernie Sanders speaks to the crowd at the Washington Avenue Armory in Albany
on April 11.
heroin) Sanders said.
The Senator also attacked the fossil
fuel industry for its lobbying power
and climate change denial. Those days
will be over once he is in office, he
said.
Sanders also took aim at his opponent, Hillary Clinton. He brought up
her super PAC, her reliance on lobbyist
money, and her record. Sanders touted
his small donor funding and vote on
the Iraq War as evidence he is on the
right side of history.
The senator also talked about
fracking and natural gas. Our natural
resources are a treasure, he said, that
should not be taken for granted.
Finally, Sanders called for action
on behalf of his supporters.
“Many people dismiss the youth
support for my candidacy,” he said.
“They think my supporters are more
interested in video games than politics.
Let’s prove them wrong!”
The crowd cheered and left the
arena in good spirits.
Across town, the Donald Trump
rally failed to fill the Times Union
Center, but the turnout was high. The
New York City billionaire’s supporters
filled the lower levels of the arena.
People came from all over the
region. A group of young men from
Troy sported military branded tee shirts
and tattoos. One of the crew wore a tee
shirt saying “Infidel” with a black and
white picture of Trump super-imposed
over an American flag. Another wore a
shirt saying “Veterans for Trump.”
If there were any Berkshire folk at
the rally, they were hard to pick out of
the crowd.
The rally began with speeches from
failed gubernatorial candidate Carl Pal-
ladino and failed Apprentice contestant
Jennifer Crisafulli. Paladino lost to Andrew Cuomo in a landslide in part due
to the Republican’s racially offensive
remarks and views. Crisafulli lost her
job after The Apprentice for a series of
anti-Semitic remarks.
After the introduction, Trump
took the podium to the sounds of “Get
Ready For This,” the theme song from
the 1996 film “Space Jam.”
His speech was typical Trump. He
talked about the need for the USA to
“win” more, which hasn’t been happening but will when he’s president.
He told the crowd that there would be
so much winning, they would be sick
of it, but Trump would win even more
after that.
Trump’s speech was interrupted
five times by protesters. Of the five,
the two The Courier saw were African
American. One of the protesters left
without incident, but a member of the
crowd assaulted the other.
That incident was caught on tape
by media outlets. The protester was
punched in the face while being restrained by security. A denim wearing
“gutter punk” took the opportunity to
punch him in the jaw. The protester
did not respond with violence and was
removed from the building.
Trump’s remarks concluded with
a call for the crowd to raise their right
arm and pledge to vote for him, although “not too much or the dishonest
media will make it something it’s not.”
Outside after the rally, protesters
and Trump rally attendees clashed,
yelling invective and abuse at one
another. Mounted police separated
the groups and each side’s supporters
melted away.
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Dale Abrams
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How local law enforcement agencies are turning into paramilitary organizations
I
n January of 2016, The Berkshire View was approached by an anonymous source.
The source said he had filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Pittsfield
Police Department for after-action reports and documentation relating to the operations of the Berkshire County Special Response Team (BCSRT). The source told The
View that these documents related to police militarization and that he hoped there was a
way to report on the information.
“I was interested to read about all the military gear local police departments were getting for free through the Department of Defense’s 1033 program (which transfers military
surplus hardware to police departments across the U.S.),” the source said, “So I figured
that in order to find out more I’d need to do some public records requests.”
Our source expected resistance from the Police Department. Law enforcement has a
reputation for being difficult when it comes to records requests. But he was pleased with
how the Pittsfield Police Department responded to the request.
“To my surprise, the PPD was forthcoming with information and just asked me to
limit the timeline a bit… to the last 5 years.”
The police told our source the time limit was due to three decades of SWAT teams
in Berkshire County. Once the request was filed, “it took just a few months to get the
documents.”
Once The View reviewed the documents, we found them rich with information on the
inner workings of an often-unseen division of local law enforcement. To our surprise, we
discovered that the BCSRT is regularly used for regular policing. And we discovered that
this use of the team has increased over the past four years.
A
ccording to the Pittsfield Police Department’s website, the BCSRT is “a highly
trained, specially equipped unit that is tasked with responding to incidents
that exceed the capabilities of standard police resources. BCSRT is Berkshire
County’s special operations, or SWAT unit.”
Based on the internal documents obtained by The View, the BCSRT is designed to
respond to “Special Threats,” defined as “any situation that involves a sniper, barricaded
perpetrator, hostage taking or terrorist activity that is beyond the capability of standard
patrol resources.”
If this seems open ended, it is. The defined parameters of the BCSRT’s mission leave
a lot of wiggle room for commanding officers when deploying the paramilitary police
forces. “Special Threats” includes an important qualifying “may be defined” in the definition, leaving open opportunities for a variety of interpretation of the threat level.
This has led to the team’s frequent involvement in “No-Knock” Search Warrants.
“No-Knock” Search Warrants are common practice for SWAT teams in Massachusetts.
They allow the team to enter a home or apartment without knocking and announcing
their presence.
“No-knock warrants,” or “High Risk Warrant Service,” as it’s known within the
13
BCSRT’s internal documents, has a clear
point-by-point procedural checklist.
In order for the BCSRT to serve a warrant, there must be a “possibility that the
safety of an officer would be in jeopardy
without the use of the expertise and special
equipment that the BCSRT Unit can provide.” This prerequisite met, completely at
the discretion of the requesting officer, the
team begins its work.
Intelligence gathering focuses on the
surroundings, building interior, approach
information, and the presence of civilians.
Once these factors have been incorporated
into the intelligence briefing and surveillance has been completed the operation
can be planned out. The team then reviews
the best entry points, the interior layout,
and any potential threats.
Once the BCSRT enters the home,
apartment, or building, they use any force
necessary to ensure that all individuals
in the area are dropped to the floor and
searched for weapons.
The BCSRT is only allowed to search
individuals they apprehend in the scope of
the operation for weapons. Any contraband on their persons may be taken but
visible drugs or other paraphernalia are the
responsibility of the attending officers.
The BCSRT must secure the premises
during its initial sweep. After securing suspects and civilians in the target area, they
do a more thorough and careful investigation of the area.
Once the area is under control, the BCSRT gives over any weapons and contraband obtained in searches to investigating
officers on hand for the operation.
Once they are no longer needed, the BCSRT leave the scene.
T
he BCSRT relies on grants and
outside funding to obtain its expensive paramilitary equipment.
The team itself is a subsidiary of
the Pittsfield Police Department, under the
authority of Chief Michael Wynn.
As a part of the Pittsfield Police
Department, the BCSRT relies on city
funding for some of its operational costs. Between 2012 and 2015, documents
show, the team’s portion of the department
budget has never exceeded $16,000.
“The money from the city [of Pittsfield
purchased a “BearCat” armored response
vehicle with WHRSAC funds. The heavily
armored police truck was purchased for
$300,000 from Pittsfield armored vehicle
manufacturer LENCO. The vehicle was
part of a State Homeland Security bulk
purchase for three separate regional SWAT
teams across Massachusetts.
The BCSRT requested a grant to
obtain tactical armor in April of 2013. The
plated armor vests would have “special
threat rifle plates” as part of their design,
the request said, to ensure the safety of the
team.
The request was made to Chief Michael Wynn and other ranking members
of the WHRSAC (much of the organization’s leadership, including the Chair, is
based in the Berkshires). Once again, the
WHRSAC came through and provided
funding for the BCSRT’s equipment.
Photo contributed
The BCSRT BearCat, manufactured by Pittsfield based LENCO, was purchased with a
grant in November, 2012.
allocated to the BCSRT] principally goes
to training and equipment,” Chief Wynn
explained.
The team takes its training seriously.
Tardiness and absences have consequences. Missing three training sessions without
extenuating circumstances will result in
losing one’s position in the team.
Additionally, if a member is “unable
to meet minimum performance standards
in any of the tactics and shooting” they
“will be given an opportunity to retest
and if they still cannot meet the minimum
standards they may possibly be released
from the unit.”
“Any overtime training is moved to
the overtime budgetary line item,” Wynn
said.
In other words, if the training hours
exceed regular hours for personnel, the
funding for that time is picked up by a separate line item. This is a recurring theme in
how the Pittsfield Police Department pays
for the BCSRT.
“If the BCSRT deploys for the Drug
Task Force, the money for that deployment
comes from their budget,” Wynn continued, “Or if we activate for another town,
that town pays for our team. Member
towns also pay for their officers’ time in
the BCSRT.”
This only accounts for some of the
team’s funding, however. If the BCSRT
has the equipment and vehicles to act as a
paramilitary arm for the police department,
where is that money coming from? The answer lies in a complex series of municipal
funding, grants, and third party allocations
that the BCSRT relies on for operations
expenses.
The Western Region Homeland
Security Advisory Council (WRHSAC)
provides a substantial amount of additional
funding for the BCSRT. The WRHSAC is
a quasi-governmental council charged with
distributing federal and state homeland security funding “to prevent, protect against,
mitigate, respond to, and recover from the
threats and hazards that pose the greatest
risks.”
On April 10, 2012, the BCSRT requested and received the following equipment from the WHRSAC:
* Ballistic entry shields with LED
lighting systems
*Night vision monoculars
*Ballistic helmets
*Gas masks
*Tactical communication headsets
In November of 2012, the BCSRT
O
ftentimes, law enforcement
will justify what appear to be
overly militaristic weapons and
tactics by saying that they’re
only necessary to respond to rare incidents
of extreme violence,” explained Kade
Crockford.
Crockford is the Director of the
Technology for Liberty Program at the
Massachusetts American Civil Liberties
Union (ACLUM).
Crockford said the mission creep of
SWAT teams in Massachusetts concerns
her. The ACLUM’s investigation of afteraction reports of SWAT teams from the
Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) showed that
over half of SWAT team deployments in
that area were warrant-related operations.
The documents pointed to the drug
war as the main motivation for the use
of SWAT teams in the region. This is an
indication of how off missions the teams
have gotten, said Crockford. The increased
militarization of the teams is another cause
for concern.
“A lot of people probably think that
criminals can easily get all kinds of
dangerous weapons, so law enforcement
should have tanks, night vision, etcetera, to
deal with someone with a machine gun,”
she said. “It sounds reasonable- you’d
want them to if that were the case.”
After-Action Report: September 13, 2012
Early on the morning of September 13, 2012, the Berkshire County
Special Response Team- Berkshire
County’s SWAT- executed a “NoKnock” Search Warrant on a home on
Lenox Street in Pittsfield.
The target of the warrant was an
individual with “a lengthy criminal
history that [included] Armed Assault
with Intent to Murder, Assault and
Battery (Dangerous Weapon), and
Possession of a Firearm.”
The BCSRT approached the
14
property in three vehicles: an SUV, a
marked police cruiser, and a BearCat
tactical response vehicle. After
blocking in the street by strategic
parking, the team approached the residence from the front and back doors.
The front door was locked, so the
BCSRT took a battering ram to it. They
struck it twice before it gave way. The
team stormed into the apartment.
Immediately upon entry, the
BCSRT subdued a woman sleeping on
a couch to their left. Then, once the
rest of the first floor was cleared, the
BCSRT made their way upstairs.
The team encountered a man in
the second floor hallway. He was
forcibly brought down and seated on
a bed in a room off the hall and interrogated.
The BCSRT swept the scene.
They didn’t find any drugs. They
didn’t find any weapons. They ceded
control of the scene to the Pittsfield
Police Department’s Narcotics Unit
and left.
View file photo
Pittsfield Police Chief Michael Wynn.
Members of the Berkshire County Special Response Team deployed on a training exercise in 2012.
Crockford doesn’t believe NEMLEC’s
documents meet that standard of proof. In
fact, the ACLUM’s investigation suggested
that in Northeastern Massachusetts the
opposite was true- “despite having justified
the over the top, military style raids by alleging that the targets may have had guns,
or by referencing alleged past crimes,
only once did NEMLEC document having
found a weapon in the home of a person
targeted with a no-knock drug warrant.”
The raids can have lasting effects on
the innocent bystanders in the path of the
SWAT teams, Crockford added. While “it’s
true that the majority of these raids don’t
end in death or injury, they are traumatic
for family members and civilians.”
Kade Crockford.
ACLUM
After-action reports from both NEMLEC and the BCSRT show that the presence
of small children and the elderly in targeted
residences is hardly a deterrent for the teams
when they decide on their plan of action.
Crockford finds it difficult to justify that
level of violence under the circumstances.
“The violence done by the raids isn’t
just the initial violence,” she said. “The
trauma and distrust of law enforcement
from these incursions can last a lifetime.”
W
hen The View reviewed the
BCSRT after-action reports
from 2012- 2015, a pattern emerged. Whatever the
team’s intended purpose in the beginning,
the mission creep that Crockford feared is
in full effect in the Berkshires. The BCSRT
is becoming the targeted strike force of
local police departments.
In 2012, the BCSRT conducted 14
operations. Of these 14 operations, 7 were
warrant-related. The remaining 7 were for
barricaded suspects, crowd control, and
monitoring gang activity.
A year later, in 2013, the BCSRT
conducted 9 operations. 6 were warrantrelated. In 2014, when the team again
conducted a total of 9 operations, 7 were
warrant-related.
By 2015, the team was only being used
for warrants. Of the 8 operations included
for that year in after-action reports, all 8
were warrant service. Not once in 2015
was the team deployed for crowd control,
hostage situations, monitoring gang activity, or any of the myriad other possibilities
for deployment in the BCSRT charter.
It’s possible that this is due more to
the nature of requests from local municipalities than anything else. After all, the
BCSRT cannot simply interpose itself into
any situation it likes, irrespective of the
Photo contributed
wishes of local law enforcement.
However, it is equally possible that
the BCSRT is being called to these
operations for other reasons. The BCSRT
gives a law enforcement operation added
firepower and keeps officers out of
harm’s way due to the superior armor and
weaponry that the team will bring to the
action. After-Action Report: March 25, 2014
On March 25, 2014, the team was
called to assist in the execution of a “NoKnock” Search Warrant in the city of
North Adams, about twenty miles north
of Pittsfield.
The targeted house was described as
the home of an addict who was allowing
dealers to use it as a base in exchange
for drugs. The first floor of the home
was where the dealing was done and a
flophouse. The main target of the warrant
stayed upstairs and oversaw the operation from above.
The home was a biohazardous mess.
It was infested with bedbugs and lice and
covered in animal feces. Occupants were
suspected to have a wide variety of infectious diseases. Additionally, the main
target of the warrant had been suspected
of weapons possession due to intelligence gathered in a previous raid.
The BCSRT prepared for the operation at 8:30 PM. The team separated into
4 vehicles, the BearCat, a cruiser, a Ford
Expedition, and an F350.
After their arrival at the staging area
and dismount the team made their way
down the block towards the house. A
lookout at the target house spotted the
team and raised the alarm, running inside
the front door. The team decided to go
ahead with the raid following a modified
plan.
