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Berkshires Beat: Youth Works Summer Program Recognizes Teens
02:43PM / Monday, August 29, 2016
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Youth participants and guests gather on the steps of City Hall following the closing ceremony.

Congrats: The 12th annual Youth Works Summer Program held its closing ceremony on Aug. 26 at Pittsfield City Hall with the city’s director of Administrative Services, Roberta McCulloch-Dews,  recognizing the achievements of youth workers who successfully completed a summer of employment throughout Berkshire County.

Event speakers included Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, current youth participants Raven Basinger, Garrett Haywood, Gabe Shultheis, and Youth Works alum Nolan Stout. They praised the 35 program graduates for their diligence and presented them with certificates.

Youth Works participants included: Zaniyah Adams; Trisann Alexander; Emma Borden; Tylor Bourne; Roy Brauski; Shea Carrington; Zachary Croshier; Arianna DeGroat; Miguel Estrella; Caitlyn Gelineau; Shannon Gwozdz; Isiah Hartman-Caezar; Garrett Haywood; Daniella Herrera-Pusquin; Isaiah Hill-Johnson; Sapphire Holland; Brett Holsborg; Courtney Kalinowski; Devin Kickery; Kasondra Langlois; Kah-lil Lanphear-Dyer; Katelyn Lauren; Brandon Lefleur; Kurt Miller; Isaiah Moore; Kristian Pridgen; Faustina Ramos; Peter Rodriguez; Gabe Schultheis; Tazia Simmons; Trevon Thompson; Shalier Tibbs-Jackson; Cody Turner; Jaden Williams; and Mya Wright.

The Pittsfield program, in operation since 2005 through Berkshire Works Career Center, offers underserved youth, as well as those with additional personal and social barriers, with an enriching summer employment experience.  Youth participants, ages 14-21, worked in the areas of building/grounds maintenance, retail, food service, human services/community connections, child care, sports and recreation and healthcare.

All youth also received 15 hours of "Signaling Success" Work Readiness training.

 

Anniversary address: Astronaut Stephanie Wilson, a Taconic High School graduate, will deliver the 2016 Founder's Day Centennial address at Russell Sage College in Troy, N.Y., next week. This is the 100th anniversary of The Sage Colleges.

Wilson has been with NASA since 1996, and was the robotic arm operator on STS-121's flight to the International Space Station in July 2006. She returned to space on STS-120 in fall 2007 as the flight engineer and was robotic arm operator for STS-131 in April 2010. She has logged more than 42 days in space. She currently supports the
International Space Station Operations branch.




Looking back: The North Adams Public Library is once again offering basic genealogy classes with local genealogist Alan Doyle Horbal. Classes with be held on Thursday mornings, September 1, 8, 15 and 22, from 10 a.m. to noon in the NAPL third floor community room.

The classes will consist of an introduction to genealogy along with helpful information for conducting your research, such as, the use of U.S Census information and the Ellis Island website. Attendees must be computer literate and have an existing email account.  Registration is required by contacting the library at 413-662-3133, ext. 13.  This course is progressive and requires attendance at all four classes.



Shindy City: Pittsfield’s own Shire City Sanctuary will again host the Holiday Shindy this December, featuring accomplished artisans selling their wares in this majestic setting. Applications can be submitted online and are due by Sept. 1. Notification of acceptance will be given on Sept. 5 after the jury has deliberated.

Booths are $250 for a 9x9 space and there are still a couple higher traffic premium corner booths for $300. Hours are Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 11, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be food and music. Gift wrapping will be available for donation to one of Pittsfield’s wonderful charities.  Admission is $3 for the general public. Children under the age of 12 are free.

Shire City Sanctuary is located at 40 Melville St. Pittsfield’s Upstreet Cultural District and is a creative repurposing of the historic Notre Dame church building.


Call for artists: The ninth annual Otis Arts Festival will take place on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Farmington River Elementary School. The Otis Cultural Council invites local artists and craftspeople to partake in this indoor event as a venue to sell and display their work.

Entry fee is $20 for Otis residents, $25 for non-Otis residents. Check payable to Otis Cultural Council must be submitted with application, available online. For information, email culturalco.otis@yahoo.com, or call 413 269-4674.  Deadline for applications is Sept. 15.

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