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What's this?Art
Northern Berkshire Creative Arts, Family Art Day, 1-3 p.m. third Saturday of each month. Free; registration required. Heritage State Park, Route 8, North Adams. Info: 413-663-8338 or nbcreativearts.org.
Suncatcher Glass, combination of art studio, stained glass supply store and small gallery, doing glass-cutting demonstration Fridays from 5-6 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m.-noon. Free. 63 Main St., North Adams. Info: 413-664-4548.
Dance
Quintessential Dance, Tuesdays: beginner ballroom/Latin dance, no partner required, Flavours Restaurant, Econo Lodge,130 Pittsfield Road, Lenox, 7 p.m.; Wednesdays: ballroom/Latin dance lessons, singles and couples welcome, PNA Hall, 13 Victory St., Adams, 7-8 p.m.; open dance, 8-9:30 p.m. Info: quintessentialdance.com or 413-822-1600.
Bennington Beledi Tribal Bellydance, Thursdays, 5:15 p.m. for level 1, 6:15 for cues and transitions, 6:45 p.m. for level 2. Bennington Senior center, Pleasant Street, Bennington, Vt. Info: Kat Farnham, 802-442-5331.
Kid Stuff
Berkshire Museum, "Aquarium Adventures" for ages 2-4, with toddler playtime, a story, and a close-up encounter with a different live animal each week,
Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Barefoot Voyage Storytime, a weekly storytime series with Pittsfield mother Richele Baburina, focusing on the art of books as well as the stories and art in books, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesdays. Free. 28 Renne Avenue, Pittsfield. Info: 413-442-7837.
North Adams Public Library, weekly chess club for children ages 7-12 with Corbin Apkin, a senior at the BArT Charter Public School in Adams, 2:30-4 p.m. Wednesdays through March. 74 Church St., North Adams. Info: 413-662-3133.
Northshire Bookstore, story time for preschoolers, with themes and activities, 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays. Main Street, Manchester, Vt. Info: 800-437-3700 or northshire.com.
West Stockbridge Public Library, story hour, 11 a.m. Saturdays. 21 State Line Road, West Stockbridge. Info: 413-232-0308.
Bennington Library, "Baby Rhyme Tyme" for infants 4 months to 18 months, Tuesdays 9:30-10 a.m.; "Story Rhythms," an active story hour for children 18-36 months, Tuesdays, 10:30-11 a.m.; preschool story hour for children 3-5, Wednesdays 10:30-11:15 a.m. Silver Street, Bennington, Vt. Info: 802-442-9051.
Williams College Museum of Art, storytime in the galleries, with reading of contemporary and classic children's books selected especially to connect to artwork on view, for preschoolers with guardians, 10:30 a.m. Fridays. Main Street, Williamstown. Info: wcma.org.
Stockbridge Library, toddler storytime, Tuesdays 10 a.m.; preschool storytime, Wednesdays 11 a.m.; book club for 10- to 12-year olds, first and third Thursdays 3:45-4:30 p.m. Main Street, Stockbridge. Info: 413-298-5501.
Berkshire Athenaeum, story time for children 1 1/2-3, Tuesdays 10 a.m.; story time for children 3-5, Thursdays 10 a.m.; videos for preschoolers, Fridays 10 a.m.; videos for school-age children, Saturdays 11 a.m.; chess for kids up to 18, first and third Saturday of the month 10 a.m.-noon starting Sept. 15. Wendell Avenue, Pittsfield. Info: 413-499-9480, ext. 5.
Clarksburg Town Library, story hour and craft session for preschoolers, Wednesdays 10:30 a.m. Free. 711 West Cross Road, Clarksburg. Info: 413-664-6050.
Dalton Free Library, for ages 3 to 5, features stories, short video, craft activity and a snack, Thursdays 10 a.m. 462 Main St., Dalton. Info: 413-684-6112.
Lenox Library, Tuesday toddler storytime for ages 18 months to 3 years from 11-11:30; Thursday preschool story-craft for ages 3-5 from 10:30-11:15 a.m. 18 Main St., Lenox. Info: 413-637-0197, ext. 105.