The BCSRT entered the home. Three
individuals were taken into custody on
the first floor. One of the individuals
on the first floor was apprehended in a
bathroom, flushing drugs down the toilet.
There was nobody upstairs. The
team secured the location and turned it
over to the North Adams Police Department.
15
Furthermore, the BCSRT’s capabilities allow local law enforcement to exert
greater control over crime scenes with
perceived heightened threat levels.
The after-action reports do not bear this
out, however. In the 28 incidents of search
warrant service in the documents reviewed
by The View, only three of those incidents
resulted in the team finding weapons. In five
of the documents, it was unclear whether or
not weapons had been found (although the
team would surely have noted their presence
were that the case).
Still, even if one assumes all eight
confirmed and unconfirmed cases resulted
in weapons being found at the scene, that
works out to barely 30 percent of all cases
of BCSRT search warrant service.
There’s also an argument to be made
that the BCSRT, like many SWAT teams in
the state, is being used to justify its existence. That argument goes something like
this: the BCSRT exists to fill a need, that
need must be presented, therefore the team
is deployed on routine warrant service.
The justification argument also applies
to funding: the team needs specialized
tactical equipment, in order to secure funding for that equipment it needs to prove it’s
being used, therefore the team brings militarized tactical equipment to bear equally
on situations that may or may not need it.
Finally, the BCSRT may simply be
following a familiar pattern. SWAT teams
in Massachusetts and around the country
have been increasingly used to prosecute
the drug war.
The militarized police units are often
deployed as a wing of city and county drug
task forces’ operations- as the ACLUM
The BCRST badge, shown here on the door of a team vehicle.
report found in Northeastern Massachusetts, “the single most common reason
for SWAT deployment isn’t an imminent
public safety crisis—it’s the decades old,
failed war on drugs.”
T
he BCSRT is in almost every
way a fully functioning paramilitary arm of the local police departments of Berkshire County.
It’s following a pattern across the state
and across the country. And that pattern
has some people worried.
When we spoke to Chief Wynn, he told
us that he was not interested in “reopening
Ferguson” in our interview. In other words,
the Chief did not want to talk about the
philosophical questions surrounding the
Photo contributed
BCSRT, a sentiment echoed earlier by one
of his subordinates.
Crockford was willing to discuss the
issue in detail. She described how police
departments in Massachusetts have become
dependent on SWAT teams for warrant
service and how this dependence is causing
more harm than good for those departments
and their communities.
The fact that police departments call
for closer ties and trust between communities and law enforcement while deploying
paramilitary divisions to break down doors
in the early morning in search of drugs is a
hypocrisy Crockford finds hard to swallow.
“Police have a good reason to consider
withdrawing from these tactics,” she explained. “If they want to stop this, they can.”
After-Action Report: March 10, 2015
The BCSRT traveled to North Adams on March 10, 2015,
to serve two simultaneous “no-knock” search warrants that afternoon. The operation aimed to bring down a drug operation that
had two nerve centers across town from one another in the city.
Team 1 would serve a warrant on a home with three adults,
at least one of whom was believed to be in the drug dealing
business. The only threat intelligence had detected at the location was a “possible firearm” kept by one of the targets. There
were also “possible children present (6, 10, 12 years of age).”
Team 2’s operation was slightly more problematic. Unlike
Team 1’s briefing, which described a “possible” threat, Team 2
faced a drug dealing operational nerve center where the search
warrant’s target was known to keep a firearm and where there
were security cameras keeping watch over the surrounding area.
Additionally, the team would be entering a home with children
present, including an infant.
The teams met for a last rundown of the operation in Williamstown in the early afternoon and confirmed the planned
simultaneous raids. The teams waited for confirmation that their
targets were in place. That confirmation came at 3:10 PM. The
teams deployed.
Team 1 arrived on location 13 minutes later and scoped the
situation. North Adams police informed the team members that
two children had just arrived at the house from school. The team
decided to move forward with a modified plan and approached
the home.
Over the river, Team 2 had encountered some disruption to
16
their plan of attack.
First, two of the three targets from the warrant were confirmed in custody of State Police after being pulled over in a
routine traffic stop. Second, the team knew there were children
in the home but it was unclear if any adults were inside. The
team went forward with the assault anyway.
Both teams rammed through the doors on their respective
targets at 3:27. Team 2 cleared their home quickly; there were
indeed no adults in the home, only a 16-year-old girl, 8-year-old
boy, and an infant. The scene was secured swiftly and the team
left the scene to the local police 13 minutes later.
Across town, Team 1 ran into a more conventional warrant
service situation. After breaching the door, the team burst into
the apartment. On the first floor, they encountered an adult male
and a child, both of whom were “controlled” and secured.
The team cleared the rest of the ground floor then made
its way to the second floor. A child on the top of the stairs was
ordered to the living room and joined the officer there who was
covering the adult and attempting to console the other child.
Once the stairs were clear, Team 1 proceeded to the second floor.
There was only one individual on the second floor, another
adult male who was later identified as the last of the warrant’s
targets. The team secured him and searched the surroundings, including an attic with a makeshift bedroom and multiple packets
of heroin in plain sight.
Both men were placed under arrest and detained. The team
stayed in place until 4:45, and then left the area.
Police militarization presents another,
broader problem to communities. Beyond
questions of trust and co-operation, and
beyond questions of safety and security, the
mission of these teams if often quite vague
and easily manipulated.
The BCSRT’s charter, for example,
gives a general outline on what the team’s
purpose is: providing a team capable of
handling situations that regular police
are incapable of dealing with. As noted
above, parts of those situations involve
“special threats,” a vague term with a
definition that includes the caveat “may
be defined” in its preamble.
With that kind of leeway for the
requesting officer or department, there is a
high potential for abuse. While The View
did not find any verifiable evidence that
the BCSRT was being used improperly,
the team was heavily deployed in warrant
service while other duties dropped off over
four years to zero incidents in 2015.
Furthermore, our reading of the reports
found that at best the BCSRT could only
claim just under 30 percent of those warrants as credibly threatening for what they
found in the homes. At worst, it was around
12 percent. Either way, it indicates that the
team is being deployed at a rate inconsistent
with the actual threat level of its targets.
It all adds up to a pattern wherein
Berkshire County’s police division of last
resort- the division that is ostensibly held
for the most threatening and dangerous of
situations- is being used on a regular basis
for standard police duties.
That pattern should concern all of us.
It won’t end with targeting criminals. It
never does.
Supporting
your
book
habit
since
1974.
THE BOOKLOFT
Supporting “Team Boults”
New Marlborough Fire and Rescue
NewMarlborough
Marlborough Fire
and
New
Fire
& Rescue
Rescue
Supporting
“Team
Boults”
Chris Boults, a longtime resident of New Marlborough and great
friend to many, is currently receiving treatment for Lymphoma.
Chris Boults, a longtime resident of New Marlborough and great
Chris,friend
a dedicated
with
both NMFD
formerly with
to many, is EMT
currently
receiving
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Chris Boults,
longtime
resident
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and
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EMT
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both
and
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with
Southern
Berkshire
Volunteer
Squad,
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many,
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currently
receiving
treatment
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Lymphoma.
Southern
Berkshire
Volunteer
Ambulance
Squad,
has
taken
on
this battle enduring multiple trips a week for treatments.
battle enduring
multiple
trips aNMFD
week forand
treatments.
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EMT
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and
his
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Boults”
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Southern
Berkshire
Volunteer
Squad,
Chris
and his “Team
Boults”Ambulance
are not only facing
this has
battle
butthe
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expenses
during
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but
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his fight.
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for
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help
and show
yourare
support,
please
visit:
Chris
and
“Team
Boults”
not only
facing
this
battle
To help
and
show
your
support,
please
visit:
but also https://www.gofundme.com/4rm5yqsg
the transportation expenses during his fight.
https://www.gofundme.com/4rm5yqsg
QR CODE
HERE
To help and show
your support,
please visit:
QR CODE HERE
Thank you from
Chris and Janice “Team Boults” and New Marlborough Fire and Rescue.
Thank you from
QR CODE
Chris and Janice “Team Boults”
and NewHERE
Marlborough Fire and Rescue.
Thank you from
Chris and Janice “Team Boults” and New Marlborough Fire and Rescue.
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The stories behind
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Motorcycle Medic is PROUD to say we have been a
local motorcycle service/repair/customizing provider for 13 years!
We would like to thank each and every person who has come for service/
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`Local
`
release
album was released back in February,
on Valentine’s Day weekend, in the
peaceful studio sanctuary of Berkshire
Yoga Dance & Fitness in downtown
Pittsfield, Mass. This month, and
continuing through August, Verdi will
be joined by local musicians, Eileen
Markland (vio►► Beginning in
By Jenn Smith
lin/viola), and
May, verdi will
percussionist
erkshire singer-songwriter
tour the U.s.
John Marshall,
and canada
Mary Verdi is a veteran on the
on a national
local music scene, a lifelong
“Flight” tour through the United
musician who started perStates and Canada. Both Markland and
forming at age 3. Today, she continues
Marshall helped record music for the
to accompany herself and others on
piano and guitar, crossing the genres of album, along with Ron De la Vega on
upright bass and cello.
pop, country, holiday music and more.
The music of “Flight,” certainly
Her latest album, “Flight,” is
hits a sacred note, but in a non-deVerdi’s sixth release, and nestles well
nominational accord. The first track,
under the
“Home,” truly
category of
does set the tone
“inspirational
for the other
music.” In
nine songs the
a YouTube
CD’s comprised
video launchof. In that track,
ing the record,
Verdi sings
Verdi says,
compassionately
“I wrote
in her mezzo“Flight,” in
soprano voice:
hopes of sur“I know who I
rounding the
am now / I know
listener with
why you’re here
as much love
/ Together we’ll
and compasremember / a
sion as posworld with no
sible.”
fear / Home.”
susan geller
In that
The stringed
“Flight”
is
Mary
Verdi’s
sixth
album
to
date
and
heart vein, the
instruments
and
was released in February of this year.
full-length
Mary Verdi’s
‘Flight’ surrounds
you with love
B
àrt
`
‘Remix, Reshoot,
Research’ art
exhibit comes to
Tremaine Gallery
T
he Tremaine Gallery presents the exhibition “Remix,
Reshoot, Research” curated
by 99 Hooker with works
by Benton C Bainbridge, Perry Bard,
Nancy Drew, 99 Hooker, Feedbuck Galore, Dina Kelberman, Donald O’Finn,
Brother Russell Scholl, Mark Street,
and Mike Train. The exhibit will run
May 7-June 5. An artists’ reception will
be held May 7, 3 - 5 p.m.
“Remix, Reshoot, Research”
surveys 10 contemporary media artists
whose work extends the tradition of appropriation in visual art. A wild variety
of media practices and content reveal
a continuing exploration between the
received and reconstructed image.
Whether the spectator is remixing their
own image, or mixing their own path
through a documentary, or encountering a mere snapshot of the early web
(1,000,000 images – 10 hours), or adding their cellphone footage to a global
remake, or glimpsing “the dreams TV
might have,” this eclectic and exciting
exhibition presents the reworkings of
art in the age of
digital reproduc►► The multition and search
media art
exhibit brings engines.
together
The Treworks by 10
maine Gallery
modern visual is a museumartists
caliber gallery
located in the
main building of The Hotchkiss School.
With education at the heart of its mission, the gallery hosts six exhibitions a
year.
For more information about this
and other events at The Hotchkiss
School, phone (860) 435-4423 or visit
hotchkiss.org/arts. The Tremaine Gallery is open Monday through Saturday,
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, noon to
4 p.m.
susan geller
Berkshire-based singer-songwriter Mary Verdi has been performing since the age of
3. Her latest release offers up songs of inspiration and compassion.
gentle percussion add a soulful, soaring
feeling to the album, accompanying
uplifting lyrics to other songs, with
titles like, “Carry On,” “Love’s Sweet
Spring,” and “Just as I Am.”
Marshall’s percussion instruments
and tempos in particular help the dynamics and tone shift, as his influences
include the global drumming traditions
spanning from the Middle East to India, to Egypt, West Africa, the Caribbean, and Central Asia.
His accompaniment is particularly
resonant on tracks like, “Shante” and
“Om Mani Padme Hum,” with Mark-
land and De la Vega blending their
classical strings in harmoniously with
Verdi’s piano and vocals.
Overall, “Flight,” is the kind of
album to take with you when you
need reflective moments in navigating the journey of life. It can serve as
a soundtrack to a meditation or yoga
practice, as much as it can to a special
time with a loved one or a soothing
warm bath. “Flight” can lift you up
when the world beats you down.
To learn more about the music of
Mary Verdi’s “Flight” and the upcoming tour, visit maryverdi.com.
photo contributed
“Vera Drake Drowning” by Mark Street, on display at The Hotchkiss School as part of
the “Remix, Reshoot, Research” exhibition curated by 99 Hooker.
19
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Cash/check payable to: Berkshire Community Church
Contact: Kara Smith at 413-698-2604 / [email protected]
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We can make arrangements for pick-up. Delivery may be available for add’l charge.
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day+night
T heater • M usic • C omedy • C oncer ts • D ance • T alks , C lasses & W orkshops • S pecial E vents • O ther
Monday, May 2
OTHER
Bird Walk at Canoe Meadows. Canoe
Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary, Holmes Rd.,
Pittsfield. 7-9 a.m.
First Fridays Artswalk. Downtown Pittsfield.
5-10 p.m. Live music, gallery events and
more will take place in Pittsfield’s Upstreet
Cultural District. For a full list of venues and
events visit firstfridaysartswalk.com or call
(413) 443-6501.
MUSIC
Adult Cabaret Workshop presents final performance of Spring session. $15 admission includes wine and hors d’oeuvres. Reservations
required. 7 p.m. Berkshire Music School Taft
Recital Hall, 30 Wendell Avenue, Pittsfield.
For more information call (413) 442-1411.
OTHER
Red Cross blood donation opportunity. St.
Joseph’s Church, 414 North St., Pittsfield.
1-6 p.m.
Saturday, May 7
Tuesday, May 3
“From Door to Door” by James Sherman.
Presented by THEatre COmpany at the
Lauren Clark Fine Arts Gallery, 25 Railroad
St., Great Barrington. 7 p.m.
THEATER
MUSIC
Teen Voices presents final performance of
its Spring session. $10 admission includes
coffee and desserts. Reservations required.
7 p.m. Berkshire Music School Taft Recital
Hall, 30 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield. For more
information call (413) 442-1411.
TALKS, CLASSES &
WORKSHOPS
Wednesday, May 4
TALKS, CLASSES &
WORKSHOPS
Photographer Peter Christoph presents a
narrated photo slide show “Birds of the
New England Swamp” at the Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield. 7 p.m.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Berkshire
Athenaeum, the event is free. (413) 499 9480.
