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Berkshires Beat: Berkshire United Way Celebrates Day of Caring
12:51PM / Monday, July 03, 2017
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A rising kindergartner decorates a thank you mural at Child Care of the Berkshires in North Adams on June 21. This was one of several activities available to incoming kindergartners and their families during the Day of Caring, a countywide, collaborative event coordinated by the Williamstown Community Chest, Northern Berkshire United Way and Berkshire United Way.


A rising kindergartner receives a Literacy Backpack at the Dalton CRA on June 21.

Caring and sharing: Berkshire United Way held its 2017 Day of Caring on July 21.  Day of Caring is the name United Way has used to represent volunteer engagement and community building. In the past, Berkshire United Way Day of Caring initiatives have included the installation of 50 Berkshire Book Houses, Born Learning Trails at Muddy Brook Elementary School in Great Barrington and Durant and Springside Parks in Pittsfield to enhance literacy.  Volunteers have painted classrooms and held book drives in support of education, cleaned the Housatonic River in Great Barrington, and held countywide forums with youth called "You First" to help them build aspirations.

At the heart of the 2017 event was distribution of 1,200 "literacy backpacks" - one for every incoming kindergarterner in Berkshire County. With support from Berkshire Bank, each backpack was assembled into a kit containing essential resources for school readiness and tools to build literacy skills. The backpacks were distributed at eight pop-up parties throughout Berkshire County. Each unique party featured a variety of family-friendly activities such as storytimes, crafts, games, even an opportunity to hop on a school bus.

The program was made possible with the collaborative efforts of the Williamstown Community Chest, Northern Berkshire United Way, the Williamstown Youth Center, Child Care of the Berkshires in North Adams, Boys and Girls Club of the Berkshires, Dalton CRA, Lenox Community Center, Lee Bank in Lee, Berkshire South Regional Community Center, and Bushnell-Sage Library in Sheffield and the support of numerous civic, non-profit and business partners throughout the community. To celebrate the hard work of this initiative and all volunteers involved, Berkshire United Way hosted a Movers + Shakers dance party celebration at Hancock Shaker Village on June 23. The dance party, led by DJ BFG, featured farm-to-table snacks and pop-up performances by local talent.

In addition to the backpacks and activities, 28 businesses and restaurants participated in the 2017 Day of Caring event by giving a generous one-time gift of $250 to Berkshire United Way. County residents were encouraged to shop and dine at these businesses, which featured a "We Care" Day of Caring 2017 decal on site.



Rainbow connections: Rainbow Seniors of Berkshire County is launching two new monthly meetings of its program serving the social and cultural needs of the county's LGBTQ senior citizens. This brings to five the number of monthly meetings run by Rainbow Seniors, in addition to special events and outings.

A new meeting serving South County will begin on Saturday, July 8, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Stockbridge, 4 Main St. The group will continue to meet on the second Saturday of each month. Saturday, July 22, from 2 to 4 p.m. will see the inaugural meeting of the new Women's Group in the Garden Room of the Unitarian Universalist Church, 175 Wendell Avenue, in Pittsfield. The group will continue to meet on the fourth Saturday of every month.

Rainbow Seniors' programming is able to grow thanks to the growing number of LGBTQ senior volunteers eager to spread the group's message and services to all the parts of the county. Volunteers Abby Turner and Celia Rock will facilitate the conversations at the Women's Group, while volunteer Drew Herzig will helm the South County meetings. As with the launch of Rainbow Seniors' three other groups, the new meetings will begin with an open exploration of what the members would like to see their group do and be.


Playground program: The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition and the Northern Berkshire YMCA have partnered to offer a free summer playground program at the UNO Community Center on 157 River St. in North Adams this summer. Children ages 8 and up can drop by between the hours of 9 a.m. and noon Monday through Friday for outdoor recreation, arts and crafts, and other fun games under the supervision of experienced staff.

The program runs from July 10 to Aug. 18. Children will have access to the community center, and playground and park on Houghton Street. For more information, contact Geoff Pawlowski at the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition at 413-663-7588, ext. 22. Registration is not required and children under the age of 8 are welcome to attend with adult supervision.

 

Telling the story: Under the fiscal umbrella of the Sandisfield Arts Center, a group formed to write a comprehensive history of Sandisfield's Jewish farm colony has received a $500 grant from the Wasserman-Streit Y'DIYAH Memorial Fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. The goal of the Y'DIYAH Memorial Fund is to exemplify the universality inherent in all people, according each, and in respect for, the variety of differences in ethnicity or practices which inform their humanity without falsification, harm or distortion.  

The 250-page history book is titled "Soil and Shul in the Berkshires: The Untold Story of Sandisfield's Jewish Farm Colony." The main theme is the nearly forgotten, but fascinating story of how refugee-immigrant families who escaped the pogroms in Eastern Europe in the early 20th Century fared as farmers in the remote Berkshire Hills. Chapters on social, economic, cultural and religious life through the years will be followed by family histories and selected genealogies including vintage photographs and biographies of interesting personalities in the town. To pre-order a copy of the book, which debuts in the fall of 2018, email info@sandisfieldartscenter.org.

Jews were the largest ethnic group to establish roots in Sandisfield in the 20th century. They arrived when the town's economic situation was perhaps at its lowest point. They rejuvenated the town socially and economically. They settled on old or abandoned farmsteads and bought deteriorating historic homes and businesses, thereby preserving the rich historic character of the town that residents value and appreciate today.  

 

Weekend to care: The Berkshire Family YMCA will hold "A Weekend to Change Lives from July 15-17, featuring events to support the Y’s Annual Campaign. All proceeds will be applied towards our scholarship program which provides financial assistance to our community members to access childcare, membership, programs and more.

Miles that Matter, a 10K race, will start and end at the Adams Visitor Center on Saturday, July 15. Registration starts at 7 a.m. with the race beginning at 8 a.m. Packet pick up is July 14 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Pittsfield and Northern Berkshire branches. The first 150 runners will receive a shirt. In conjunction, the "Families that Play Together" free family day will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, featuring youth tie dye dash, water safety table, face painting and grilled hamburgers/hot dogs from 11 a.m.-noon. The youth tie dye dash starts at 10 a.m.; bring a white shirt. The first 70 participants receive sunglasses.

Later on Saturday, a comedy show and wine/beer tasting spotlighting McQueen Adams from Comedy Central and opening act comedian Greg Barris will be held at Berkshire Community College's Boland Theater, 1350 West St., Pittsfield. The cost is $25 per ticket at the door or in advance at the Y's Pittsfield and Northern Berkshire Branches. Purchase tickets also by calling the Y at 413-499-7650 and pickup at the event.

Then on Monday, July 17, "Help Us Drive Our Cause," the 17th annual golf tournament, will be held at Waubeeka Golf Links in Williamstown. Golfers play 18 holes with carts, raffles, par-3 contests and straight drive contest. Receive a free golf gift, lunch and dinner. The cost is $125 per hole or tee sponsor and $500 per team. For more information, go to the website.
 

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