Lee Library, preschool story hour and craft program for ages 3-5, limited to 20 participants, 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays. 100 Main St., Lee. Info: 413-243-0385.
North Adams Public Library, family preschool story and craft/activity times, Mondays at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesdays 10 a.m.; Todder Time on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. for 1-2 1/2 years. 74 Church St., North Adams. Info: 413-662-3133 or naplibrary.com.
Northern Berkshire Family Net playgroups, Mondays: 9-10:30 a.m., Broad Brook Park, Williamstown; Tuesdays: 10 a.m., Cheshire Senior Center; Wednesdays: 9:30 a.m., Adams Preschool Playgroup, Howland Avenue, Adams; 10 a.m., toddler music group, Haskins Community Center, State Street, North Adams; Thursdays, 10-11 a.m., young toddler group, Haskins Center, State Street, North Adams; Fridays: 10 a.m., infant group for birth to 1 year, at Haskins Community Center, State Street, North Adams; 9:45-10:45 a.m. Lanesboro Elementary School, Lanesboro; and 9:30 a.m., Adams Preschool Playgroup, Howland Avenue, Adams. Info: 413-664-4821 or familynetfun.com.
CHP Family Network Playgroups, Tuesdays 9:30-11:30 a.m., Sandisfield Community Center and Great Barrington Family Center; Wednesdays 9:30-11:30 a.m., Becket Town Hall, and 10 a.m.-noon, Lenox Community Center; Thursdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., West Stockbridge Congregational Church, and 12:30-1:30 p.m., Great Barrington Family Center infant/toddler group; Fridays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Sheffield Old Parish Church, 10 a.m.-noon, Otis Town Hall, 5-7 p.m., Great Barrington Family Center. Info: 413-528-0721.
North Adams Museum of History and Science, hands-on Gramma's Attic and Science Discovery room, audio in Fort Massachusetts Barracks Room and Black Light Gallery, Saturday 10-4, Sunday 1-4. Info: 413-664-4700.
Berkshire Museum, "Chow Time in the Aquarium," beginning May 3, Saturdays 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and Sundays 1:30 p.m. South Street, Pittsfield. Info: 413-443-7171 or berkshiremuseum.org.
Berkshire Museum, Berkshire Theatre Festival presents "Hercules" by E. Gray Simons III, in which the hero undertakes 12 impossible tasks, including battling beastly boars and bulls, rerouting rivers, slaying multi-headed monsters and traveling into the Underworld, 11 a.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, June 26-July 26 (no show July 4). Cost: $7/children, $10/adults. South Street, Pittsfield. Info: 413-443-7171.
For older kids
Word Street, drop-in tutoring and literary arts center for students 8-18 to get tutoring, homework help, and literary arts instruction from Massachusetts-licensed teachers and professional writers, Mondays-Thursdays 3:30-5:30 p.m. starting Jan. 7 and Saturdays noon-3 p.m. 163 North St., Pittsfield. Info: 413-442-2732 or wordstreet.org.
Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center, after-school program for preteen and teen girls in sixth grade and up, featuring variety of activities, including chorus, theater, literacy skill building, homework help, recreation, health and sexuality, self-defense and violence prevention and leadership opportunities, 2:30-5 p.m. Monday-Fridays. East Street, Pittsfield. Info: 413-442-5174, ext 17.
UNITY workshops, The Grooove, teen-led concerts, dance parties, and other arts events featuring local youth talent, teen planning committee, which is open to all Northern Berkshire area high school students, meets year-round, biweekly on Mondays, 4:30-5:30 p.m; Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, sixth floor, 85 Main St., North Adams. Info: Kate Merrigan, UNITY Program Associate, at 413-663-7588 or kmerrigan@nbccoalition.org.
Music
Stockbridge Sinfonia, weekly rehearsals of classical music under the direction of its music director, Simeon Loring, in preparation for Aug. 16 and 23 concerts, 9:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturdays starting May 17. Berkshire Country Day School, Route 183, Stockbridge. Info: 413-442-3289 or 413-637-4059.