“Birds of the New England Swamp” with Peter Christoph, wildlife photographer, speaker
and author. 7 p.m. Berkshire Athenaeum, 1
Wendell Ave., Pittsfield. For more information
call (413) 499-9480.
MUSIC
Williams Chinese Music Ensemble premiere
performance. Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall,
54 Chapin Hall, Williams College Campus,
Williamstown. 7 p.m. Using the Chinese
instruments erhu, pipa, zheng, zhongruan,
dizi, with piano and cello, the ensemble
performs stylistically varied regional music of China and the distinctive music of
the ethnic minorities. This includes “Yao
Dance” (Yunnan Province); “Rose” and,
“Spring on Tianshan Mountain” (Xinjiang);
“Her Robe a Cloud” (Shaanxi); and “Starry
Night” (Jiangnan). The ensemble also plans
the performance of some contemporary
pieces. For more information visit music.
williams.edu or call the concert hotline at
(413) 597-3146.
OTHER
Story Time with Miss Molly. Scoville Memorial
Library, 38 Main St., Salisbury, CT. 10:30 a.m.
“Deep Ocean, Deep Secrets: What Do The
Oceans Mean to Us?” A talk with David Gallo.
Berkshire Museum, 39 South St., Pittsfield.
.
photo contributed
The Skivvies, made up of singer/actor/musicians Nick Cearley and Lauren Molina, perform
their stripped down arrangements of covers and originals at the Colonial Theater on May 28.
3 p.m. David Gallo is an oceanographer
and Senior Advisor at Columbia University’s
Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Center
for Climate and Life. Included with regular
Museum admission, Museum membership,
or Lenox Garden Club membership. Seating
is limited; please call (413) 443-7171 ext. 360
to reserve your seat.
Thursday, May 5
TALKS, CLASSES &
WORKSHOPS
Berkshire Athenaeum offers Genealogy
classes, “Introduction to Familysearch.org.”
The Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Ave.,
Pittsfield. 10 a.m.-noon. and 1-3 p.m. Register as soon as possible. Class is limited to
10 participants. Register at pittsfieldlibrary.
org and click on the Calendar of Events page
or contact the Local History Department at
(413) 499-9480 ext. 6.
OTHER
Red Cross blood donation opportunities.
Dalton American Legion, 258 North St.,
Dalton. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Friday, May 6
THEATER
TALKS, CLASSES &
WORKSHOPS
“It’s Lili’s Story.” Claire Teague Senior Center,
917 Main St., Great Barrington. 10 a.m.-noon.
Hear violinist Lili Harvitt tell her story as a
young Jewish child during the Holocaust
when Lili was hidden from the Nazi Death
Squads by a Dutch family in Amsterdam.
Lili will also perform during a lunch to be
held after the talk. If you are planning on
attending the lunch, call (413) 528-4881 to
reserve a space.
MUSIC
Music for Voices and Percussion. 54 Chapin
Hall Dr., Williams College Campus, Williamstown. 8 p.m. For more information visit
music.williams.edu or call the concert hotline
at (413) 597-3146.
Berkshire Film & Media Collaborative 1-day
workshop: How to be a production assistant. 1-4 p.m. Workshop will take place at
Shakespeare & Company, 70 Kemble St.,
Lenox. Cost is $75. Topics will include: job
responsibilities, proper film set etiquette and
dress, production paperwork, definitions of
film departments and crews, union vs. nonunion productions, using walkie- talkies, how
to find work and potential career paths. To
register or for more information call (413)
528-4223 or email Laura Gratz at laura@
berkshirefilm.org.
Wildflowers and Spring Changes - walk, talk
and tea. Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary,
Lenox. 9:30 a.m.-noon.
The Power of Song in England. Mason Library,
Great Barrington at 11:30 a.m. and Salisbury
Town Hall, 38 Main St., Salisbury, CT at 4 p.m.
Free hour long Pre-Concert Talk with projected images and audio examples offered
by Christine Gevert. For more information
visit worldclassmusic.org.
Specialty Jewelers McTeigue and McClelland
to hold a Tea & Talk at Ventfort Hall, 104
Walker St., Lenox. 3:30 p.m. The business
partners will give a background on their
atelier, newly located in a Great Barrington
landmark mansion, and discuss their process
from initial design concept to the methods
they employ for crafting their pieces. For
information or reservations call Ventfort Hall
at (413) 637-3206 or visit [email protected].
“Pirates!” presented by the Nutshell Playhouse. Spectrum Playhouse and Good Purpose Gallery, 40 Main St., Suite 1, Lee. 11
a.m. This sea-faring tale features puppets,
music, masks, mimes and more. Together they
present a family performance. Appropriate
for all ages.
OTHER
Modernist Landscapes by Tony Thomspson.
North River Gallery, 34A Main St., Chatham,
NY. Inaugural show will be an expansive
Four Events That You Shouldn’t Miss Out On This Month
S i n g e r- s o n g w r i t e r
John Hiatt will perform at the Mahaiwe
Performing Arts Center on May 6 with
opener Rick Brantley.
Comedian Kevin
Meaney, one of America’s top comedians of
the last 25 years, will
bring the laughs to The
Garage at The Colonial
Theater on May 11.
The Shire City Sanctuary invites swing
dancers from around
the county to dance
to the music of The
Lucky Five Band on
May 20.
“Making Waves:
Sounds of the Future,” a conversation with Edgar
Choueiri, Princeton inventor and
professor at Time
& Space on May 22.
21
solo exhibition with Modernist Landscapes
by Tony Thompson opening from 4-7 p.m.
For more information visit northrivergallery.com or contact gallery owner Telisport
Putsavage at (202) 466-3700 or email twp@
northrivergallery.com.
‘Living the Change’ climate action and
sustainability fair. Shire City Sanctuary, 40
Melville St., Pittsfield. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. The
fair features a full day of activities, including
presentations, community dialogue sessions,
youth art and activities, music and food, as
well as vendor and non-profit booths. An
environmental film titled “This Changes
Everything” will also be shown, followed by
a dance party in the evening. For more information e-mail livingthechangeberkshires@
gmail.com or call (413) 329-3514.
Spring Ephemeral Spruce-Fir Forest Plant
and Tree ID and foraging at Tamarack Hollow.
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Learn how to identify spring
plants, trees and wild edibles that grow in the
unique high elevation Spruce-Fir forests of
the Berkshires such as blue bead lilly, painted
and red trillium, trout lily, wild leeks and
more. This will be a 2-3 mile moderate hike
with some bushwacking involved. Directions
sent upon registration. Bring water/snack and
wear long pants and waterproof boots. Email
[email protected] for registration info.
Visit www.tamarackhollow.com for more info.
‘Clark After Hours’ offers silk screening tote
bag session. 7 p.m. Clark Art Institute, 225
South St., Williamstown. Kate Barber from
Makers’ Mill in North Adams leads the silk
screening session. Bright Ideas Brewing, also
located in North Adams, supplies craft beers
for purchase at the cash bar. Snacks are also
available. Tickets are $16, which includes one
tote bag for silk screening. Extra tote bags
may be purchased for $6 each. To reserve
tickets, visit clarkart.edu or facebook.com/
clarkartinstitute, or call (413) 458-0524.
Fishing Derby at Wild Acres. Wild Acres,
South Mountain Rd., Pittsfield. Free fishing
derby for youth ages 14 and under, rain or
shine. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Volunteer support will
be provided by the Onota Fishing Club to
assist with dressing fish, providing fishing tips
and techniques, baiting, and more. Bait will
be provided, and a limited amount of fishing
poles will be available on a first-come, firstserve basis for use that day. Trophies will be
awarded in various age groups to those who
catch the largest fish (length and weight).
Those who may need accommodations for
handicapped vehicle access are asked to
contact 413-770-2766. Instructions will be
provided on how such vehicles can park adjacent to the pond area. For more information,
contact Becky Manship at (413) 499-9370.
Outspoken Festival Finale. The Whtney Center for the Arts, 42 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield. 7:
30 p.m. Featured guests will include Thomas
Fucaloro and Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib. The
evening will also include some of the brightest
and bravest young voices including finalist
from the festival’s youth and college poetry
slam competitions. The finale caps a day and
a half of workshops, sharing, competitions
and fellowship - a gathering of youth voices
(13 - 23) to create a supportive environment
for exploration and creativity, sharing, celebration, and bonding. The finale is an opportunity for the poets to share their creativity
with the public. For more information about
Outspoken, including schedule updates, visit
OutspokenYouth.com.
Kentuck Derby Hat Parade. Sweetwood of
Williamstown, 1611 Cold Spring Rd., Williamstown. 1:30 p.m. Wear your best Kentucky
Derby hat. This event is for woman and men
alike and there are all kinds of inspiration for
your creations on-line. For more information
call (413) 458-8371 ext. 23 or visit sweetwoodliving.com.
22
Sunday, May 8
MUSIC
THEATER
MUSIC
“Shakespeare in Song” Hotchkiss Chorus
Spring Concert. The Hotchkiss School, 11
Interlaken Rd., Lakeville, CT. This spring the
chorus will offer an all-Shakespeare program
to honor the 400th anniversary of the poet’s
death. All choral selections are settings of
his words by 20th century American and
English composers. For more information
Small Jazz Ensembles perform. BrooksRogers Recital Hall, 54 Chapin Hall Dr., Bernhard Music Center on the Williams College
Campus. 7 p.m. For more information visit
music.williams.edu or call the concert hotline
at (413) 597-3146.
COMEDY
Laugh Lounge Series: Kevin Meaney. The
Garage, The Colonial Theater, 111 South
St., Pittsfield. 8 p.m. For more information
visit berkshiretheatregroup.org or call (413)
997-4444.
TALKS, CLASSES &
WORKSHOPS
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as luxury home sales for nearly 40 years. We work diligently
to achieve a perfect balance between ethical, honest
representation and creative, dynamic marketing.
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413-528-4859
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farm & home
quality American-made goods & gifts
visit hotchkiss.org/arts or call (860) 435-4423.
OTHER
Mother’s Day brunch. Mezze Bistro + Bar, 777
Cold Spring Rd., Williamstown. 12-7 p.m.For
more information visit mezzeinc.com.
Wednesday, May 11
THEATER
The Town Players present a dramatic reading
of “Spoon River Anthology” directed by
John Trainor at the Berkshire Athenaeum, 1
Wendell Ave., Pittsfield. 7 p.m. Sponsored
by the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum,
the event is free. For more information call
(413) 499 9480.
“Miss Labeled” created and performed by
the WAM Girls Ensemble Cohort led by
teaching artists Amy Brentano and Barby
Cardillo. Spectrum Playhouse, 20 Franklin
St., Lee. 7:30 p.m. Featuring Iris Courchaine,
Brittany Dorwin, Siena Gamberoni, Isabelle
Lapierre, and Claudia Maurino.
Judith M. Lenett Memorial Lecture by Julia
Silverman. Clark Art Institute, 225 South St.,
Williamstown. 5:30 p.m. For more information visit clarkart.edu.
OTHER
A forum will be held for candidates in Great
Barrington. Claire Teague Senior Center.
6:30-9 p.m.
Bird Walks at Pleasant Valley. Pleasant Valley
Wildlife Sanctuary, Lenox. 7-9 a.m. Join avid
birder and Pleasant Valley’s caretaker on a
weekly bird walk past beaver wetlands and
through woodlands observing changes in bird
species. For beginners and advanced birders.
Thursday, May 12
MUSIC
Williams Jazz Repertory Ensemble performs.
Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall, 54 Chapin Hall
Dr., Bernhard Music Center on the Williams
College Campus. 7 p.m. For more information
visit music.williams.edu or call the concert
hotline at (413) 597-3146.
TALKS, CLASSES &
WORKSHOPS
Berkshire Athenaeum offers Genealogy
classes, “Introduction to Ancestry.com.”
The Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Ave.,
Pittsfield. 10 a.m.-noon. and 1-3 p.m. Register as soon as possible. Class is limited to
10 participants. Register at pittsfieldlibrary.
org and click on the Calendar of Events page
or contact the Local History Department at
(413) 499-9480 ext. 6.
Friday, May 13
MUSIC
David Reed performs. New Lebanon Library,
550 State Rte., New Lebanon, NY. 6:30 p.m.
THEATER
TALKS, CLASSES &
WORKSHOPS
IS183 Art School presents Enter the ‘Zine
Zone: The Instant Book!’ with Karen ArpSandel. 7-9 p.m. Citizens’ Hall, Stockbridge.
For more information visit is183.org or call
(413) 298-5252 ext. 100.
The White Hart Speaker Series presents
“The Capitalist” by author Peter Steiner, in
collaboration with Oblong Books & Music
and the Scoville Memorial Library. 6 p.m.
15 Undermountain Rd., Salisbury, CT. RSVP
required [email protected].
TALKS, CLASSES &
WORKSHOPS
Local author Adriana Brown talks about her
book, “An Unlikely Hero: Adrianus Millenaar
Dutch Farmer Turned Diplomat in Worl War II
Europe”. Sweetwood of Williamstown, 1611
Cold Spring Rd., Williamstown. 1:30 p.m. For
more information call (413) 458-8371 ext. 23
or visit sweetwoodliving.com.
OTHER
Spring Tag, Book & Bake sale at The United
Methodist Church of Lenox, 6 Holmes Rd.,
Lemox. Saturday Super Special - fill a bag
of tag sale items for $1 a bag. Bags will be
provided. For more information call (413)
445-5918.
Bird Walks at Canoe Meadows. Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary, Holmes Rd., Pittsfield.
7-9 a.m. Spring and Fall are the seasons to
look for migrants of all kinds, especially the
beautiful wood-warblers. Walk past wetlands
and meadows and through woodlands observing changes in bird species each week.
Saturday, May 14
THEATER
MUSIC
“The Art of the String Quartet” preformed
by The Dover, presented by Close Encounters With Music. The Mahaiwe Performing
Arts Center, 14 Castle St., Great Barrington.
6 p.m. The Dover will take the stage at the
Mahaiwe on May 14 at 6 p.m. The program’s
triad of Beethoven, Dvorak and Alban Berg
offers up the “American” Quartet, by Dvorak,;
Beethoven’s “Razumovsky” Quartet; and Alban Berg’s Second String Quartet Op. 3 (1908).
For more information visit mahaiwe.org.
Cantilena Chamber Choir Tanglewood
Music center 75th Anniversary: The Choral
Music concert. 7:30 p.m. All tickets are $30;
seniors $20 and children are admitted free.
Tickets may be purchased at the door or in
advance through the Choir’s website www.
cantilenachoir.org. Reservations: 518-7910185 or [email protected]. Trinity Church
is located at 88 Walker St.
Rusted Root performs. The Colonial Theatre,
111 South St., Pittsfield. 8 p.m. For more
information visit berkshiretheatregroup.org.
