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Weekend Outlook: Plays, Concerts, and More

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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Berkshire County is hosting a variety of events this weekend including plays, films, concerts, and more. 
 
Find all the craft fairs and harvest festivals here.
 
Editor's Pick 
 
Hancock Shaker Village Community Day
1843 West Housatonic, Pittsfield
Time: Saturday, 11 to 4
 
Free admission to all aspects of Hancock Shaker Village. See the farm animals, take a scavenger hunt, explore kids activities, watch craft demonstrations and learn about the Shakers. The cafe and the mercantile will be open. More information here
 
 
Friday 
 
Indigenous Peoples Film Festival
Images Cinema, Williamstown
 
The independent theater will kick off the film festival this Friday; showings will include "Frybread Face and Me," "Beans," "Thunderheart," "Lakota Nation vs United States" and "Fancy Dance." 
 
Admission to these films is free. More information here.  
 
The Eagles Band Concert 
The Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield 
Time: 7 p.m.
 
The Berkshires oldest continuing performance ensemble will hold a free concert featuring works from the last century by renowned composers including John Philip Sousa, Leonard Bernstein and John Williams. More information here
 
AC/DC Tribute Band
The Stationery Factory, Dalton 
Time: 7:30 p.m. 
 
AC/DC tribute band Back in Black will be performing some of the iconic rock bands greatest hits. Tickets cost $25. More information here
 
Saturday 
 
Troker And El Automóvil Gris
Mass MoCA, North Adams 
Time: 8 p.m. 
 
Jazz and psychedelic music band Troker composed a new soundtrack for the silent "El automóvil gris" combining silent film and eclectic rock. The film will be projected in black and white as the band performs its new soundtrack at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. More information here
 
Haddad Toyota Veterans Day Fundraiser 
Haddad Toyota, Pittsfield 
Time: 10 a.m. 
 
Haddad Toyota is holding an event to support Soldier On, offering free food, spinning wheel games for prizes, and a photo opportunity with a Bearcat armored vehicle and Humvee pickup. During November, Haddad Toyota will donate for every new and used vehicle sold to Soldier On. More information here
 
'The Moors' Theatrical Performance 
Daniel Arts Center, Great Barrington
Time: 7 p.m. 
 
Bard College at Simon's Rock Theater will be performing the anachronistic dark comedy "The Moors." Performance is free and open to the public. More information here
 
Dance Group Bodytraffic Performance
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington 
Time: 3 to 4:30 p.m. 
 
Los Angeles dance group Bodytraffic will be performing four of its dance routines: "The Act of Becoming," "Recurrence," "SNAP" and "??PACOPEPEPLUTO."   
 
Tickets range from $35 to $65. More information here
 
Sunday 
 
Frosty Morning Meadow Walk
Mount Greylock Visitor Center, Lanesborough
 
The Mount Greylock Photography Club will meet this Sunday to walk the trails of the mountain's meadow that will have a light coating of fresh new fallen snow or an overnight frost. Don't forget to bundle up for this free event. More information here
 
Animal Support Project Thanksgiving and Veterans Day Photos 
Benson's Pet Center, Pittsfield
Time: noon to 3 p.m.
 
Benson's Pet Center will be providing people a photo op with their furry babies this Sunday. 
 
For a $10 donation, pet parents can bring home a 4-by-6 inch framed keepsake. This month's participants can choose between a Thanksgiving or Veterans Day theme. More information here
 
Benefit for Boyd Family
Tavern at the A, Pittsfield
Time: noon to 6
 
The afternoon features musical performances, food, chinese auction and 50/50 raffle. Proceeds benefit the Boyds who lost their Cromwell Avenue home in a fire last month. More information here
 
Multiple Days
 
Shakespeare's 'As You Like It' Performance 
Pittsfield High School's Proteus Theatre 
 
Performances will be held on Nov. 9 and Nov. 10 both at 7:30 pm. There will be another showing on Nov. 11 at 2:30 pm. 
 
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students (K-12). Tickets may be purchased here or at the door. Only cash or checks will be accepted at the door.
 
Theatre Performance 'Dance Nation'
Centerstage, '62 Center, Williamstown 
 
There will be performances of the dramatic comedy "Dance Nation" this Thursday through Saturday. 
 
Tickets cost $3. More information here
 
 
Farmers' Markets 
 
Sheffield Farmers' Market
91 Main Street, Sheffield
 
The Sheffield Farmers' Market kicks off this Saturday at Dewey Hall and will run until March 9. 
 
The market will feature meats, produce, baked goods, artisans, and a performance by Maggie McRae. For more information visit the market's website
 
Pittsfield Farmers Market
The Common, Pittsfield
Time: 9 to 1. 
 
Powered by Roots Rising, the market is open every Saturday rain or shine. 
 
Once a month the market will have fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables, along with meat, eggs, cheese, and baked goods by local vendors. This winter season the market is collaborating with Berkshire Bounty to help increase access to local, nutritious food. More information here
 
Great Barrington Farmers Market
18 Church St.
Time: 9 to 1. 
 
This Saturday marks the final outdoor market of the season with locally grown food, flowers, and plants along with other local vendors. More information here.

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Berkshire Planning Commission Approves 'Conservative' FY25 Budget

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Regional Planning Commission has a "conservative" budget for fiscal year 2025 with a nearly 6 percent increase.

On Thursday, the commission approved a $6,640,005 budget for FY25, a $373,990 increase from the previous year.  The spending plan saw less growth from FY24 to FY25, as the FY23 to FY24 increase was more than $886,000, or over 16 percent.

Executive Director Thomas Matuszko said there aren't any dramatic changes.  

"This is very much different than a municipal budget in that it's not a controlling budget or a limiting budget," he said. "It is really just our best estimate of our ability to afford to operate."

The increase is largely due to new grants for public health programs, environmental and energy efforts, economic development, community planning, and the transportation program.

"We have a lot of grants and a lot of applications in. If any of those are awarded, which I'm sure there's going to be many of them, we would shift gears and if we have to add staff or direct expenses, we would," office manager Marianne Sniezek explained.

"But the budget that we have now is conservative and it covers all our expenses."

The budget was endorsed by the finance and executive committee before reaching the full planning commission.

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