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Summer 2004
  Articles on this page: • Veterans' Services • Cultural Institutions • Performing Arts Veterans' Services Department of Veterans' Services Pittsfield City Hall, 70 Allen St., Room 204, 499-9433. The Department assists around 1,200 veterans each year. Services include assistance with pensions, insurance, hospitalization payments, home loans and record keeping. Working with other veterans' organizations, the office also assists in arranging burial services, grave marker upkeep and commemorative services. American Legion Charles Persip Post 68 41 Wendell Ave., 443-9853. Meets monthly on the first Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Open to veterans who have served during active wars. Services include arranging military funerals. The post also raises funds for scholarships and charities. Disabled American Veterans' Chapter 15 73 Eagle St.,445-4813 and 634-5027. Meets monthly on the second Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion post. Members will assist disabled veterans who are in need of transportation or other support. Italian American Veterans Father Contino Post #75 Mt. Carmel Parish Church, 359 Fenn St. Meets on the fourth Monday at 7:00 p.m. Raises funds for scholarships or to assist needy veterans and provides other support. Jewish War Veterans' of the United States of America 196 South St. 443-0231. The local chapter was founded in 1935. The group meets at the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires. Marine Corp League Polish Community Center on Linden Street, 442-4550. Meets on the first Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Open to all Marines. VA Outpatient Clinic 73 Eagle St., 499-2672 is affiliated with the Veterans' Administration Medical Center in Northhampton. Programs include medical and psychiatric clinics, nursing services, and therapy groups. Veterans' of Foreign Wars 36 Linden St., 443-2149. Meets monthly on the first Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Open to veterans who have served overseas in certain areas and time frames. Veterans' Outreach Center 152 North St., 499-0256. The Vietnam Veterans' Mobile Family Service project is based here. Services include transportation, food pantry and information on benefits. Vietnam Veterans' of America, Berkshire Chapter 65 255 North St., 442-6105. This group is responsible for the erection of a granite memorial in Park Square honoring those who served in Vietnam. Cultural Institutions Arrowhead 780 Holmes Rd., 442-1793, www.Mobydick.org Arrowhead was the home of Herman Melville from 1850-1863. He was the famous American author who wrote Moby Dick. The restored home is open daily in the summer and in winter by appointment. Special events take place throughout the year. June - Columbus Day, Open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Berkshire Athenaeum 1 Wendell Ave., 499-9480, www.berkshire.net/Pittsfield Library. Ronald Latham, director. The Library's recently refurbished children's department - 499-9483 - offers many activities throughout the year. Other features include a local history and genealogy department, 499-9486: reading rooms, books on tape, recorded music, a repository of public documents relating to the cleanup of the Housatonic River and other projects that involve public comment, as well as computer terminals and microfilm. Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum provide support through an annual book sale and special events. There are more than 150,000 books in the collection. Open Monday through Thursday 9 - 9, Friday 9 - 5 and Saturday 10 - 5. Hours may change throughout the year. Berkshire County Historical Society Arrowhead, 780 Holmes Rd., 442-1793. Formed to collect, preserve and present the history of Berkshire County and to preserve and restore Arrowhead, the farmhouse in which Herman Melville completed Moby Dick and other works between 1850 and 1863. The Society is based at Arrowhead, a national landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Society also provides lectures, exhibits and educational programs for schools and maintains the Margaret H. Hall Archives, a collection of records and artifacts relating to the county and the inhabitants. Berkshire Jewish Film Festival Congregation Knesset Israel, 16 Colt Rd., 445-4872, www.knessetisrael.org. Eighteen season of American and International Jewish films. Monday evenings during July and August at 7:30 p.m. Advance reservations are accepted. Berkshire Law Library Superior Court House, 76 East St., 442-5059. Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Berkshire Museum 39 South St., 443-7171, www.berkshiremuseum.org. The museum was a gift from Zenas Crane of Dalton and originally called the Berkshire Museum of Natural History and Art. This combination has resulted in a wide-ranging collection displayed in 18 galleries. Dioramas depicting animal life, specimens of local and foreign flora and fauna, sea life, an Egyptian mummy and rocks that glow in the dark are favorites for visiting families. Museum hours: Monday through Saturdays 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sundays 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Open Mondays during July and August. Closed on certain holidays. Admission varies but is free to members. There are special rates for groups and guides are available. Berkshire Museum's Little Cinema 39 South St., 443-7171. Screens the finest U.S. and foreign films. Shown nightly from May - September at 8:00 p.m., Monday matinees at 2:00 p.m. Berkshire Artisans 28 Renne Ave., 499-9348. www.berkshireweb.com/artisans. The Berkshire Artisans is housed in the Lichenstein Center for the Arts, a small brick building offering gallery and studio space and dedicated to supporting the arts in many forms. Shows, classes and exhibitions are held through the year. Artists may rent workspaces. Hancock Shaker Village Route 20, just west of the junctions of Routes 20 & 41. 443-0188, www.hancockshakervillege.org. Larry Yerdon, executive director. A 200 year old restored Shaker site and working farm. Open year round, the Village presents changing exhibitions, programs, tours and talks as well as hands-on activities and in-character portrayals that explore Shaker life. A diversity of seasonal special events, workshops, and school programs are offered. Pittsfield Visitor's Center 121 South St., 395-0105. General area tourism information. June - August, Monday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (call for hours September to May) Silvia O. Conte National Records Center 10 Conte Dr., 236-3600. Housing the National Archives and Records Administration, Pittsfield Regional Archives and Pittsfield Federal Record Center. Major genealogy collection. Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Storefront Artist Project 442-9000 ext. 6281. Newly formed organization to help place working artists in vacant storefronts in downtown Pittsfield. An innovative collaboration between artists, local landlords, and the public now includes 24 artists. Sponsors events in the downtown area. Performing Arts Albany Berkshire Ballet 51 North St., 445-5382. Professional ballet company known for its annual performance of 'The Nutcracker' as well as other works. Associated with the Cantarella School of the Dance, Madeline Cantarella Culpo, artistic director. Berkshire Highlanders Eileen Murphy, 447-7050. Award-winning non-profit organization founded to promote appreciation of Highland bagpipes and Gaelic drumming. Instruction is available. Open rehearsals are held on Wednesdays at South Congregational Church at 7:00 p.m. and are open to the public. Berkshire Hills Chorus/Sweet Adelines 445-7131. Women's BarberShop chorus. Meets Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Pilgrim Memorial Church, 249 Wahconah St. Interested women can drop by a rehersal or cal the above telephone number. Berkshire Hillsmen 442-7293. The Pittsfield Chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America meets every Monday at 7:30 p.m. at St. Stephen's Church. All men interested in singing the a cappella harmony of barbershop music are welcome. Berkshire Lyric Theater 499-0258, www.berkshirelyric.org. Founded over 35 years ago by current Artistic Director, Robert P. Blafield, the chorus performs classical works throughout the year. Rehearsals are on Mondays at 7:15 p.m. at the Unitarian Church. Berkshire Music Hall Union St., 499-5575. Theater and performing arts center. Year-round theatre featuring music, movies and theater productions. During summer of 2004 will feature two productions with the Pittsfield Colonial Theatre. Berkshire Music School 30 Wendell Ave., 442-1411. Incorporated in 1940 with Mrs. Bruce Crane of Dalton as president, the Community Music School's mission has been to make musical training available to all. To that end, scholarships and other aid are offered to qualifying students. Both professionals and students give performances. Berkshire Opera Company 297 North St., 442-9955. www.berkshireopera.org. Offers Opera productions during the summer. Colonial Theatre 111 South St., 448-8084. www.colonialtheatre.org. Historic Theatre build in 1903. Restoration in process. Tours available. Country Life Dance and Music Society 499-7105, Dave O'Connor-contact. Contra dancing with live music at 8:00p.m. monthly on the second Saturday at the Pittsfield Grange. DeLugan Ballroom Dance Club 442-9581. Classes in ballroom, country western and line dancing at the DeLugan Studio, 335 Fenn St. Dances are held at the Dalton American Legion or the Crowne Plaza. Eagles Band 499-2071. This 45-piece community band is in its 64th season. Free concerts are given during the summer at Springside House and other locations. Shaker Mountain Opera Koussevitsky Arts Center, Berkshire Community College, 997-2919 and (800)588-9757, www.shakermountainopoera.org. Performances in dance, theatre, opera and recitals during the summer. South Mountain Concerts Routes 7 & 20 (2 miles South of Pittsfield center),P.O. Box 23, 442-2106. Chamber Music Concerts: September 5, 12, 19, & 26 and October 3 on Sundays at 3:00 p.m. Town Players of Pittsfield 148 Lebanon Ave., 443-9279, www.townplayers.org. A community theater company that presents three productions a year. Walden Chamber Players 442 West Housatonic St., 586-8438, www.waldenchamberplayers.org. World class chamber music concerts and educational programs.  RETURN TO TOP |
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