A Celebration of the History of Pittsfield in
Post Cards presented by Peter Bergman of
the Berkshire Historical Society at the Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield.
The event is free. For more information call
(413) 499 9480.
OTHER
Thursday, May 26
OTHER
Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies opens
at the Berkshire Musuem, 39 South St.,
Pittsfield. The exhibition will include fossils,
models, and interactive opportunities.
Saturday Book Club, “Book of Unknown
Americans” by Cristina Henriquez. Salisbury
Town Hall, Main St., Salisbury, CT. For more
information call (860) 435-2838.
“Pooch Party” at Noble Horizons, Salisbury,
CT. 2-2:30 p.m.
14th annual Humane Race for Berkshire Humane Society. 16 Water St., Williamstown.
10 a.m. Check-in and registration begins
at 8 a.m. For more information about the
Humane Race, visit Humanerace.org or call
(413) 664-7777.
Birding the Berks. Lime Kiln Wildlife Sanctuary. 7-10 a.m. Join new education coordinator
(a lifelong birder) for a morning bird walk
during the height of spring migration on
the trails of our Lime Kiln sanctuary. We will
listen and look for warblers, thrushes, and
other songbirds.
Sunday, May 15
TALKS, CLASSES &
WORKSHOPS
Clark curator Lara Yeager-Crasselt discusses
her new book, “Michael Sweerts (1618-1664):
Shaping the Artist and the Academy in Rome
and Brussels.” The Clark Art Institute, 225
South St., Williamstown. For more information call (413) 458-2303 or visit clarkart.edu.
THEATER
“Photograph 51” Fresh Takes Play Reading
Series. No. Six Depot, 6 Depot St., West
Stockbridge. 3 p.m. For more information
visit wamtheatre.com
Monday, May 16
TALKS, CLASSES &
WORKSHOPS
“Wonderful Maine” a slide show by Michael
Perry. Sweetwood of Williamstown, 1611
Cold Spring Rd., Williamstown. 4 p.m. For
more information call (413) 458-8371 ext. 23
or visit sweetwoodliving.com.
“Meet Me at the Clark” gallery talk. Clark
Art Institute, 225 South St., Williamstown.
2 p.m. A free gallery talk program specially
designed for persons with dementia and their
caregivers at 2 pm at the Clark Art Institute.
To register in pairs (persons with dementia
and their caregivers), call (413) 458-0410.
Groups are welcome.
Tuesday, May 17
THEATER
Town Players of Pittsfield and the Friends of
the Berkshire Athenaeum present a staged
reading of selections from “Spoon River
Anthology” by Edgar Lee Masters at 7 p.m.
THEATER
Le Vent du Nord. The Colonial Theatre, 11
South St., Pittsfield. 8 p.m. For more information visit berkshiretheatregroup.org.
OTHER
Photo Contributed
Blues-rock artist Popa Chubby brings his larger-than-life style of play to Daryl’s
Restaurant and Live Music Club on May 21.
at the Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell
Avenue. This is a free event.
OTHER
Great Barrington town elections. Positions
of moderator, Planning Board and library
trustees are contested. All candidates will
be introduced. The audience is invited to
ask questions.
Wednesday, May 18
OTHER
Thursday, May 19
TALKS, CLASSES &
WORKSHOPS
The White Hart Speaker series presents
“Imagine Me Gone” by author Adam Haslett
in collaboration with Oblong Books & Music
and the Scoville Memmorial Library. 6 p.m.
Meets at the White Hart Inn,, 15 Undermountain Rd., Salisbury, CT. RSVP at rsvp@
oblongbooks.com.
OTHER
Opening Reception for the annual Juried
Student Art Show. Spectrum Playhouse and
Good Purpose Gallery, 40 Main St., Suite 1,
Lee. 5:30-7:30 p.m. The Good Purpose Gallery presents the first annual Juried Student
Art Show. Local high school-aged students
from Berkshire County were invited to submit
their best artwork to be juried by the gallery’s art authorities. The jurors scored the
submitted artwork based on quality, intention
and content. The show runs May 19-June 21.
Friday, May 20
MUSIC
The Limb Shakers. New Lebanon Library, 550
State Rte. 20., New Lebanon, NY. 6:30 p.m.
DANCE
Shire City Rhythm Club swing dance with The
Lucky 5 Jazz Band. Shire City Sanctuary, 40
Melville St., Pittsfield. 8-11 p.m. Swing dance
lesson 7-8 p.m. For more information visit
Shirecitysanctuary.org.
OTHER
Peter Steiner: The Capitalist (A novel) reading. The Bookstore & Get Lit Wine BAr, 11
Housatonic St., Lenox. 7 p.m. For more
information call (413) 637-3390 or visit
bookstoreinlenox.com.
Saturday, May 21
MUSIC
Elizabethan Music and the Sounds of Hamlet
directed by Crescendo’s artisitic director
Christine Gevert. First Congregational
Church, 251 Main St., Great Barrington. 6
p.m.
Living on Earth: The Work of Robert Hite.
Hancock Shaker Village, Hancock. A pilot
project, the Hite exhibition is the first in a
planned series of shared exhibitions set to
explore the indoor and outdoor settings of
the two venues. Living on Earth is co-curated
by Lesley Herzberg, Hancock Shaker Village
curator, and Maria Mingalone, director
of curatorial affairs and collections at the
Berkshire Museum.
Friday, May 27
OTHER
OTHER
The Great Colonial Encampment featuring
Ye Olde Towne Lebanon Militia. Farmington
River School, 555 N. Main Rd., Otis. 10 a.m.-4
p.m. Candlelight tour at 8 p.m.
Opening reception for Tiny Titans: Dinosaur
Eggs and Babies. The Berkshire Museum, 39
South St., Pittsfield. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Visitors
will be able to explore the galleries, discover
the interactive stations, view real fossils and
enjoy fine art representations of the lives of
the dinosaurs. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5
for children, and free for Museum members.
RSVP to (413) 443-7171 ext. 313.
Sunday, May 22
Saturday, May 28
Elizabethan Music and the Sounds of Hamlet
directed by Crescendo’s artisitic director
Christine Gevert. Trinity Church Lime Rock,
484 Lime Rock Rd., Lakeville, CT. 4 p.m.
“Making Waves: Sounds of the Future.”
Time & Space Limited, 434 Columbia St.,
Hudson, NY. 2 p.m. A conversation with
Edgar Choueiri, Princeton University inventor, professor and aerospace engineering
pioneer. For more information visit cewm.
org or call (800) 843-0778.
“Great Poets/Great Composers” The
Berkshire Concert Choir presents choral
music with texts by Catullus, Shakespeare,
Robert Louis Stevenson, Rainer Maria Rilke,
Robert Frost and Langston Hughes. Featuring baritone Christopher-Michael Vecchia.
Aurora Cooper, accompanist. 4 p.m. St.
Mark Church, 400 West St., Pittsfield. Tickets
$12-$15. Children 12 and under - free; info
call (413) 442-6120 or visit berkshireconcertchoir.org.
Ths Skivvies: On the Stage Series. The Colonial Theatre, 111 South St., Pittsfield. 8
and 10:30 p.m. For more information visit
berkshiretheatregroup.org.
MUSIC
OTHER
Dave Fromm, “The Duration” (A novel)
reading. The Bookstore & Get Lit Wine Bar,
11 Housatonic St., Lenox. 2 p.m. For more
information call (413) 637-3390 or visit bookstoreinlenox.com.
Wednesday, May 25
TALKS, CLASSES &
WORKSHOPS
THEATER
Sunday, May 29
THEATER
Ths Skivvies: On the Stage Series. The
Colonial Theatre, 111 South St., Pittsfield.
7 p.m. For more information visit berkshiretheatregroup.org.
MUSIC
Berkshire Lyric Chorus presents Mozart
Requiem and Arvo Pärt’s Salve Regina at
3 p.m. at Seiji Ozawa Hall, Tanglewood. 90
voice Berkshire Lyric Chorus with soloists and
orchestra. Tickets at concert gate or online.
Children free with adult. Info at berkshirelyricinfo.org or (413) 298-5365.
Tuesday, May 31
TALKS, CLASSES &
WORKSHOPS
IS183 Art School presents Snapshot to Print
with Wit McKay. 6-8:30 p.m. at exPRESS
Gallery, North Adams. For more information
visit is183.org or call (413) 298-5252 ext. 100.
23
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flowering plants
Mother’s Day flowers
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Mother’s Day Basket Special:
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Teleflora Mother’s Day specials also available.
Now taking orders for
Memorial Day cemetery planters
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24
`Music
`
Immune
Friction: A
match made in
grunge heaven
By Clelia Sweeney
Y
ou could say that Justine
Curry bluffed her way into
Immune Friction. She met
Chris Dayton while working
in a Bennington coffee shop in 2010
and connected with him immediately;
so when he said he was looking for
someone to add percussion to some
music he’d been writing, she said
that she could play drums. When they
recorded their first album as a band,
The Markets Never Sleep, Justine had
been teaching herself drums for only
three months. “We just sort of did it,”
she laughs. “The first time we jammed
together we were so in sync and it just
fit.” What began
as Chris’ solo
►► Immune
friction bring project morphed
surf-grunge to into a dynamic
the berkshires two-person
band that has
been rocking the Berkshires ever since.
Originally from Manhattan, Chris
Dayton has been writing songs and
playing guitar since he was 13. As the
song “What Gives” poignantly puts it,
“After school I would rehearse / Songs
full of nonsense / That nobody would
ever hear.” He studied classical guitar
at Keene State College and performed
at a lot of open mics before deciding to
start his own band. He started Immune
Friction as a solo act, played some
Immune Friction rock their album release party, April 15 at South Street Cafe in Bennington, VT.
shows, and recorded an album entitled
Lighting Strings to Melt Wax. On their
latest album, his passionate, earnest
voice can go from a mumble to a shout
within a few seconds. Although Chris
is the lyricist for the band, both he and
Justine sing – sometimes harmonizing
together and sometimes alternating
melodies.
Justine Curry, a Pittsfield native,
has been performing since the age of 4.
Between dance recitals, theatre, choirs,
The Berkshire Lyric Theatre chorus,
and even recording with David Grover,
her fascination with music and performance has remained constant. As a girl
Seth Kellner
Justine Curry (left) and Chris Dayton (right) making beautiful noise together.
she remembers going to Tanglewood
with her family and planning to become an opera singer. She is classically
trained in voice, and now contributes
her mellifluous phrasing and powerful
vibrato to Immune Friction. But she
always loved rock music, despite her
classical background; she and Chris
initially bonded over a shared love of
Iron Maiden.
While onstage they resemble The
White Stripes, with Chris shredding
on his guitar and Justine banging her
drums, long black hair shaking, Immune Friction sounds very different
than the famous ‘90s duo. The genre
moniker they go by is “surf grunge,”
bestowed on them by a fellow musician
in Vermont. The subgenre encapsulates
their ‘60s pop sensibilities (think The
Kinks) with the raw energy and emotion of grunge. But their music also has
the frenetic post-punk inventiveness
of Sonic Youth, Doors-like classical
guitar flourishes, and Rage Against the
Machine noise breakdowns. The most
immediate band comparison that comes
to mind is Nirvana, though, which
Chris’ blue eyes and shaggy hair only
serve to reinforce.
One might think that a two-person
band would inevitably sound sparse,
but Immune Friction manages to produce a fully fleshed-out wall of raucous
sound. Chris explained that he often
tunes down to a lower pitch to accommodate for the lack of bass guitar, and
Justine employs a lot of bass drum. She
says, “People are like, ‘it’s just you
two making all that racket?’ We’ll make
TW Collins
noise with anything – guitar on cymbals, drumsticks on guitar, anything.”
They’re known for their dynamic live
shows; it says a lot that friends and fans
have been known to follow them from
gig to gig. “When people come out
to see us, they’re going to get a good
show,” Justine says. “Sometimes we
don’t even know what we’re going to
do! We try stuff out, sometimes it works
and sometimes it doesn’t.” Chris laughs
and adds sheepishly, “It can be a little
scary sometimes.”
Amanda Palmer talks about falling
in “rock love” when she met her Dresden Dolls bandmate Brian Viglione,
and this term kept coming to mind
while I was talking with Chris and
Justine. They both have so-called day
jobs – Chris is a videographer and 2ndgrade teacher while Justine is a realtor
– but Immune Friction provides them
with alternate indie-rock-star lives,
existing as testaments to their creative
passion and drive. As Justine describes
herself: “realtor by day, drummer by
night.” The two live together in Bennington with their five beloved cats –
altogether, not at all a bad life.
Ethical Dilemmas is Immune Friction’s fantastic new album, recorded
with punk/hardcore veteran Don Fury in
Troy, NY and just released mid-April. It
is available on iTunes, Amazon, Google
Play, Bandcamp, CD Baby, and YouTube
Music. The duo is going to be touring
around New England over the next couple
of months – in May they are coming to
Saratoga, Williamstown, Bennington,
and Pittsfield.
25
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Strictly 21+ (ID required for admission)
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to purchase tickets
Visit: www.facebook.com/berkshiretheatregroup
for more information
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`Music
`
Party like it’s
1939: Swing
dancing at
Race Brook
Lodge
By Clelia sweeney
B
asically everyone’s up for
grabs – it doesn’t matter
how good or bad or ugly
you are!” Laughter bubbled
up from the crowd, a circle assembled
around two dancers in the middle of a
barn. The MC is
►► down
explaining the
county social dancing game
club offers
of Snowball:
everyone the
one couple
opportunity
starts dancing
to be a swing
for a bit, until
dancer
someone yells
“Snowball!” – then each person has to
grab a new partner from the crowd. Repeat until the whole room is dancing,
young with old, swing aficionados with
newbies, guys in boots with pretty girls
in bell skirts.
I was taking notes on the sidelines when a redhead with dreadlocks
scampered over to me on bare feet and
snatched me up, pulling me into the
beautifully swirling melee.
This night of swing dancing happened on April 8 at Race Brook Lodge,
in their 160-year-old barn – a beautiful
piece of rustic construction. Chinese
paper lanterns swayed from the rafters
and soft tea-lights glowed in Mason
jars. The room was suffused with the
warm babble of conversation. This
event was part of the Down County
Social Club, a program of live entertainment hosted at the Lodge every
Thursday along with a host of other
events throughout the year.
Everyone is welcome, regardless of
skill level, and the hour-long lesson before the dancing starts definitely helps
out everyone. I went with a group of
friends, some of whom were seasoned
swing dancers and others who had
never danced before.
The relaxed, welcoming atmosphere helped us all to melt into the
crowd easily and join the party. Social
dancing is making a comeback in
certain circles, and there is a somewhat unexpected modern swing scene
emerging today. I had some dance
experience because when I was at college in Chicago two years ago, I was a
“
All experience levels are welcome to swing dance the night away at the Race Brook Lodge.
member of the student swing dancing
club. I got a small flush of pride when
the redhead I was dancing with said,
“You’re a swing dancer!”