Berkshire Lyric Theatre, rehearsals for children's chorus and Berkshire Singers teen chorus, new singers welcome, 10:15 a.m. Saturdays. Berkshire Athenaeum, Wendell Avenue, Pittsfield. Also, adult rehearsals, 7 p.m Mondays, Unitarian Universalist Church, 175 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield. Info: 413-499-0258 or berkshirelyrictheatre.org.
Sweet Adelines, weekly rehearsal for Berkshire Hills Chorus, member Sweet Adelines International, a women's chorus of four-part harmony a capella, directed by Valeri Reynolds, 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center, 165 East St., Pittsfield. Info: 413-743-2730 or harmonize.com/BerkshireHills.
Berkshire Hillsmen, men's barbershop chorus, 7:30 p.m. Mondays. St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, East Street at Park Square, Pittsfield. Info: 413-442-7293.
Eagles Band, rehearsal for 2008 season begin Jan. 28, new members welcome to sit in, bring a music stand, 7-9 p.m. Mondays. First United Methodist Church, 55 Fenn St., Pittsfield. Info: 413-499-2071.
Berkshire Highlanders, pipe band rehearsals, spectators and aspiring pipers and drummers are welcome, 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays. South Congregational Church, 110 South St., Pittsfield. Info: 413-447-7050.
Miscellaneous
Ongoing
Day & Beth Healing Arts, inspirational reading group featuring discussion of Oprah Winfrey and Eckhart Tolle's online class based on "The New Earth" book by Tolle, 5 p.m. Sundays April 27-June 1. Free. 210 Water St., Williamstown. Info: 413-458-0912 or dbhearts.com.
Hinsdale Lions Club, bingo, with refreshments and charity tickets, 6:45 p.m. Wednesdays. Route 143, Hinsdale.
Northern Berkshire Beekeepers Association, meeting fourth Tuesdays of the month, 7:30 p.m. Info: 413-743-2187 or antpisano@hotmail.com.
West Stockbridge Public Library, knitting group, 2 p.m. Wednesdays. 21 State Line Road, West Stockbridge. Info: 413-232-0308.
Adams Free Library, Knitting and Crochet Circle, a constructive as well as social outlet for interested knitters and crocheters, 1-2:30 p.m. Mondays. 92 Park St, Adams. info: 413-743-8345.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Skating Rink, Christmas Brook Figure Skating Club Winter basic skills program, 1-2 p.m. Sundays. Church Street, North Adams. Info: 413-743-7884.
Stockbridge Booksellers, knitting night with Barb Reeves, second Thursday of the month, 6-9 p.m. 10 Elm St., Stockbridge. Info: 413-298-3329.
Southern Berkshire BNI Chapter of Business Network International, monthly meetings, 7:15-8:45 a.m. Thursdays. 343 Main St., Great Barrington. Info: bniwmass.com or 800-816-1233, ext. 4649.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, "The Poetry of Women's Lives," featuring storytelling, poetry reading, journaling and consciousness-raising, 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Church Street, North Adams. Info: 413-662-5216.
BerkshireWorks Job Club, meeting of ongoing support group that focuses on job-seeking strategies that have been proven successful, with Millie Calesky, a business coach and trainer, Mondays 1-2 p.m. Free; registration required. 160 North St., Pittsfield. Info: 413-499-2220, ext. 154, or berkshireworks.org.
Berkshire Singles Network, singles mingle every Monday, 7-9 p.m. Williams Inn, Williamstown. Info: 413-664-3442.
Lenox Toastmasters, meetings on first and third Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. Lenox Library. Info: 413-637-0236.
Last Word Toastmasters Club, meetings on second and fourth Tuesdays, 6:30-8 p.m. Morningside Community School, Burbank Street, Pittsfield. Info: 413-655-2555 or at millicoach@aol.com.
Voices of the Mountain Toastmasters, first and third Thursday, 6:30 p.m. Sweetwood, Route 7, Williamstown. Info: 413-241-7314.
