Town honors first responders to Dresser Avenue fire
Great Barrington — Selectboard Chairman Sean Stanton and Town Manager Jennifer Tabakin would like to recognize the brave work of the first responders who were on scene at the Dresser Avenue fire over the weekend and thank the volunteers who assisted with support services.On Saturday, Dec. 10, at 2:51 p.m., the Great Barrington Fire Department responded to 26 Dresser Ave. Heavy smoke and flames engulfed the first floor of the home with extension to the second floor. Lead rescuers at the fire include Police Sgt. Adam Carlotto, Officer Samuel Stolzar, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Brian Clay and Great Barrington firefighter Ricky Aloisi. They arrived within minutes, learned that a 76-year-old man was trapped inside, and were able to get him to safety by removing him from a first-floor window.
Also on the scene were the Great Barrington Fire Department Support Team led by Deborah Ball, with Jenn Baily, Betty Burger, Heather Barbieri, Tammy Touponce and others. They served more than 100 sandwiches along with coffee, chips, pizza and drinks to more than 50 firefighters. Great Barrington’s building inspector Ed May was also present, as was Joe Wilkinson Excavating, which reported to the site on Sunday to do critical demolition work.
Fewer than 15 hours later, police and fire personnel returned to the home after the fire rekindled and completely destroyed the residence. All seven of the occupants are now displaced. Berkshire Hills Regional School District guidance counselor Dom Sacco, Multicultural BRIDGE and the American Red Cross immediately reached out to the family to offer and coordinate support services.
On Sunday, Dec. 18, from 7 to 9 p.m., the Lucky 5 will perform at the Prairie Whale and will donate all tips received from their performance to the family whose home was lost. A GoFundMe page has also been set up to help the family.
–E.E.
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Young Choreographers Initiative performance at Berkshire Pulse
Housatonic — On Saturday, Dec. 17, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Berkshire Pulse will host a works-in-progress showing of choreography and improvisation created and performed by students in its Young Choreographers’ Initiative including Tess Ackiewicz, Charlotte Adelson, Laura Coe, Katherine Humes, Brighton Sawyer, Juniper Shalles and Sonora Malik.
During last summer’s dance intensive, a group of Berkshire Pulse students explored choreography as a craft in two weeks of daily classes with study of both improvisational and structured techniques. The enthusiasm and interest with which the students met their challenges warranted continuation, and a fall choreography workshop with teaching artist Susan Quinn.
The performance is free but donations are appreciated and will be designated to launch and foster educational workshops and events for the Young Choreographers Initiative. Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP, as seating is limited, to berkshire.pulse@gmail.com.
–E.E.
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Berkshire Lyric to present ‘Sweet Was the Song’
Pittsfield — Berkshire Lyric will present “Sweet was the Song,” a concert of Christmas music, on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and on Sunday Dec. 18, at 3 p.m. at the Lee Congregational Church in Lee.
The concerts are expanded versions of Berkshire Lyric’s Stockbridge Main Street concert on Saturday, Dec. 3. The 80-voice Berkshire Lyric Chorus will be joined by the Blafield Children’s Chorus in two identical choral programs of some of the most beloved music of the season. They will be led by Berkshire Lyric Artistic Director Jack Brown accompanied by Joe Rose, and will feature guest soprano soloist Andrea Bargabos. Works by Bach, Bruckner, Vaughan Williams and Arvo Part will be performed, along with several carol arrangements and newer compositions by Will Todd, Eric Whitacre and Karl Jenkins. The children’s chorus will sing music from around the world in several languages and there will also be a sing-a-long of favorite carols at the end of the concerts.
Tickets are $20 for adults and children will be admitted free. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or contact Berkshire Lyric at (413) 499-0258 or info@berkshirelyricinfo.org.
–E.E.
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Berkshire Grown’s holiday farmers’ markets
Great Barrington — Berkshire Grown will present holiday farmers’ markets from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, at Monument Valley Regional Middle School and Sunday, Dec. 18, at Williams College’s Towne Field House. The markets will feature locally grown and produced foods and gifts plus live music, lunch fare and activities for children.
The Great Barrington market will include musical entertainment by Erika Ludwig and guests. Children’s activities will include hands-on snack-making with Food Adventures and face painting. The Williamstown market will work in traditional acoustic music by the MoCA jam band and seasonal crafts activities for children.
Admission to both markets is free. For more information, call Berkshire Grown at (413) 528-0041.
–E.E.