All night the band One Straw
Revolution kept the dancing going
with jazz and blues standards, from the
sultry “Angel Eyes” to the frenetically
fun “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t
Got That Swing)”. The five-member
band has been playing together for
thirty years and this is their fourth time
performing at Race Brook. They took
their name from a book by Japanese
sustainable-farmer and philosopher
Masanobu Fukuoka.
Guitarist Jonathan Suters joins his
father Roger Suters on bass, along with
some friends. They write their own music, in addition to performing standards
Amillie coster
The One Straw Revolution provides the music to one of Down County Social
Club’s swing-dances.
Amillie coster
and covers. Guitarist/vocalist Bobby
MacVeety looks around admiringly,
with his hat cocked back on his head,
and says that he loves the acoustics of
this barn. He also loves to dance, and
would if he could tonight.
Outside the barn is a cozy bonfire,
to which people withdraw occasionally to smoke, talk, or just listen to the
wind sifting through the tops of the
trees. I bought a glass of red wine from
the cash bar and went outside to join
the ragtag circle of people standing
close to the warm flames.
Race Brook Lodge has a renovated
speakeasy vibe to it, and the swirling
swing dancers don’t seem at all out of
place in a barn, surrounded by peaceful
forest. This was a night of throwback
fun with fashion to match; as organizer Amillie Coster said to my friend
Maria, “Everyone else here looks like a
farmer, but you’ve got that swing look
we were missing – like Betty Boop.”
If you missed this swing night,
there will be another Down County
Social Club swing event on April 30,
with the Hot Club of Saratoga (boasting a highly danceable gypsy jazz
sound.) In May you can catch shows at
Race Brook Lodge by Oakes & Smith,
EarthBlu, and Emily Danger. For more
information visit www.rblodge.com or
check out their Facebook page.
27
`Music
`
venues
n.w. CONNECTICUT
425 Park Street, Housatonic
(413) 274-0020
brickhousema.com
lanesborough
norfolk, ct
Elf Parlor left off, The Parlor Cafe offers North
Adams residents and visitors alike affordable
light fare, quality early morning coffee, great
local beer and wines and frequent musical
and other night time performances by a range
of local artists.
303 Ashland Street, North Adams
(413) 346-4279
THEPARLORCAFE.COM
theater greats including George M. Cohan,
Sara Bernhardt, John Barrymore, and the
Ziegfeld Follies. Although the theater was
closed in 1951, its grandeur had been
protected through the years. The Colonial
Theater was named by Hillary Clinton as a
National Historic Treasure in 1998. Many
notable performers have since graced the
stage of this historic Berkshire landmark,
including James Taylor.
111 South Street, Pittsfield
(413) 448-8084
berkshiretheatregroup.org
Bradley Farm
Infinity music hall
Built in 1883 in picturesque Norfolk in
northwestern Connecticut, Infinity Hall is an
intimate music, dining and entertainment
destination. Newly renovated, the historic
building features its original proscenium stage
and wood, as well as many other notable
details. Whether it’s dinner and a show, Infinity
Music Hall & Bistro can provide it.
20 Greenwoods Road, Norfolk, CT
(860) 542-5531
infinityhall.com
Bradley Farm announces an upcoming
summer concert series. The concerts feature
both local and national artists, farm-fresh
organic/local food and refreshments. The farm
provides a naturally beautiful and intimate
setting for both artists and music lovers of all
ages alike. This popular series was created to
celebrate the joys of music and summer in
the Berkshires.
545 North Main Street, Lanesborough
(413) 499-2723
bradleyfarm.neT
new marlboroUGH
w. MASSACHUSETTS
BECKET
Common Place
Artists of Common Folk support the idea
that art not only functions as a form of
entertainment, but also can be a catalyst
for change. They host a variety of events
at various locations within the Berkshires
and neighboring counties. On the second
Thursday of every month they hold a free
event at The Parlor Café in North Adams
with the intention of providing accessible
events for the community. In addition, we
also present a free young artist series where
they bring in musicians and poets who are
in the earlier stages of their careers to
highlight up and coming regional creative
efforts. This group of young artists believes
that we all have something in common.
87 Main St, North Adams
(413) 668-4531
wearecommonfolk.blogspot.com
DOTTIE’S COFFEE LOUNGE
Dottie’s is a coffee shop that loves people and
coffee. As of this past summer, Dottie’s has
made the transition to all organic produce.
Their passion is making beautifully presented
food that brings your body the highest nutrition
possible. Serving breakfast all day Dottie’s is
a comfortable place to hear live music.
A very special feature of Dottie’s is their
Domingo Brunch series on the first Sunday of
every month. While enjoying delicious food
from the kitchen, you can also hear some
sweet sounds from local musicians.
444 North Street, Pittsfield
(413) 443-1792
DOTTIESCOFFEELOUNGE.COM
gedney underground
The Dream Away Lodge
The Dream Away Lodge has been a Berkshire
legend for more than 90 years. Rumored to
have been a brothel and speakeasy during
the Great Depression, this two-hundredyear-old farmhouse at the edge of October
Mountain State Forest is a great place to eat
a fantastic dinner, enjoy a glass of wine or
one of their specialty cocktails. They have
live music each week.
1342 County Road, Becket
(413) 623-8725
www.thedreamawaylodge.com
housatonic
A complex of spectacular period architecture
with gambrel slate and cedar roofs, and
beautifully detailed dormers and cupolas. In
the renovation of Gedney Farm, the architect
aspired to integrate the most distinctive
stylistic elements and architectural features
of two different eras. As a result, the original
architectural features of the barn are strikingly
preserved within a contemporary and
adventuresome interior space. Today Gedney
Farm has been boldly transformed into a
unique lodging facility, featuring 16 elegantly
appointed guest rooms and suites in the former
cattle barn, many with granite fireplaces, some
with large tiled whirlpool tubs. Located across
a courtyard is the former horse barn, now used
as an exceptional space for weddings, special
events and live musical performances.
34 Hartsville-New MarlboroUGH
Road, New MarlboroUGH
(413) 229-3131
gedneyfarm.com
NORTH ADAMS
Mass Moca
Want to grab a beer? Stop by MASS MoCA’s
beer garden. Drinks are served from the Hunter
Center and Club B. More than 80 major new
works of art and more than 50 performances
have been created through fabrication and
rehearsal residencies in North Adams, making
MASS MoCA perhaps the most fertile site in
the country for new art. The museum thrives
on making and presenting work that is fresh,
surprising, and challenging.
37 Marshall Street, North Adams
(413) 662-2111
massmoca.org
pittsfield
Mission Bar + Tapas
For a relaxing intimate atmosphere to take in
a drink and hear some great music Mission
Bar and Tapas is at the top of the list. The
venue located in Pittsfield’s downtown, the
bar and music hall offers food throughout
the day and a full bar as well as a special
brunch menu. The site is host to several
house bands performing weekly as well as
special performances and a host of the areas
top musicians. The Picky Bastards and Andy
Wrba & Friends play weekly at Mission. An
open mic night is also offered every Tuesday
to showcase local undiscovered musicians.
438 North Street, Pittsfield
missionbarandtapas.com
missionbarandtapas.com
The Brick House Pub
Located in the heart of Housatonic, this bar
has an impressive mixture of great beer, great
food, and great music to make it a can’t-miss
destination. The space is also home to a series
of local artists and performances from bands
from across the country.
28
The Parlor Cafe
Open in 2012, picking up where the former
Colonial Theatre
Built in 1903, the theater was host to many
PortSmitt’s Restaurant
PortSmitt’s Restaurant has quickly become a
“Berkshire dining favorite” under the guidance
and expertise of local chef Mike Lewis. For
years, Chef Lewis has served Berkshire County
residents and visitors alike. In addition to
being an outstanding restaurant, PortSmitt’s
Restaurant has also begun hosting great local
music from bands in the Berkshires. For more
information, see their website or just give them
a call at the number listed below.
320 Peck Road, Pittsfield
(413) 236-5727
portssmittsrestaurant.com
by Chef Thomas John Lee. So if you’re in the
mood for a place to stay with delicious, local
food and colorful history and a variety of
musical performances, Race Brook Lodge is a
pretty safe bet. Berkshire County’s best kept
secret, the Down County Social Club features
live music every Thursday night.
864 S Undermountain Rd, Sheffield
(413) 717-7476
facebook.com/downcountysocialclub
stockbridge
The primary activity of Cricket Creek is
raising dairy cows for their good milk.
They sell raw milk and use the rest to make
into artisanal cheese in their farmstead
creamery. They also have a bakery on
site, which supplies fresh baked goods to
our farm store. We raise grass-fed beef
and whey-fed pork. We also have a small
flock of laying hens. We sell our goods
through our farm store, our diversified
year-round CSA, at local farmers markets,
and through various regional cheese
shops, food co-ops, restaurants, and other
establishments. From time to time the
farm throws stock-up parties. Live music
is played at these parties during which
the products in the farm store are offered
at a discount.
1255 Oblong Rd, Williamstown
(518) 828-4800
cricketcreekfarm.com
Rainbow restaurant
The Rainbow Restaurant serves up live music
on a weekly basis and never requires a cover
charge. Offering a menu of American, Greek,
Meditteranean and Italian cuisine, which
includes pizza, pasta and craft beer, there’s no
better place in Pittsfield for such an excellent
combination of food and music. Stop by to
enjoy the local music of the Berkshires.
109 First St, Pittsfield
(413) 443-0002
dinerainbow.com
The Lion’s Den pub
Located downstairs at The Red Lion Inn,
the pub offers entertainment seven nights
a week, and never a cover charge. There’s
different entertainment each night, with
regular appearances by local performers
including David Grover, the Sun Mountain
Fiddler, and the Housatonic Philharmonic,
offering everything from acoustic folk to R&B,
from reggae to the blues.
30 Main Street, Stockbridge
(413) 298-5545
redlioninn.com
great barrington
Shire City Sanctuary is The Berkshire’s
First Makerspace. In the former Roman
Catholic Notre Dame Church in the very
heart of Pittsfield, Shire City Sanctuary
houses a screen printing shop, sewing lab,
commercial kitchen, studios, meeting space,
event space, and cyber office. Shire City
Sessions is their live music venue.
40 Melville Street, Pittsfield
(413) 236-9600
shirecitysessions.com
Sheffield
Mahaiwe Performing Arts
Center
The Mahaiwe, an elegant theater in Great
Barrington with great acoustics and a lush
atmosphere that seats 700 audience members,
features a wide range of live acts including many
nationally renowned musicians. It opened its
doors in September 1905 and was restored in
2002 and registered as an historical landmark.
The hallways are lined with photographs signed
by the many hallowed musicians that have
graced their stage.
14 Castle Street, Great Barrington
(413) 528-0100
Mahaiwe.org
Williamstown
Down county social
club
Race Brook Lodge in Sheffield is not only a
working farm, hotel, and restaurant, it is also
home to amazing local musical talent every
Thursday night. The restaurant, Stagecoach
Tavern, is an award-winning restaurant run
Cricket creek
Helsinki Hudson
Get a taste of the Berkshires outside of
Massachusetts. Originally a mainstay in Great
Barrington, Helsinki crossed over to New
York and has thrived in the city of Hudson.
The venue offers both up-and- coming and
established bands as well as great dining
and drinks.
405 Columbia street, Hudson, NY
(518) 828-4800
helsinkihudson.com
tHE 6 hOUSE
Located in the scenic Northern Berkshires,
the 6 House Pub, an excellent opportunity
for local musicians to take the stage. With
weekly open mic and karaoke nights on
Thursdays and Sundays, the pub offers
plenty of opportunity for singers and bands
alike to get in front of a crowd and perform.
The pub also offers a wide array of meal
choices as well as a cornucopia of drafts and
other alcoholic beverages. So, whether you
are a local rising star or simply looking to sit
back and enjoy what the area’s talent has to
offer, look no further than the 6 House Pub.
866 Cold spring Rd, Williamstown
(413) 458-1896
6housepub.com
Shire city sanctuary
hudson, ny
NEW YORK
The half moon
This late night hang-out offers pool tables
and a variety of cocktails divided into two
categories: “shaken” and “stirred.” They
also have a selection of beers on draft and
hot dogs and chips to order at the bar. Live
music includes DJ sets as well as indie rock
and folk pop bands.
48 South Front Street, Hudson, NY
(518) 828-1562
thehalfmoonhudson.com
Pawling, NY
HILLSDALE, ny
Daryl’s Restaurant
& Live Music Club
An historical tavern in the quiet town
of Hillsdale, NY, “ The Mount” offers
casual dining, pool tables, and weekly
entertainment. Saturday nights usually
feature a DJ or live music, and during
the week you can play pool or attend
one of their ongoing “Paint and Sip”
events. These events often have different
themes such as “Couples Paint & Sip”
among others.
Owned by Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates, Daryl’s
House is the perfect place for audiences to
experience music and see musicians in a much
more relaxed setting. The venue, which is also
where the show “Live from Daryl’s House” is
filmed, is designed after Hall’s former 1770s
home in Millerton, NY. The venue serves
steaks, sandwiches, seafood and pasta and
features all kinds of musicians from cover
bands to jazz, rock, country and bluegrass
artists. Acts from all over the country come
to play at Daryl’s House; make sure you
don’t miss out.
2627 state route 23, Hillsdale, NY
(518) 325-4631
mtwashingtonhouse.com
130 Route 22, Pawling, NY
(845) 289-0185
darylshouseclub.com/shows
tHE mT. washington house
29
`Music
`
venues
s. vERMONT
Historic Route 7A,
782 Harwood Hill, Bennington, VT
(802) 442-7500
thepublykhouse.com
Bennington, VT
South Street Cafe
and Bakery
Performance Hub
Kevin’s Sports Pub and restaurant plays host
to live music from local bands and solo artists
alike every Friday and Saturday. Saturdays are
Open mic nights, which features area talent
as well as karaoke hosted by Ray Crosier.
Once a month, DJ Jimmy Woodard performs.
Located right in the heart of Bennington
since 1994, the South Street Cafe offers
a neighborhood cafe setting with light
breakfast and lunch food offerings. The
cafe, of course, offers coffee, roasted by the
Vermont Coffee Company. The setting, food
and coffee can be enjoyed while listening
to the live music performances they often
host. This cafe is perfect for coffee and music
lovers of all ages.
A performance venue as well as a non-profit
organization, the Hub hosts weekly open
mics that give musicians an opportunity to
showcase their talents, while ongoing events
such as the monthly songwriting and business
labs and musician’s roundtables create a
space for dialogue and mentoring amongst
artists. Open mics are every Thursday,
registration starting at 7:30 p.m. Other events
are on Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. Email info@
performancehubusa.com to register.
