Issue #91 | Friday, September 29, 2023

67th Annual Fall Foliage Parade

Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 1PM
Each year, 1Berkshire collaborates with the city of North Adams to host a festive, inclusive, and vibrant downtown parade celebrating all things autumnal in the Berkshires. The entire community is invited to participate in this beloved event, which takes place on the first Sunday of October.

2023 Theme:
“Once Upon a Time in North Berkshire” celebrating children’s books and fairytales

Grand Marshal

Jim Holmes has been selected as the 2023 Grand Marshal. This honor celebrates Holmes decade long dedication to education in North Berkshire.

Jim Holmes has been connected to education in North Berkshire for decades having served as a teacher, a school committee member, and most recently working with the North Adams Police Department on its reading with the department program. In 2013, Jim was to be selected Teacher of the Year.

While working at (then) North Adams State College, Jim decided to begin a career in education.  He earned his degree in 1996 and began a 20-year career teaching. As a retiree, Jim is a substitute teacher at St Stanislaus Kostka School. He credits his family, in particular his best friend and significant other Denise, and his daughters Jessica, Stephany, and Allyson, with giving him the support to pursue his dreams and remain involved all these years.

Read More

Parade Route & Program

This year’s parade route is 1.2 miles and mostly flat, making the parade more walkable for all ages and abilities. The shorter parade route is also less of a time commitment for participants.

Starting Point: Intersection of State Street and Old State Street
Lineup: Curran Highway between DiSanti Field (north point) to United Cerebral Palsy (south point); roughly 400 Curran Highway to 535 Curran Highway
Ending Point: Intersection of Ashland Street and Washington Ave, same as last year.
NOTE: Due to the starting location and staging area, through traffic is able to detour on Old State Street to access parts of Curran Highway. The road will be fully shut down along the parade route starting at 12:30 pm.

More Information

PSA

The North Adams Chamber has been informed of a potential email scam regarding the “North Adams Award Progam” from the “North Adams Business Program.” The website is illegitimate and requests funds to purchase the award. Please be aware and disregard it to avoid fraudulent charges.

North County Happenings

Upcoming

September 29 | 5 p.m. | Out of This Earth Vegetarian Dinner | Dinner Lab | The Break Room
September 30 | Thunderbolt Ski Runners Fundraiser | Greylock Go Around | Greylock Glen
September 30 | 11 a.m. | The Boiler House Poets Collective Annual Residency | Bear & Bee Bookshop
September 30 | 2-4 p.m. | Hoosic River Revival Listening Session | Dark Ride Studio in Beaver Mill
September 30 | 3 p.m. | Community Composting | Second Chance Composting | Milne Public Library 

October 1 | 12-5 p.m. | Oktoberfest Tasting at Bousquet Mountain | Bright Ideas Brewing
October 1 | 4 p.m. |  Yoga Tune-Up Self Massage | North Adams Yoga
October 1 | 5:30 p.m. | Harvest Dinner with 328North Farm + The Generous Chef | Culinary LAB in Greylock Works
October 5 | 8 p.m. | Live Music: Karen Curlee | Studio9 The Porches
October 6 | 4 p.m. | Grand Opening of Optimal Healing | 184 East Main St. North Adams
October 6 | 6:30 p.m. | North Adams Clay Grand Opening | Beaver Mill #301
October 6 | 5 p.m. | National Noodle Day | Dinner Lab | The Break Room
October 7 | 8 p.m. | serpentwithfeet: Heart of Brick | MASS MoCA
October 7 | 7:30 p.m. | ZipStohr Comedy | The Adams Theater
October 14 | 6:30 p.m. | Hoosic River Revival Comedy Benefit Show | North Adams Elks Lodge
October 15 | 4 p.m. | Yoga for Low Back Care | North Adams Yoga
October 19 | 5:30 p.m. | North Adams Downtown Opportunity Audit | Corner of Eagle and Main St. | Can’t attend? Share your thoughts virtually
October 24 | 6 p.m. | Northern Berkshire County Digital Equity Plan | Public Meeting | Adams Visitor Center
October 25 | 12 p.m. | Learn To Use Canva Part II | Hosted by Elinor Goodwin of The Print Shop

Save the Dates 

Women in Business Month
October 1 - October 31 | Berkshire County
Every October, 1Berkshire honors Women in Business by shining the spotlight on business owners, organization leaders, and employees who identify as a woman throughout our region. Nominate a #womeninbiz today!

ArtWeek Berkshires
October 14 - 22 | Berkshire County
Celebrate creativity during this 10-day festival showcasing local artists and cultural organizations at more than 100 events across the Berkshires. This event is produced by 1Berkshire and the five Cultural Districts of Berkshire County. 

