Williams Inn project begins final stage
Williamstown — Work on the final stage of the new Williams Inn project will begin Monday, April 1, with the removal of the former American Legion building, the development of a public green space in its surrounding area, and a streetscaping of Spring and Latham streets where the two roads intersect. The project is expected to be substantially complete in early June 2019, weather permitting.
“It’s exciting to have reached this point in the process,” said Rita Coppola-Wallace, executive director of design and construction. “It’s the final push toward the public open house at the new inn scheduled to be part of the community’s Fourth of July celebration.”
The street work will require diversion of vehicle traffic. Drivers will be able to continue down Spring Street as far as Walden Street and enter the public parking lot. Latham Street will have two-way traffic between Water Street and the parking lot of the Williams College field house. The roadway between the public lot and field house lot will be closed to non-construction traffic.
The work will include repaving portions of both streets, building the driveway to the new inn, constructing new sidewalks and, at the intersection, laying patterns of paving stones to better control vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Throughout the time, all businesses in the area will be accessible, and there will be temporary signs and sidewalks.
The new Williams Inn includes 64 guest rooms, a large event space, small meeting rooms, and a restaurant and bar.
–E.E.
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Berkshire Art Association to celebrate longtime arts advocate Mary Rentz
Pittsfield — Longtime community leader and arts and culture advocate Mary Rentz will be honored by the Berkshire Art Association on Thursday, March 28, at 5 p.m. with a free reception at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, previewing the BAA’s annual College Art Student Fellowship Show, will be followed by a ticketed event on Hotel on North. All proceeds will benefit the BAA.
“Mary Rentz was instrumental in sparking a cultural revitalization of Pittsfield,” noted a BAA board member and former Pittsfield director of cultural development Megan Whilden. “She created Sheeptacular in 2004, a public arts initiative that brought accessible public art by local artists to the streets of downtown Pittsfield, and raised almost $300,000 for public art projects in Pittsfield.”
Rentz also led Pittsfield’s creative celebration of its 250th birthday, as well as “The Art of the Game,” a public arts project that celebrated Pittsfield’s long history and love affair with baseball. In addition, she served as the BAA’s president for many years, helping to organize annual shows showcasing the work of college art students, and to establish the annual Pittsfield Arts Show, an outdoor juried arts festival held downtown every summer for a number of years. In 2015 she was honored with the Berkshire Award for her community efforts by the Berkshire Museum. Rentz has also been a longtime active supporter of Hancock Shaker Village, serving on its board for many years.
–E.E.
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Pittsfield Cultural Council awards grants
Pittsfield — The Pittsfield Cultural Council has announced more than three dozen grants to be awarded to a broad array of projects and initiatives by local artists and cultural organizations. In all, $30,748 will be awarded to those presenting cultural events and arts projects that will benefit Pittsfield residents.
The grants are part of the council’s annual grants program, funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. PCC is funding all or part of 37 projects that will occur during 2019 in the categories of art, music, nature and science, theater, humanities, and dance.
“We received many worthy grant applications this past fall, far more than could be fully funded,” said PCC Chair Glenn Shalan. “While our resources are limited, we are pleased to be able to support a diverse range of projects that will make the arts, humanities and sciences accessible to anyone and everyone for the residents of Pittsfield.”
The Pittsfield Cultural Council will seek grant applications again in the fall. For more information, contact pittsfieldculture@yahoo.com.
–E.E.
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Promotion, new hire at 1Berkshire
Pittsfield — 1Berkshire has announced the promotion of Lindsey Schmid to the position of vice president of tourism and marketing, as well as the arrival of Jeremy Clowe, who joined the organization as its digital design specialist.
Schmid, who previously served as 1Berkshire’s director of marketing, has worked with the organization for over eight years and is also the regional tourism council director. Schmid lives with her family in Lenox, serves on the board of Downtown Pittsfield Inc., and dedicates time to the Lenox Library event committee. Prior to joining 1Berkshire in August 2010, Schmid lived in Denver, Colorado, where she received her Master of Business Administration from the University of Denver and worked as marketing manager for SCS Interactive. Before that, she lived in Washington, D.C., where she worked for the National Council of La Raza, as well as Teatro and Osteria Goldoni restaurants, handling public relations and marketing.
Clowe is charged with overseeing websites for 1Berkshire and Berkshires.org, as well as digital communications. He previously served as manager of media services at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, where he worked for over 18 years creating digital content and acting as a chief spokesman for the museum. Clowe previously worked for both broadcast television and performing arts companies in western New York, and has created award-winning video and multimedia for clients across western Massachusetts and New York’s capital region, where he currently lives with his family.
–E.E.
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Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation announces second round of 2019 grant deadlines
Sheffield — Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation has announced the second round of deadlines for competitive grants in Berkshire County in 2019. Regional nonprofits, food pantries, school communities and individuals are invited to apply for funding during the spring grants cycle from April through June.
New grant opportunities for arts nonprofits and food pantries
Berkshire Taconic’s Arts Build Community initiative is accepting applications from Berkshire County nonprofit organizations seeking to launch new projects or expand existing programs aimed at increasing community engagement in the arts and creative process. Grants will range up to $10,000 per organization. Applications are due Monday, April 15.
The Berkshire Fresh and Healthy Food Fund offers grants to food pantries and food distribution sites in Berkshire County for projects that will increase their capacity to provide lower-income residents with access to fresh produce and healthy food. Grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded. Applications are due Saturday, June 1.
For nonprofits
The Wassermann-Streit Y’DIYAH Memorial Fund supports projects that include an aspect of the culture, history or experience of traditional Judaism in material or programming. “Y’diyah” means “learning” in Hebrew, and the goal of the fund is to encourage authentic knowledge of the expression of traditional Judaism, leading to an understanding of the commonalities of all people while acknowledging diversity. Applications are due Monday, April 1.
The Fund for Williamstown’s DeMayo Bright Futures Innovation Award recognizes nonprofit organizations, businesses or individuals passionate about solving community challenges in Williamstown with innovative practices. The award recipient will receive $1,000. Nominations are due Monday, April 15.
Harvard Business School’s Governing for Nonprofit Excellence is a four-day executive education program designed to enhance leadership and governance skills. Nonprofit board chairs or vice chairs in the region may apply for scholarships to attend the program. The value of the program is $5,000. Applications are due Wednesday, May 1.
For schools
Education enrichment funds support projects that will enhance the educational experience of students and teachers in Berkshire County school districts:
- The Farmington River Initiative for Regional Excellence for the Farmington River School District, due Friday, April 12; and
- The Gateway Fund and the Pauline Young Music Fund for North Adams Public Schools, due Wednesday, May 1.
For individuals
The William J. & Margery S. Barrett Public Service Award for Adams, Cheshire & Savoy celebrates individuals who make significant contributions to the well-being of these towns through paid or volunteer work. The selected nominee will designate a nonprofit organization to receive a cash award of $1,000 in his or her name. Nominations are due Wednesday, May 1.
All grant guidelines and applications are available online. For more information, contact Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation at (413) 229-0370 or info@berkshiretaconic.org.
–E.E.