27 Main Street, N. Bennington, VT
(802) 442-0122.
kevinssportspubandrestaurant.com
105 South Street, Bennington, VT
(802) 447-2433
southstreetcafe.com
45 Main Street, Torrington CT.
(860) 689-5550
performancehubusa.com
dip across the musical spectrum have vaulted
the band into regional favorites. You’re sure
to catch them at Weller’s home base, the
Gypsy Joynt, throughout the fall as well as
shows springing up across the county and
over the border in New York.
Website: jordanwellermusic.com
Phone: (413) 644-8811
Email: [email protected]
performances. You can find him working on
his solo project, Jackson Whalan, as well as
with his live band Technicolor Lenses.
Website: soundcloud.com/jackson-whalan
Kevin’s Sports Pub
and Restaurant
the Publyk House
Weekly live music events paired with a
wonderful view of the Vermont countryside
makes The Publyk House a great destination
for live music lovers. Live music is held in the
tavern every Thursday from 7-9 p.m. On the
first Friday of each month, Publyk also hosts a
Karaoke Night from 9-12 p.m. Come support
Bennington’s local music scene.
`local
`
bands
Tony Lee Thomas
Patrick Gray Jr.
Acoustic Rock
Gray comes from a musical family; he grew up
listening to his father play folk music whether it
was around a camp fire or performing on stage
to large crowds. “By 16, I was playing in local
rock bands,” Gray said. “Shortly thereafter, I was
bitten by the recording bug, after doing a few
backing tracks in a local studio.” He owns Shire
Sound, a cozy project/recording studio nestled
in the Berkshire Hills. His performances, which
have been likened to everyone from John Mayer
to Edwin McCain, can be seen throughout
northern Berkshire County.
Website: reverbnation.com/patrickgray
Indie Rock
Imagine the energetic strumming of Richie
Havens and the intricate finger work of Bert
Jansch. Add a vocal style that summons
Stevie Wonder and Martin Sexton. Then
take a songwriting vocabulary as poignant as
Ani DiFranco, playful as John Prine, and add
commanding stage presence, then you have
Tony Lee Thomas. In central Berkshire County
Thomas has become a must-see performer,
who is now catching on throughout New
England performing both intimate and
poignant solo performances and full-blown
commanding vamps with his rock band, the
Tony Lee Thomas Band.
Website: tonyleethomas.com
Phone: (413) 218-8307
Booking information: shannon@
wickedcoolproductions.com
The lucky 5
TBone Daddy Trio
Rock & Blues
Guitarist Tyler Fairbank, bassist Jeff Link and
drummer Lou Parreault form the high energy
blues, funk, reggae and rock trio that draws
from both old and new influences. Mixing
both original material and their own unique
spin on covers they have fast become a fan
favorite in the region. From contemporary
interpretations of iconic compilations to
original material, TBD pursues a tone that
is uniquely theirs. The group has produced
three albums and plays throughout the
northeast at clubs, festivals and theaters
Website: tbonedaddytrio.com
Ross jenssen
Whiskey City
Americana
This band has become a local favorite that can
fill any bar or concert with a packed crowd.
Led by front man Randy Cormier, joined by
band mates Frank Algerio, Beth Maturevich,
Dale Zavatter, Jason Webster and Tim Sears,
Whiskey City is a must-see act in the county.
Cormier’s star quality, unique, tireless voice
and infamous audience rapport have made
him a crowd favorite.
Website: whiskeycityband.com
30
Swing & Jazz
The Lucky 5 is a hard-swinging jazz band
that blends swing and gypsy jazz to
create a unique, foot-stomping blend of
music. The Lucky 5 performs both original
compositions as well as putting a new spin
on old jazz standards. The band consists of
Jonathan Talbott on violin, Don Mikkelsen
on trombone, Kip Beacco on guitar, Matt
Downing on bass, and Brian Kantor on drums.
Website: theluckyfive.com
Jordan Weller & The
Feathers
Funk/Reggae
This high-energy band meshes the laid-back
grooves and rhythm of Bob Marley with the
fun and flare of James Brown. Front man
Jordan Weller on guitar and vocals leads
the group also comprised of guitarist Rob
Sanzone, Miles Lally on bass, drummer
Jason Schulteis and organist Joe Rose. Their
original as well their own spin on covers that
Jackson whalan
Hip-Hop/Electronica
Coming up through Railroad Street Youth
Project, Whalan learned some of his skills
from local mentors in music. He seeks to
create a refreshing blend of hip-hop lyricism
with original music production, while
collaborating and engaging in frequent live
Heavy Future Groove
Ross Jenssen, brainchild of Berkshire
natives Brian Ross, Jules Jenssen, and
Sam McGaritty, creates heavy, futuristic,
instrumental music that intends to evoke
imagery akin to a wild journey through
time and space, or the cinematic score to
a dream. Ross Jenssen does this primarily
through electric bass and drums. Ross
Jenssen is here to take you there and back
and everywhere in between.
Website: rossjenssen.com
I
Immune Friction
Surf Grunge
Immune Friction started out as a pseudonym
for lead singer and guitarist Christopher
Dayton, until he met drummer and vocalist
Justine Curry, a native of Pittsfield, in 2010.
Dayton has been combining his gift for writing with his musical ability since his college
years. Curry has been sinmging since she
was four years old and picked up drumming
after she watched her older sister learn the
instrument while she was growing up. A perfect fit for one another’s musical style, the
two have been making music together ever
since. The duo play in their native Bennington as well as across the Berkshires.
Website: immunefriction.com
Bella’s Bartok
the picky bastards
Bluegrass
This bluegrass-centric power-duo is made
up of Chris Merendo, on banjo and vocals,
and Rob Sanzone on guitar and mandolin.
They always feature a rotating cast of allstar musicians. The Picky Bastards cover
music of all genres including old-time traditionals, modern pop hits and classic rock
and roll. They mix in their own original
music as well. All of the music they play is
performed in the guise of bluegrass. They
can be seen live at the Mission Bar + Tapas
in Pittsfield every Thursday and at the Bosquet Ski resort in Pittsfield on Saturdays.
Website:
robsanzone.com/thepickybastards
dreamaholic
Folk pop
Bella’s Bartok is made up of six extraordinary
musicians from Northampton. Their circusesque style and folk approach to pop make
them one of the more unique bands around.
The band is made up of Asher Putnam on
vocals, Jesse Putnam on accordion, mandolin
and guitar, Chris “Fancy” Kerrigan on guitar
and clarinet, Dan Niederhauser on bass,
Amory Drennan on trombone and Crisco
on drums and trumpet. All members of the
band sing. Daring you not to dance with their
up-tempo folk pop, they are a band you have
to see live.
Website: bellasbartok.com
Indie Rock/Folk Pop
Composed of singer-songwriter Michael
Lesko, bassist and vocalist Maya Mortman
and drummer Tim Morrison, Dreamaholic
presents original songs that are atmospheric
and inviting. The trio was formed when
Michael and Maya met at the Stagecoach
Tavern and started jamming together.
Michael invited Tim to play drums and their
sound was complete. They bring individual
integrity andprofessional experience
combined with a lightheatredness and
ease that makes any audience member
or listener feel welcome. Catch the Great
Barrington-based dream team performing
around the Berkshires and look out for their
new album, being recorded this month.
Website: facebook.com/dreamaholic13
Rebel Alliance
the random concept
Rock and reggae
As the Berkshires’ pre-eminent reggaeinfluenced band, Rebel Alliance preaches
the best of rock, reggae and improvisational
jam along with a whole host of other musical
genres. The Reb, as they are known to their
fans, is made up of Mike Wood on guitar and
vocals, Chris Gennari on lead guitar Michael
Wood on drums and Al Tayor on bass. The
four come from broad and diverse musical
backgrounds, each bringing their own style
and voice to the music in harmony with their
other bandmates. In a very short time they
have become one cohesive musical unit.
Website: rebelalliancemusic.com
Rock
Originating in 1965 in western Connecticut, The Random Concept played with the
Andy Warhol group and was an active part
of the music scene in Greenwich Village
during the late Sixties. They play mainly
improvised rock music, as their band
name implies, so they thrive in live music
settings. They have even played the SXSW
stage, performing at the Austin-based festival in 2008. Gary Higgins, Dave Beaujon
and Terry Fenton remain from the original
group and joined by Dave VandeBogart.
Website: therandomconcept.com
Email: [email protected].
Wings • Pasta • Soups • Sandwiches • Salads
Steak • Chicken • Veal • Seafood
Full Bar & Several Beers On Tap • Gift Certificates Available
MAY ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE
5/4: Glenn Boden & Vinni Brandi, 7pm
5/5: Erin Laundry, 7pm
5/6: Kathy Garzone & Jim Sullivan, 8pm
5/7: Cam Collins, 7:30pm
5/10: Jim Witherell, 7pm
5/12: Trivia with Bob Heck, 7pm
5/13: Jack Waldheim, 8pm
5/14: Dan Gingras, 7:30pm
5/18: Ted Murray Jazz Trio, 6pm
5/19: Bruce Gregori, 7pm
5/20: Pete Boyd, 8pm
5/21: The Malibu Bros, 7:30pm
5/24: Jim Witherell, 7pm
5/26: Trivia with Bob Heck, 7pm
5/27: Patrick Gray, 8pm
5/28: The Hot Shot Hillbillies, 7:30pm
370 Pecks Rd., Pittsfield • (413) 236-5727
Tuesday–Sunday 11:30am–Close • Monday 4pm–Close
ENTERTAINMENT & EVENTS
Every Wednesday
Gruppo Mondo | Best Jazz in the Berkshires | 7:30 pm | No Cover
with Special Guests
Every Friday
Blue Light Trio | Classical & Original Jazz | 7:30 pm | No Cover
Saturday May 7
Garson & Sullivan | Easy Listening Favorites | 7:00 pm
Tuesday May 10
80’s Pop Culture Trivia | Win A Gift Certificate! | 6:30 pm
Saturday May 14
Soulstice | Piano & Vocals for the Soul | 7:30 pm | No Cover
Tuesday May 17
Troegs Brewery Event | 6:30 pm
Saturday May 21
Dan Gingras | Great Acoustic Covers | 7:30 pm | No Cover
Tuesday May 24
Flight Night with Berkshire Brewing Company | 6:30 pm
Saturday May 28
Todd McLeod | Classic Acoustic Covers | 7:30 pm | No Cover
Tuesday May 31
Rainbow Beer Club Monthly Meeting | 6:30 pm
Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet • 10–4 • Call for Reservations
OPEN 7 DAYS • EAT IN OR TAKE OUT • ONLINE ORDERING • SUNDAY BRUNCH BUFFET 11-3
www.dinerainbow.com • (413) 443-0002 or (413) 443-0004
109 First Street, Pittsfield, MA
31
`Live
`
Music
Tuesday, May 3
Open Mic with Jordan Franklin
8:00 p.m.
Mission Bar + Tapas. 438 North St., Pittsfield.
8:00 p.m.
Infinity Hall Norfolk. 20 Greenwoods Rd., W.
Norfolk, CT (860) 542-5531
8:00 p.m.
Norfolk, CT (860) 542-5531
Daryl’s Restaurant & Live Music Club. 130
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
The Picky Bastards
Voyage: The Ultimate
Journey Tribute Band
8:00 p.m.
Infinity Hall Hartford. 32 Front St., Hartford,
CT (860) 560-7757
8:00 p.m.
Oakes & Smith
Wednesday, May 4
8:00 p.m.
Down County Social Club. 864 S. Undermountain Rd., Sheffield (413) 229-2916
7:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
Friday, May 6
Pierre Bensusan
Open Mic at the Hub
7:30 p.m.
Performance Hub. 45 Main St., Torrington,
CT (860) 689-5550
Thursday, May 5
Joan Osborne
8:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
Peter Wolf
John Eddie and His
Dirty Ol’ Band
8:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
A Night of Cream
featuring Malcolm Bruce
and Bottom Blues
8:30 p.m.
CT (860) 560-7757
Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra
8:00 p.m.
The Colonial Theater. 111 South St., Pittsfield
(413) 448-8084
Rob & Rob & Jeff & Jay
8:00 p.m.
Castle Street Café. 10 Castle St., Great Barrington (413) 528-5244
Six Organs of Admittance
8:00 p.m.
The Dream Away Lodge. 1342 County Rd.,
Becket (413) 623-8725
Saturday, May 7
Soulia and the Sultans
12:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
Joshua Radin w/ Lauren Shera
8:00 p.m.
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32
Bob Schneider
Larkin Grimm
8:00 p.m.
The Dream Away Lodge. 1342 County Rd.,
Becket (413) 623-8725
Sunday, May 8
Switch Factory
12:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
Leo Moran and Davy Carton
of the Saw Doctors
7:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
Sounds of Frank: The
Music of Frank Sinatra
7:00 p.m.
Norfolk, CT (860) 542-5531
Mockingbirds Master
Southern Rock
7:00 p.m.
CT (860) 689-5550
Monday, May 9
Jazz with Andy Wrba
and Friends
8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 10
8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 11
The Verve Pipe
7:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
Open Mic at the Hub
7:30 p.m.
CT (860) 689-5550
Thursday, May 12
The Felice Brothers
8:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
The Mallett Brothers
Band, Ghost of Paul
Revere, and Gracie Day
8:00 p.m.
CT (860) 560-7757
Samantha Fish
8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 17
8:00 p.m.
CT (860) 560-7757
8:00 p.m.
8:00 p.m.
Denny Laine of Wings
8:00 p.m.
Friday, May 13
Wednesday, May 18
Roy Gerson Trio
Saturday, May 28
Norfolk, CT (860) 542-5531
The Picky Bastards
Back to the Garden 1969
8:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
The Lucky 5 Gypsy Swing Band
8:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 14
Mike Casey & Friends
12:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
Kiefer Sutherland w/
Austin Plaine
8:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
8:00 p.m.
CT (860) 560-7757
Martin Sexton
8:00 p.m.
Norfolk, CT (860) 542-5531
Fe Fi Fo
8:00 p.m.
CT (860) 689-5550
Rusted Root
8:00 p.m.
(413) 448-8084
Robert Kopec Trio
8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 15
Sloan Wainwright
CD release show
7:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
Keb’ Mo’
7:30 p.m.
CT (860) 560-7757
Nitty Gritty Dirty Band
7:30 p.m.
Norfolk, CT (860) 542-5531
Monday, May 16
Jazz with Andy Wrba
and Friends
8:00 p.m.
Marc Ford & Neptune
Blues Club
7:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
Open Mic at the Hub
7:30 p.m.
CT (860) 689-5550
Thursday, May 19
Junior Brown
8:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
The McCartney Years
8:00 p.m.
CT (860) 560-7757
The Picky Bastards
8:00 p.m.