Pownal American Legion Post 90, bingo, Thursdays, doors and kitchen open at 5 p.m., bingo starts at 6:30 p.m. Route 7, Pownal, Vt.
HospiceCare in the Berkshires, suicide support group, 5:30 p.m. first Tuesday of the month. South Street, Pittsfield. Info: 413-443-2994.
VA Pittsfield Outpatient Clinic, Returning Veterans Support Group, no appointment needed but must be enrolled in the VA, second Thursday of the month, 5:30-7 p.m. 73 Eagle St., Pittsfield. Info: 413-499-2672.
Al-Anon meetings, Sundays: 9 a.m. at the Firehouse, Route 23, Monterey; 7:30 p.m. at the Congregational Church on Route 41, Richmond. Mondays: 11 a.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church, 59 Summer St., North Adams; 8 p.m. at the Firehouse on Main Street, South Egremont. Tuesdays: 10 a.m. at Hevreh of South Berkshire, 270 State Road, Great Barrington; 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 88 South St., Pittsfield (newcomers' meeting, same time and place); 8 p.m. at the Congregational Church on Main Street, Stockbridge. Wednesdays: 7:30 p.m. at St. Mark's Church on Commercial Street, Adams; 7:30 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church on Main Street. Dalton; 7 p.m. in the Parish House (upstairs) behind St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Main Street in Stockbridge. Thursdays: 10 a.m. at Hevreh of South Berkshire, 270 State Road, Great Barrington; 8 p.m. at Christ Church, Route 7 and Maple Avenue, Sheffield; 7:30 p.m. at United Methodist Church, Water and Main Street, Williamstown (newcomers' meeting first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m.). Fridays: 8 p.m. at Claire Teague Senior Center, Route 7 South, Great Barrington. Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 74 First St., Pittsfield. Al-Anon 24-Hour Information Line: 413-445-5852 or al-anonberkshire.org.
EPOCH Assisted Living, Alzheimer's Support Group meets 7-8:30 p.m. on third Wednesday of the month. 140 Melbourne Road, Pittsfield. Info: 413-499-1992.
North Adams Public Library, Knitting and Crochet Circle, an informal gathering offering a chance to share ideas, ask questions, and knit and crochet together in the relaxed atmosphere, 6 p.m. Thursdays. Church Street, North Adams. Info: 413-662-3133 or naplibrary.com.
North Adams Regional Hospital, confidential and anonymous HIV testing, 1 p.m. on first and third Thursdays of the month. Free; donations accepted. Hospital Avenue, North Adams. Info: 413-447-2654.
Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice of Northern Berkshire, public health clinics with blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, medication reviews and health teaching, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3-4 p.m., 535 Curran Highway, North Adams; Tuesdays, 10-11:30 a.m., Stop & Shop, Route 2, North Adams. Info: 413-664-4536.
Pownal Fire Protective Association, bingo every Thursday, 6 p.m. Church Street, Pownal.
Toastmasters International, public speaking group, first and third Thursday of the months, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Hoosac Bank Williamstown Financial Center, Main Street, Williamstown. Info: Chantal Leven, 413-445-3578; Ann Bloch, 413-637-0958; Emiliano DeLaurentiis, 413-458-5611.
Berkshire Writers Room, all meetings at 7 p.m.: poetry, second Wednesday (Wild Sage, North Street); all-genre, third Thursday (Mason Library, Main Street, Great Barrington); writing for children and young adults, second Monday (BCC, Melville 217); fiction, second Tuesday (Melville Room 217, Berkshire Community College). Info: 413-236-2191 or theberkshirewritersroom@yahoo.com.
North Berkshire Chess Club, Wednesdays 6-9 p.m., membership free and open to all. Mass MoCA, 85 Marshall St., North Adams. Info: Rick Dovey, 802-823-5545.
Pittsfield Chess Club, all levels welcome, Tuesdays 7 p.m. Hillcrest Hospital cafeteria, Tor Court, Pittsfield. Info: 413-448-6165.
