Memorial Day kicks off summer, so what better way to kick off a new family events column here on iBerkshires.com than with holiday happenings?

Sure, there are parades ... lots of parades, and you can find a list of them here. But the region is teeming with other family-friendly activities this long weekend if you want to do something besides relax and grill some burgers.

Staying in North County, Saturday, May 25, brings one of my all-time favorite family events: Riverfest in Williamstown. I have been bringing my now-7-year-old to this since she was a toddler, and we have loved it every time. Every year is a little different, but in the past there

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — You know fall's around the corner when the inevitable lists of the best schools start appearing. And, inevitably, the Williams College is on them.

This month, Williams' selection as one of the "New Ivies" by college-rater Unigo.com comes on the heel's of its top ranking as America's best college by Forbes Magazine.

The private liberal arts institution, and the second-oldest college in the state after Harvard, has been a perennial top-lister in various "best of" lists, including U.S. News and World Report's annual rankings. Forbes ranked Williams as No. 4 last year; this year, it popped to the top, beating out archrival Amherst at No.

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LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The state's biggest elm tree now has a name suited to its majestic appearance: King Elmer.

Alice Spatz, co-chairman of the Lanesborough Tree and Forest Committee announced on Monday that the winner of the Name the Champion Elm Contest is Troy Massaconi.

Troy is a pupil in Anna Mello's third-grade class at Lanesborough Elementary School. The school's two third-grade classes participated in an Arbor Day event to measure the tree at the bottom of Summer Street to see

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Know a seventh or eighth grader interested in having an adventure this summer? Berkshire Community College will facilitate one for you, when it offers its "Tech Adventures" program in July.

Free to students and families, the program offers hands-on, interactive activities focused on math, writing and manufacturing. Participants will visit local manufacturing companies to see products and meet employees; there will be a field trip to Windsor, Vt. museums to observe the roots of manufacturing and view glass blowing demonstrations; and there will be recreational activities both on and off the BCC campus.

Lunch and transporation

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — WJJW, 91.1 FM, the student-operated non-commercial radio station at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, will hold a 24-hour fundraising marathon and album sale on Saturday, May 8.

  The marathon begins at midnight (Friday night) and ends at 11:59 p.m. Saturday. Listeners can call the station at 413-662-5110 with a donation pledge, or stop by the studio on the third floor of the Campus Center. Any amount is appreciated, and there will be prizes available.

The album sale will be held from noon to 4 p.m., Saturday, also on the third floor of the Campus Center. WJJW has thousands of used vinyl records

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