Friday, May 20
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
feat. Kim Wilson
8:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
Delbert McClinton with
Special Guest Brian Dunne
8:00 p.m.
CT (860) 560-7757
Riders on the Storm: The
Ultimate Doors Tribute Band
8:00 p.m.
Norfolk, CT (860) 542-5531
Miss B. Haven
8:00 p.m.
(413) 448-8084
Wanda Houston Band
8:00 p.m.
Norfolk, CT (860) 542-5531
8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 22
Alexis P. Suter & The
Ministers of Sound
12:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
Joanne Shaw Taylor
7:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
Monday, May 23
Jazz with Andy Wrba
and Friends
8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 24
8:00 p.m.
Better Than Ezra’s
Kevin Griffin
7:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
Big Eyed Phish: Celebrating
the Music of the Dave
Matthews Band
8:00 p.m.
Norfolk, CT (860) 542-5531
The Skivvies
8:00 p.m.
(413) 448-8084
Galen Clark’s Subtonic Trio
8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 29
Todd Rundgren
Bruce in the U.S.A.: Bruce
Springsteen Tribute Band
Open Mic at the Hub
7:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
CT (860) 689-5550
Thursday, May 26
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
CT (860) 560-7757
Sunday Sessions in the
Norfolk Bistro
Le Vent du Nord
7:30 p.m.
The Picky Bastards
Monday, May 30
8:00 p.m.
(413) 448-8084
8:00 p.m.
Down County Social Club. 864 S. Undermountain Rd., Sheffield (413) 229-2916
8:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
Howard Jones
7:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
Chris Duarte
Saturday, May 21
Popa Chubby
7:00 p.m.
8:00 p.m.
12:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
Francesca Tanksley Duo
Wednesday, May 25
8:00 p.m.
Erin Harpe & The
Delta Swingers
Norfolk, CT (860) 542-5531
Emily Danger
Friday, May 27
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
7:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
Marshall Crenshaw with
Special Guest Mike Marlin
8:00 p.m.
Norfolk, CT (860) 542-5531
Jazz with Andy Wrba
and Friends
8:00 p.m.
Todd Rundgren
7:00 p.m.
Route 22, Pawling, NY (845) 289-0185.
Tuesday, May 31
8:00 p.m.
33
`Theater
`
Shakespeare
& Company
announces its
summer season
S
hakespeare & Company has announced its lineup for the 2016
summer season, which includes
three Shakespeare plays: “The
Merchant of Venice,” “The Two Gentlemen
of Verona” and “Twelfth Night,” plus the
regional premieres of “Or,” by Liz Duffy
Adams, and Lauren Gunderson’s, “The Taming.” Additional titles
►► The 2016
include “Ugly Lies
summer line- the Bone” by Lindsey
up includes Ferrentino a drama,
three of the
“Sotto Voce” by
bard’s plays,
Pulitzer Prize-winner
along with
the regional Nilo Cruz, “The Emperor of the Moon”
premiere
by Aphra Behn, and
of “Or”
the return of Stephan
Wolfert in “Cry ‘Havoc!’”
The summer season will also introduce a new stage configuration in the Tina
Packer Playhouse. Artistic directors Ariel
Bock and Jonathan Croy announced plans
to present performances in-the-round.
“The actor-to-audience relationship
will be 360 degrees, which presents an
exciting new dynamic for both actor and
audience,” said Croy. “It will be so much
more intimate—and this intimacy of the
relationship with the audience supports
dynamic personal interactions and our
fascination with language.”
In addition to the main stage productions this summer, the Company will present
“Emperor of the Moon” under the tent at the
Rose Footprint and a 90-minute production
of “Twelfth Night in the Dell” at The Mount,
Edith Wharton’s Home. The free Fourth of
July community event featuring the reading
of the Declaration of Independence returns
to the schedule this year.
Shakespeare & Company will also
participate in Shakespeare 400, a 2016
worldwide celebration marking the 400th
anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. This
series kicks off on the Bard’s birthday, April
23, with the Northeast Regional Tour’s Barebard presentation of “Macbeth” in the Tina
Packer Playhouse. The celebration continues
on Aug. 23, with an entire day devoted to the
sweeping romance, political infighting, and
groundling humor of Shakespeare’s Henry
VI plays. Programming will continue into the
fall and winter and includes a remount of the
Company’s holiday show, “It’s a Wonderful
Life: A Live Radio Play” directed by Jenna
Ware, as well as monthly events from Jan.
through April 2017. Additional details about
late-season and winter 2017 programming
will be available at a later date.
34
kevin sprague
Shakespeare & Company will take part in Shakespeare 400 this year, celebrating the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s passing.
Above: Actors Nigel Gore and Ryan Winkles.
Ghent Playhouse presents final production of the
15/16 season, announces next year’s slate of shows
J
ust as The Ghent Playhouse’s current season comes
to a close, they have announced the slate of shows
planned for their 2016/2017 season.
Beginning May 20 and running through June 5,
The Ghent Playhouse will present its final production of
the 2015/2016 season, an adaptation of Moliere’s “The
Imaginary Invalid.” Performances will be held on Fridays
and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m.
In this satirical French farce, a rich man and severe
hypochondriac named Argan, intends to marry his eldest
daughter, Angelique, off to a young physician in hopes
that he may continue to be treated for his maladies at no
cost. Angelique, however, is in love with another man and
refuses to follow her father’s orders.
Offering another alternative, Argan then gives his
daughter four days to consent to becoming a nun. As things
continue, Cleante, Angelique’s true love, along with Argan’s housekeeper and brother, Berald, all set out to change
Argan’s mind.
Eventually, Argan is pursuaded, after discovering the
meaning of true love, when he learns that his wife has only
married him for his money, and that it Angelique who loves
him honestly and unconditionally.
Tickets are $20 each, $17 for Playhouse members and
$10 for students with ID. Tickets may be reserved by calling 1 (800) 838-3006 or online at ghentplayhouse.org.
And with the end of one season comes the plans for the
42nd season of the Playhouse. Kicking off the 16/17 season
will be “The 39 Steps,” written by Patrick Barlow and John
Buchan and directed by Deena Pewtherer.
The performance will showcase on the following dates:
Oct. 7-9, 14-16, 21-23, 2016.
Next up on the schedule is”The Turn of the Scrooge.”
This will be the Playhouse’s annual panto, written by the
Pantoloons and directed by Cathy Lee-Visscher. Performance dates include: Nov. 25-27, Dec. 2-4, 9-11, 2016.
Carrying the schedule through the winter will be
“Mothers and Sons” written by Terrence McNally and
directed by Cathy Lee-Visscher, with performance dates as
follows: Jan. 20-22, 27-29, Feb. 3-5, 2017.
Moving into Spring, the Playhouse will present “Cabaret,” with the book by Joe Masteroff and music and lyrics
by John Kander and Fred Ebb. The show will be directed
by Matthew Teichner. Performance dates include March
17-19, 24-26, March 30-April 2, 2017.
Finishing next year’s season will be “True West,” written by Sam Shepard and directed by Patrick White. The
show will be presented on the following dates: May 19-21,
26-28, June 2-4, 2017.
The Ghent Playhouse is located at 6 Town Hall Place,
Ghent, NY. Performances are at 8 p.m. on Fridays and
Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays.
TT
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RANSPORT
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365 days a year.
800-639-9605
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9 Passenger 2014 MKT SUV Limousine
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35
`vibe
`
Tamarack Hollow
Wildflower arts
and music festival
Celebration will feature
music, crafts and dance
T
he Tamarack Hollow Nature &
Cultural Center Spring Wildflower
Full Moon Arts & Music Fest will
be held on Saturday May 21 from
6-10 p.m. at the Mt. Greylock State Reservation Visitor’s Center, 30 Rockwell Rd. in
Lanesborough(at the base of the mountain). This family-friendly, all-ages event will
feature Gaia Roots World Music Ensemble
West African & Caribbean drum, song &
dance; the Berkshire Rhythm Keepers; Full
Moon Hike with Director/Naturalist Aimee
Gelinas M.Ed and hike guide Sam Kissel;
Campfire jam/open mic with Chris Hairston
and Garret Caesar (bring your instruments!);
Tamarack Hollow Trading with Wildflower/Nature Crafts and Photos; Interactive
Wildflower Art activities w/ Elizabeth Kick;
Pittsfield City Hoopla and Serenity Circles
Hoola Hooping for all ages; Silent Auction;
Youth wildflower watercolor art exhibit
from the Youth Center Inc and Dalton CRA;
Food/Drink and edible wildflowers. $10
- 20+ suggested donations for adults/teens
`First
`
draft
A beer of
Epic-ness!
By Jesse Watkins
W
ell, it looks like the sunny
warm days have come to stay
and we all know
that’s perfect beer
drinking weather. This month I
decided to pick Epic Brewing’s Tart ‘n Juicy Sour IPA ,
because it fits two of my top
styles, IPA and Sours. I love
me a good sour and my favorite style is IPA and this one
hits the combo on the head!
These amazing brewers have
been crafting brews since 2010
and are located in both Salt
Lake City, Utah and Denver
Colorado. Time to drink!
I wandered into one of
my favorite beer bars in Lee,
Moe’s, and my eyes instantly
locked onto the Tart ‘n Juicy
Sour IPA on the beer menu. This
style is a newly emerging one and a very
hard one to make correctly. Usually during the “souring” process the hops are
muted significantly and don’t really shine
36
photo contributed
The Gaia Roots World Music Ensemble, made up of Patti Brinster, Aimee Gelinas, Shanti Starr and Lisa Newell, will perform as
part of the Tamarack Hollow Wildflower Full Moon Arts and Music Fest on May 21.
(youth 12 and under free). Event proceeds
go to support the Tamarack Hollow Nature
& Cultural Center, a non-profit tax-exempt
501c3 environmental education organization
conserving 32 acres of rare, high elevation
spruce-fir boreal forest and preparing to
build a sustainable nature center in Windsor,
MA. Purchase tickets (make donations) on
our website: www.tamarackhollownatureanin the final product. Epic has figured out
a way to “kettle sour” instead of “barrelaged souring” and still keep the freshness
of the essential hop compounds. The beer
is poured and set in front of me in a 13oz
beer snifter, Oooooo baby! It’s got that
golden glow with a slight haze and lots of
little bubbles floating to the top forming a
¼” head. As I put the beer up to my nose
I got notes of peaches, tangerines, grapefruit rind, and that oh so familiar lacto
nose that comes with a sour.
The hops were very light in
the aroma but hanging out in
the background with a touch
of pine. Once I took my first
sip, I was hooked. It started
out with that amazing balance
of stone fruits and sour citrus
and finished with a light lacto
bite, tropical fruits and citrus
rind. I could put back 5 or 6
of these easily and coming
in around 4.5% it I could
still function pretty normally.
Well, Epic looks like you
crushed it yet again with another killer brew. If you like
IPAs and are trying to get into
sour beers, this baby is for you!
It’s tart, hoppy but not super bitter, and
easy drinking, all the good things in life.
Go track down a 6-pack of Epic Brewing’s Tart ‘n Juicy and go sit down by the
river and soak up the rays!
dculturalcenter.org.
Supported by grants from the Northern
Berkshire Cultural Council, Berkshire Environmental Endowment Fund (Berkshire
Taconic Fund) and a Mass Cultural Council
Festivals grant.
Directions to the fest can be found at www.
mass.gov/mtgreylock. To RSVP & more
info visit: facebook.com/tamarackhollowna-
tureandculturalcenter
For more info, to volunteer or donate
a silent auction item email Director Aimee
Gelinas: [email protected]. Tamarack
Hollow Nature and Cultural Center’s
mission is to “Inspire environmental &
cultural awareness, appreciation & stewardship” www.tamarackhollownatureandculturalcenter.org.
Come see us soon in our new location!
126 South Main St., Lanesborough, MA
413-442-7723
`Film
`
`Must
`
See
The hilarious duo’s foray
into film solidifies their
place in comedy
Captain America:
Civil War
(May 6)
The third installment of
Marvel’s best film series
looks to be even better
than the previous two.
Go see this movie.
Key and
Peele shine
in ‘Keanu’
By eoin higgins
C
omedy Central’s Key and
Peele ended its five season
run in the fall of 2015. The
sketch show drew on the
complimentary talents of the eponymous creators and stars, Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, to craft
clever, quick, and solid comedy the
channel hadn’t seen since the genius of
the early 2000s Chappelle’s Show.
So it was sad to see the show go, not
least for the attendant fear that the stars
might go their
separate ways
►► “Keanu’s”
and/or lose the
success
magic that the
proves Keegan television sketch
michael-key and
format affords.
Jordan Peele
After watching
are certainly
their feature film
here to stay
debut, Keanu, I
can tell you with
a high degree of certainty that Key and
Peele are here to stay.
Keanu is a relatively formulaic
spoof of an action film. The bare bones
plot goes something like this: after a
devastating break up, Rell (Peele) finds
solace in a new kitten which he names
Keanu. Thing is, this kitten is the
former property of a crimelord who has
just been murdered by two silent killers known as the Allentown Brothers.
Meanwhile, Clarence (Key) is dealing
with his own deep seated insecurities
about his marriage and his all-tooeager-to-please personality.
After Rell’s home is broken into
and Keanu is stolen, the two men find
their redemption and character development in the search for the kitty. It’s a
paper thin plot, but it doesn’t matter.
It’s just there as the framing device for
Key and Peele’s unique humor.
Key and Peele play to their
strengths here, able to play both the
sensitive straight man and the manically over-sensitive nerd interchangeably. This was always one of the tenets
of Key and Peele’s sketches, allowing
each man to stretch comedically. It’s
used to wonderful effect when the ubersensitive Rell and Clarence are forced
by circumstance to assume the Allentown Brothers personas to fit in with
Photo contributed
When Rell’s (Jordan Peele) cat Keanu is stolen from his home, he and his friend
Clarence (Keegan Michael-Key) set out to retrieve the pet from the gang that stole it.
the Blips street gang.
The gang itself has any number of
laugh out loud moments in the film.
Clarence finds a new use for the team
building exercises you uses on corporate retreats with four gangbangers,
improving their communication and
communal bond.
Meanwhile, Rell and Hi-C, the
gang’s female member and second in
command to Method Man’s Cheddar,
develop a romance that is quite literally
bathed in blood. Tiffany Haddish, a
narrow best of the supporting players, plays Hi-C. Haddish has had some
success in serial television, but this role
may be a star-making turn in film.
Nia Long plays Clarence’s wife
Hannah whose weekend getaway is a
running subplot. Long has less to do
than Haddish, but she makes the best of
each appearance. She provides a nice
balance to Key’s uptight mania.
The film’s primary antagonist is
played by Method Man. Method Man is
serviceable as a pretty generic gangster with a soft spot for kittens. The
role’s not really built for much more
than being a vaguely threatening and
mean mugging villain, but the rapper’s
charisma puts as much character as possible into the role.