Ongoing

Every Saturday | 9-1 | Williamstown and North Adams Farmers Market
Every Friday | 7:30 to 9 a.m. | North Adams Coffee Dates | Eagle Street Parklet
Every 1st & 3rd Thursday | 7:30 to 9 a.m. | Adams Coffee | Armory Court
Every Sunday | 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Mini Maker Market at Greylock Works
Every 1st & 3rd Sunday | 7 p.m. | Karaoke Night at The Log in Williamstown
Every Friday | 4 p.m. | Bingo at North Adams Elks Lodge
Every 1st & 3rd Thursday | 7 p.m. | Midweek Music Lounge at Bright Ideas Brewing
Every other Wednesday | 6:30 p.m. | Trivia Night at Bright Ideas Brewing
Every 1st & 3rd Friday | 6-8 p.m. | Craft Night at Common Folk
Every 2nd Monday of the Month | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Free Pregnancy Loss Support Group | Movement Matters Healing Arts

Want your event listed? Submit the listing here

Festive Returns November 18

We are very excited to showcase ± 90 artists, makers, farmers, local businesses, and organizations at our 6th annual Holiday Market. Thank you to all who applied. We are humbled and thrilled to be able to feature so much exquisite talent in gWorks' former Weave Shed!
 

SAVE THE DATES!

Friday First Look: November 17 • 5-8pm • $25
Saturday Market :November 18 • 10am-3pm • FREE

First Look Tickets

Opportunities

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

• Apps open on Oct 17 for MCC Individual Recovery Grant

• Sep 22 Fellowship | MASS Creative Advocacy Fellowship

• Sep 25 Grant | NALAC Fund for Latinx Artists

• Sep 26 Grant | Foundwork Artist Prize

• Oct 1 Grant | Ellis Beauregard Composer Award

• Oct 1 Fellowship | Eyebeam Fellowship

• Oct 9 Grant | National Sculpture Society Grants

• Oct 15 Fellowship | PhotoWork Fellowship

• Oct 15 Award | New Voices Award for unpublished writers

• Oct 15 Grant | Circ Artist Grant

• Dec 14 Grant | MCC Cultural Facilities Fund

• ongoing Grant | Hilary Teachout Covid-19 Relief Grant

• ongoing Grant | The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant

• ongoing Grant | Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Grants

• monthly Awesome Foundation Grant

• rolling Intersectional Environmentalist Contributor's Network

• rolling Adobe Creative Residency Community Fund

• rolling Independent Journalism Grant

• rolling Eyebeam Center for the Future of Journalism

• rolling Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grants

• rolling Creative Capital x Skoll x Kickstarter Funds for Asian/Black/Indigenous/Latinx Creators

• rolling A.P.E. Open Call for Project Proposals

• rolling BridgeSong Fund: Emergency Relief for Women, Nonbinary, and Genderqueer Artists of Color

• rolling New England Musicians Relief Fund

• ongoing NEFA Grant Finder List

EVENTS

• Oct 6 Artist talk with kelli rae adams at MASS MoCA

• Oct 7 Serpentwithfeet at MASS MoCA (co-presented with Jacobs Pillow)

• Oct 8 Ciarra Fragale live at Berkshire Botanical Garden

• Oct 14 CHINWAG live at MASS MoCA

• monthly Open Studios at Walkaway House

• every 4th Wednesday: Writer's Group at Bear and Bee

• 2nd Tuesday (monthly) Herbalist Meet-Up at Common Folk

• weekly Berkshire Environmental Action Team Volunteer Opportunities 

• monthly events at Plant Connector

• monthly events at Savvy Hive

• every first and third Friday Common Craft Night at Common Folk

Local Cultural Council (LCC) Program
LCCs serve every city and town in Massachusetts and offer grants to support cultural projects with a public benefit. Individuals and organizations are eligible to apply. Grant amounts vary.
Deadline: October 17, 2023

STARS Residencies
Grants for residencies of 3 days or more with teaching artists, scientists, or humanists. Schools, individuals, and cultural organizations are eligible to apply. Grant range: $2,500-$6,100.
Deadline: October 24, 2023

Cultural Facilities Fund
Grants to support the acquisition, design, repair, rehabilitation, renovation, expansion, or construction of nonprofit cultural facilities. Nonprofit cultural organizations, municipalities, and colleges or universities that own or lease cultural facilities are eligible to apply. Grant range: $7,000-$200,000.
Opens: October 12, 2023
Deadline: December 14, 2023

Grants For Creative Individuals
NEW in FY24: This program aims to equitably advance creative expression throughout the Commonwealth with unrestricted grants to Massachusetts artists, culture bearers, and creative individuals. Grants are $5,000.
Opens: October 2023
Deadline: December 2023

Gaming Mitigation Fund
Grants to Massachusetts nonprofit and municipal performing arts centers to spend on touring shows or touring artist fees.
Opens: December 5, 2023
Deadline: February 1, 2024

