Miss Hall's School in Pittsfield will host a school fair Tuesday, Sept. 24, which will include schools from across the county and surrounding areas. Photo courtesy Miss Hall's School

Bits & Bytes: Berkshire County School Fair; Lenox Library construction; West Main Connection open house; Bennington College Young Writers Awards; Diaper Need Awareness Week

The Lenox Library will be closed for construction starting Tuesday, Sept. 24, and will open again Tuesday, Oct. 1.

County-wide school fair to be held

Pittsfield — The first annual Berkshire County School Fair will be held Tuesday, Sept. 24, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Miss Hall’s School.

The fair was organized in response to the changing education landscape in the Berkshires, and families increasingly seeking information on specific programs and teaching methods offered at local schools. The 21 schools/districts that will have tables at the fair are the Academy at Charlemont, Bard College at Simon’s Rock, BART Charter Public School, Berkshire Country Day School, Berkshire School, the Berkshire Hills Regional School District, Buxton School, the Central Berkshire Regional School District, the Darrow School, Lee Public Schools, Lenox Public Schools, the Marvelwood School, Miss Hall’s School, the Montessori School of the Berkshires, Mount Everett Regional School, North Adams Public Schools, Pine Cobble School, St. Agnes Academy, St. Mary’s School, St. Stanislaus Kostka School and Salisbury School.

For more information, contact Meagan Ireland at (413) 395-7041 or mireland@misshalls.org.

–E.E.

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Lenox Library to close for construction

The Lenox Library. Photo courtesy Lenox Library

Lenox — The Lenox Library will be closed for construction starting Tuesday, Sept. 24, and will open again Tuesday, Oct. 1.

The reason for the closure is to allow the library to install a new, first-floor information desk in the current new materials area. Built-in shelving for the library’s new materials will flank the fireplace, taking cues from the classic details of the existing trim work. The room, on the first floor of the library building, once housed the registry of deeds when Lenox was county seat for Berkshire County. In 1903, the library appropriated this space from the recently vacated Lenox National Bank, after alterations by James Clifford’s sons.

The renovation is funded by a gift from the late William W. Goessel, who wanted to honor his wife, Nancy, an ardent supporter of the Lenox Library.

–E.E.

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West Main Connection youth initiative to hold open house

North Adams — 18 Degrees and North Adams Mayor Thomas Bernard have announce the launch of West Main Connection, an expansion of the 18 Degrees Safe and Successful Youth Initiative. Community members are invited to meet the staff and learn more about the program at an open house Tuesday, Sept. 24, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the new West Main Connection offices at 6 West Main St.

With funding provided through the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Health and Human Services, West Main Connection will provide services that engage young people ages 17-24 years old who are at highest risk of being involved in criminal and/or gang activity. The program employs street outreach, case management and mental health services (provided in partnership with the Brien Center) to support young people and connect them to community resources. The goal of the program is to promote positive youth development and divert young people from activities that may lead them deeper into the criminal justice system.

For more information or to register for the open house, contact (413) 448-8281 x219 or info@18degreesma.org.

–E.E.

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High school students invited to submit to Bennington College Young Writers Awards

Bennington, Vt. — Bennington College is now accepting submissions from high school students nationwide for its 2019-20 Young Writers Awards.

This annual competition accepts entries in poetry, fiction and nonfiction; is free to enter; and is open to high school students in 10th, 11th and 12th grades. A first-, second-, and third-place winner will be selected in each of the categories, with cash prizes from $125-$500 awarded. Submissions for the 2019-20 Young Writers Awards will be accepted through Friday, Nov. 1. Winners will be announced in spring 2020.

For more information, contact Bennington College at (802) 442-5401 or communications@bennington.edu.

–E.E.

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Diaper Need Awareness Week to benefit local families

Berkshire County — After receiving letters from the Berkshire Community Diaper Project and several other community-based organizations, Gov. Charlie Baker, Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer and North Adams Mayor Thomas Bernard have issued proclamations encouraging the citizens of Massachusetts to donate to diaper banks, diaper drives, and organizations that collect and distribute diapers to households struggling with diaper needs during National Diaper Need Awareness Week Sept. 23-29.

BCDP is an all-volunteer organization that collects diaper donations and tax-deductible monetary donations for the purchase of diapers for families in need throughout Berkshire County. BCDP has distributed 750,000 diapers to families in the Berkshires since 2014. More than 500 families depend on BCDP to supplement their diaper supply.

On Saturday, Sept. 28, BCDP board members will visit the Great Barrington Farmers’ Market to accept donations as well as hold a raffle for a handmade coffee table made and donated by local woodworker Stan Skriloff. Also on Saturday, Sept. 28, Arizona Pizza in Lenox will donate 20% of the bills of those who dine to donate.

For more information, contact the Berkshire Community Diaper Project at (413) 269-0138.

–E.E.