The other guest stars of note of note
are Luis Guzman and Anna Faris, playing a drug lord and herself respectively.
Guzman’s talent for the absurd works
well in the film, giving a two-dimensional character an added touch of the
odd. Faris plays the version of herself I
choose to believe is the real one.
All in all, Keanu is an enjoyable
action-comedy. The charisma of the
stars complements their uniquely biting
and absurdist comic style. The movie’s
story, while only a bare bones plot device for the duo, is entertaining enough
to maintain audience attention for the
runtime of 98 minutes.
Hopefully this won’t be the last
time we see Key and Peele together.
Each man has a number of projects
in production that doesn’t involve the
other. From a career standpoint this
makes a lot of sense: it’s hard to have
staying power in the game without
showing versatility and range. From a
selfish standpoint this is a bittersweet
pill to swallow for fans of Key and
Peele who want to see them together
onscreen more often.
The Nice Guys
(May 20)
Russell Crowe (L.A.
Confidential) and Ryan
Gosling (Lars and the
Real Girl) star in a
crime drama set in late
1970s Los Angeles.
This flick looks better
with every preview.
X-Men: Apocalypse
(May 27)
Enjoy this film, the latest in the X-Men series,
while you can because
something tells me director Bryan Singer is going
to be this generation’s
Roman Polanski sooner
rather than later.
37
Classifieds413-528-5380 Ext. 38
To place your classified ad(s), please call
YOUR CONNECTION TO BERKSHIRE County buyers & sellers
Fax: 413-528-9449 • Email: [email protected]
• Deadlines
15th of the month before that month’s issue
• Submitting your ad
EMAIL: [email protected]
FAX: Fax copy to 413-528-9449
MAIL: P.O. Box 868, Great Barrington, MA 01230
`help
`
wanted
JOIN OUR GROWING TEAM
Central/South County Opportunities
BFAIR is opening new residential homes for people living with Acquired Brain Injury
NOW HIRING
Direct Care Workers in Pittsfield & West Stockbridge
LPNs, RN
Part to Full Time Maintenance Worker in Pittsfield
BFAIR OFFERS
• Competitive pay & benefits • 40 hour orientation program & on-site training
• Advancement opportunities • $500 sign on bonus for new programs
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older, have a HS Diploma/GED & a valid driver’s license
All offers of employment are made contingent upon successful state and federal
background checks as well as a driving record check
Apply at www.bfair.org • AA/EOE
NOW HIRING
76 North Street, Pittsfield, MA 1201
Apply directly online at
www.unitedpersonnel.com
or call 413-449-5050 for more information.
HOW GREAT PEOPLE GET TO WORK
SPRINGFIELD
38
|
PITTSFIELD
|
EASTHAMPTION
24 R
U
O
H
TOWING
JUNK CARS WANTED
ROAD SERVICE
• Jump starts
• Change tires
WE BUY SCRAP METAL
• Container Service
Tel. 443-1635
SAYER’S AUTO WRECKING
Potter Mountain Road • Pittsfield 01201
• Serving Berkshire County •
AUTO TECH
REPAIR
Brake Jobs • Suspension Work • Rust Work
Engine/Transmission Replacement & More
Used Auto Sales at Affordable Prices
Raul H. Villalobos, Owner
Office: (413) 464-7013 • Cell: (413) 329-5978
E-Mail: [email protected]
Open 7 days a week
Computer Repair
High Speed DSL
Web Hosting
Seasonal DSL
No Landline Required
1 East Hoosac Street
413-743-7044
Adams, MA
www.BCN.net
39
Èat
`
Shire City
lassos-up the
grub and West
Stockbridge’s
Farmer’s market
returns in May
Food Truck Rodeo
3rd annual event to benefit
Pittsfield’s Giving Garden
O
n May 7, the Shire City Sanctuary, a former Notre Dame church
that has been converted into a
makerspace for and by artists,
will play host to two exciting events.
The first of these events is Pittsfield’s
3rd annual Food Truck Rodeo, which the
Sanctuary will be hosting for the second
year in a row. The event will take place
from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Vendors include
the Chuck Wagon, Flavors of Lebanon,
Desperados, Lucia’s Latin Kitchen, and
Aurora’s Gypsy Wagon. Live music during
the event will be provided by Blind Inspi-
`Book
`
review
Rebecca Traister’s
‘All the Single
Ladies’
By julia r. hobart
Q
uite suddenly, people are freer
to take off in a number of
directions, and they are taking
advantage of that freedom.
That diversity of behavior
is startling. It’s different,
uncharted, and admittedly
a little scary.” (236)
From the start I have
been cooing over this
book. I am excited about
the information flowing
through these pages. I did
not read it because I was
looking for validation
of my single status, but
rather because the title is
as catchy as the song it is
named after.
First and foremost,
“All The Single Ladies”
is about trends in marriage and the need for equal rights for
woman who are choosing another route.
It is about the stigma surrounding those
“
40
ration. Local beer and wine concessions
will be sold by Shire City Sanctuary. All
ages are welcome and there will be plenty
of activities geared towards children.
Proceeds from vendor fees as well as $1
from each beer sold will go to the Giving
Garden. For more information go to shirecitysanctuary.org.
Simultaneously, the inaugural Berkshire climate and sustainability fair, entitled
“Living the Change,” will be held 11 a.m.-11
p.m. at The Shire City Sanctuary as well.
The event is free and open to all.
The fair features a full day of activities,
including presentations, community dialogue
sessions, youth art and activities, music
and food, as well as vendor and non-profit
booths. For more details, contact Uli Nagel
[email protected]
Shire City Sanctuary is located at 40
Melville Street in Pittsfield’s Upstreet Cultural District and is a creative repurposing
of the historic Notre Dame church building. A community arts makerspace and
eventspace, Shire City Sanctuary houses a
screen printing shop, sewing lab, commercial kitchen, meeting space, studios,
and cyber offices in the makerspace on the
lower level. The former church sanctuary upstairs serves as a 5,000 square foot
eventspace for performances, installations,
special events, weddings and more, and is
available for rent. For more information
visit shirecitysanctuary.org.
women choosing to not marry or cohabitate, even though more and more women
choose to remain single and do so happily.
There may be nothing earthshattering
about this book for many people (particularly for 25-45 year olds). Singlehood is
simply the norm for many women these
days. What may seem groundbreaking is
that it is a choice and not an unwelcome
circumstance. For many who came into
adulthood before the 1990’s, that is a new
concept.What Rebecca Traister manages
to do in this book is lay out how this
evolution has and is still
happening. She covers all
the bases: career, money,
sex, companionship,
solitude, parenthood, and
the political and social implications. Although you
cannot completely generalize this rising group of
independent women, she
approaches the subject
quite well and with strong
feminist views.I want
everyone I know to read
this book: The women,
the men, the single, and
the married. I could list all
the passages I marked and
dog-eared along the way, but I will let you
find them on your own.
photo contributed
Last year’s Food Truck Rodeo, the first to be hosted at the Shire City Sanctuary, drew
large crowds of foodies from across Berkshire County.
Thursday Markets
Fifth season of West
Stockbridge Farmer’s
Markets begins
T
he West Stockbridge Farmer’s
Market opens its fifth season on
Thursday, May 19 from 3-7 p.m.
on Harris Street in West Stockbridge, also known as Merritt Green. The
event will not only include the selling of
local foods and produce, it will also include
a number of events, culinary delights from
local chefs, live music and a raffle.
Chef Tony of Rolling Rock Farm
will lead a cooking demonstration titled,
“Something Special.” The musical guest
for this opening market will be Ryan Hollander.
Current writer-in-residence at Herman
Melville’s Arrowhead, located in Pittsfield,
will be in attendance at this firs market of
the fifth season, along with her latest work
of fiction, “The Twelfth Stone.”
The West Stockbridge Farmer’s Markets
will continue to be held every Thursday from
May 19 through October 6, rain or shine.
Keep an eye on their website, weststockbridgefarmersmarket.org for events and
guests to be featured at upcoming markets.
BEER BBQ PIZZA
COMING TO SHEFFIELD
THIS SPRING/SUMMER!
bashbishbrewing.com
facebook.com/bashbishbrewing
5
95
AUTHENTIC MEXICAN CUISINE
Wings • Pasta • Soups • Sandwiches • Salads
Steak • Chicken • Veal • Pasta • Seafood
Extensive Breakfast, Lunch
& Vegetarian Menu
Try Our Corned Beef Hash
Full Bar & Several Beers On Tap
Gift Certificates Available
Daily Breakfast & Lunch Specials
370 Pecks Rd., Pittsfield
(413) 236-5727
Open Daily 11 am - Midnight
95
123 Elm St., Pittsfield
(413) 447-9375
Mon-Fri:
5am-2pm
Mon-Fri:
5am-2pm
5am-12:30pm
Sat:Sat:
5am-12:30pm
Joanne Longton, Proprietor
Tasty breakfast,
& lunch
options, all
made in-house
and fresh.
s
s
413.442.3567
Mon-Fri 6:30am-2:30pm • Sat 7am-2:30pm • Sun 7am-1:30pm
451 Dalton Ave., Pittsfield, MA
543 South Main Street
Lanesborough, MA 01237
Hours: Tues-Fri 7:30–12:00 • Sat & Sun 7:00-2:00
A U T H E N T I C
M E X I C A N
C U I S I N E
~ Open 7 Days a Week for Lunch & Dinner ~
95
s
1245 West Housatonic St., Route 20, Pittsfield
Full gluten-free menu
Something for everyone!
Family-friendly dining
95
0
0
Join us for
Mother’s
Day!
LANESBOROUGH, MA
5
0
0
5
5
0
0
0
5
For our full menu, visit:
www.iberkshires.com/flosdiner
Like us on facebook to see our weekly specials
156 NORTH STREET, PITTSFIELD, MA • 413.499.2266
~ Open 7 Days a Week for Lunch & Dinner ~
1 5 6 N O R T H S T R E E T, P I T T S F I E L D , M A
•
413.499.2266
APPETIZERS
Voted “Best Margarita”
by the Berkshire Eagle
Cocktail de Camaron....................10.95
Shimp Cocktail Mexican Style w/ cilantro,
onions, special tomato sauce & avocado.
Quesadilla.................................7.95
Chicken, Steak, Veggie or Cactus.
APPETIZERS
Rebosos con Mole..........................6.50
2 corn tortillas filled w/plantain, topped
w/Mole Poblano & Sesame seeds w/cheese.
Empanadas.......................................5.95
3 puffed corn masa patties filled with seasoned ground beef and potato.
Flautas..............................................7.95
5 crispy taquitos filled w/meat, topped
w/guacamole, crema, lettuce, green sauce
& cotija cheese.
Tostadas (chicken or steak)..........7.95
2 crispy corn tortilla topped w/refried
beans, lettuce, tomato, salsa, Mexican
cream, guacamole and cheese.
Cocktail de Camaron.. . . . . . . . . .10.95 Quesadil a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.95
Chicken, Steak, Veggie or Cactus.
Tamal....4.50
Cheese Nachos....5.95
Jalapeño Poppers..4.95
Fr. Fries..4.50
Mozzarella Sticks..............................4.95
Nachos w/Steak, Chicken, Chili or
Sopes (Pork, Chicken or Steak)...8.95
3 corn patties topped with beans, lettuce,
Mexican cream, salsa and guacamole.
Panchos Sampler............................30.00
3 empanadas, 2 tamal, 1 fried plantain, 3
quesadillas, 2 chorizos, 2 flautas, gua-
413-448-8112
Breakfast Al
Breakfast All Day
Delicious &Delicious
Very Affordable
and Very
Fruit
Filled Crepes
Pancakes
Fruit
Filled• Blueberry
Crepes
• Blueberry Pan
Belgian Waffles • Egg White Omlets • Fresh Fruit
Egg White Omelets •
Eggs Benedict
Daily Specials and Alway
andChoices
Always Fresh
DailyDaily
SpecialsSpecials
& Always Fresh
Great
Service
•
Friendly
Atmosph
Friendly
Atmosphere
Great Service
• Friendly
Atmosphere • Wednes
Wednesday Senior Discounts
Shepherd’s Pie • Fresh
Fresh Seafood Daily •Clam
Hot SoupsStrip
• Reubens
Dinner • Sc
Homemade Spaghetti & Meatballs
Homemade Spaghett
Salads • Wraps • Meatloaf Dinner
Meatloaf Din
St St.
Luke
Square
EastSt.,
Street
• Pittsfield
• (413) 499-11
Luke
Square •• 511
511 East
Pittsfield
• (413) 499-1180
Wed, Thu & Fri 6:30–2:30 • Sat & Sun 6:30-1 • Closed Mon & Tue
41
ènjoy
`
the view
W
elcome to The View’s selfie
page where you can enjoy
views from View readers
throughout the county just
like you. Send us your best selfies: funny
selfies, celebration selfies, photo booth
selfies, animal/pet selfies, workout selfies,
mirror selfies, game selfies, celebrity
selfies, sunrise or sunset selfies, weather
selfies, photobomb selfies, family selfies,
team selfies or even selfie stick selfies.
To submit your selfie(s), send images(s)
to [email protected]. Include your
name(s), location and any other important
information.
Adam and Heather of Mezzie’s Variety in
Pittsfield look over the View.
Clifford Ross and Clark Winter spend some
time in the MASS MoCA galleries.
Jets fan Bryan Parrott ponders what could have been had Eric Mahl stayed with his
favorite New York football team while reading Josh Sullivan’s cover story.
West side CloCk shop
Specializing in Repairs & Sales
Specializing in repairs and sales of antique & modern
clocks. Howard Miller dealer and repair center.
Black forest cukoo clocks and much more!
449 North St., Pittsfield
413-442-5484
MEMBER OF A.W.C.C.
Mon–Sat 10–4:30 • Wed 10-Noon
We make housecalls for
Grandfather clocks
www.westsideclockshop.com
42
Kevin Flynn, owner of Jake’s Variety, checks
out an issue of the Berkshire View.
View music editor Clelia Sweeney and her
mother read the View in Virginia.
check out
THE Berkshire View’s
NEW weBSITE
THEBERKSHIREVIEW.COM
Read & Comment on stories,
Get the latest events & concert Info
And stay informed...
BERKSHIRE
The berkshires’ alternative newspaper
New Location!
Coming Soon!
296 Main St., Williamstown
fine jeweler
43
Mattress
Mattress Sale
Sale
Full Set
Queen Set
King Set
$299
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Queen Set
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Avalon
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bedding • furniture
home entertainment
Berkshire Mall, Lanesboro, MA • 413-445-8800
44
Mon - Sat 10am - 9pm • Sunday 11am - 6pm

How local law enforcement agencies are turning into paramilitary

Transcription

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