Workshops & Webinars

TAXES FOR ARTISTS  W/ AMY SMITH

Tuesday, October 10, 2023 | 2:00 - 4:00 PM | For CT, RI & Essex County, MA

ESSENTIALS OF DIGITAL MARKETING  W/ FRANCESCA OLSEN

Monday, October 16, 2023 | 2:00 - 4:00 PM | For CT, RI & Essex County, MA

FOSTERING RELATIONSHIPS WITH GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS  W/ KRISTEN BECKER

Thursdays, October 19 & 26, 2023 | 2:00 - 4:00 PM | For CT & RI

PHOTOGRAPHING YOUR ARTWORK  W/ MERCEDES JELINEK

Monday, November 6, 2023 | 2:00 - 4:00 PM | For RI

CREATING A SUSTAINABLE FINANCIAL ECOSYSTEM AS AN ARTIST  W/ HADASSAH DAMIEN NEW!

Thursday, November 16, 2023 | 12:00 - 2:00 PM | For CT & RI

PLANNING WITH YOUR WHOLE SELF IN YOUR ART PRACTICE  W/ JOHN VO

Wednesdays, November 29, December 6 & 13, 2023 | 6:00 - 8:00 PM | For MA

AN INTRODUCTION TO COOPERATIVES IN THE ARTS  W/ DANIEL PARK

Thursday, December 14, 2023 | 2:00 - 5:00 PM | For CT & RI

In the News

Message from Second Chance Composting Founder & Owner, John Pitroff:

I was humbled and honored to be named the 2023 MassRecycle Individual Award Winner. The award is presented to an individual who deserves special recognition for contributing to recycling, reuse and/or waste reduction in Massachusetts through leadership, sharing knowledge with others, or other avenues. The 28th annual award also recognizes outstanding achievements in and contributions towards recycling, reuse, and waste reduction in Massachusetts.

I traveled to Boston yesterday to the Hynes Convention Center and was able to say a few meaningful words, meet some folks I had only seen through Zoom, and be introduced to a lot of great people doing a lot of meaningful, important work. Congratulations to the other winners and for all the work of all those nominated.

As a business, family, and community, we have all worked so hard since last year when I started the business in June of 2022 to make something like this a reality. It feels good to be recognized in such a big way.

Thanks to all my community partners, supporters, and customers. It was great to bring such big recognition back to the Berkshires, specifically the Northern Berkshires where I am proud to say I was born and raised.

This is only the beginning and we will continue to work extremely hard to make composting a priority locally and on a larger scale.

Massachusetts Founders Network Launch Press Conference Oct. 4

We hope you will join us for an exciting announcement at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, October 4 at Studio9 in North Adams, where we'll be joined by Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao and other state leaders to launch the Massachusetts Founders Network, a human + digital platform that supports startup founders throughout the Commonwealth. View the platform here: MFN

If you can’t join us in person, you can watch the livestream the morning of and submit questions via chat. Register for the livestream here: link

Joining us for the launch will be Secretary Hao, along with state legislators representing western Massachusetts, Mass Tech Collaborative Deputy Director Pat Larkin, and representatives from more than twenty of the state’s leading accelerators, incubators, and innovation centers.

Please let us know if you'll attend in person or via livestream! Thanks so much,

More info

Here's more info about MFN and Lever, which is launching the platform with support from MassTech Collaborative and others. We're excited to launch MFN from our North Adams headquarters, but it's a statewide resource.

1. MFN is a platform for inclusion. The Lever team has deep experience supporting startup founders from a wide range of backgrounds, many without an academic affiliation or any startup experience. We see MFN as a extension of that work.

2. Lever is based in the smallest city in Massachusetts yet MFN will serve founders throughout the state. It is the first publicly available platform of its kind in Massachusetts or, we believe, anywhere in the United States.

3. MFN is supported by all state quasi-governmental entities that participate in the state’s entrepreneur ecosystem. The lead funder is Mass Tech Collaborative. The Mass Clean Energy Center and The Mass Life Sciences Center are sponsors. These groups, along with MassVentures, are also collaborators.

About Lever

• Founded in 2014 as a not for profit economic development entity

• Is a startup accelerator providing a wide range of support for entrepreneurs launching technology-based companies with high potential

• Through its themed Challenge programs, accelerates cohorts of startups in clean energy, health technology, manufacturing and more.

• Has awarded more than $1M in grant funding to promising startups

• Manages a $2M venture capital fund

• Organizes the Lever angel network to connect investors with promising startups

• Organizes Berkshire Interns, which has placed 150 college students in paid summer internships at leading Berkshire organizations since 2018.

Connect with Us!

North Adams Chamber Business Development Team
Marketing: Makayla-Courtney McGeeney
Business: Nico Dery

Sign up for FREE Business Assistance Consultations for ANY Northern Berkshire County Business.