Want WEEKLY updates on local events, resources & organizations in the northern Berkshires? Join Our Weekly E-zine (PH-Zine)! Stay up tp date on what's happening in the community with the nbCC and beyond.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Folks Tell Us What They Love About Their Community

Drop-In Art Club Ends Another Successful Season 

This summer, nbCC partnered with our friends at MASS MoCA and the Clark Art Institute to bring back the popular Drop-in Art Club program. Over the course of 16 weeks, the weekly program welcomed over 60 participants, many of whom participated every week.

For the last project of the summer, the kids got to build museums using shoe boxes, inspired by their visits to MASS MoCA and the Clark. Old shoe boxes were transformed into diorama-style mini museums. Each one is unique to the young artist who created it. One participant worked together with a summer intern from the Clark to create a cat museum.

When we asked the kids what their favorite things about Art Club were, besides making lots of cool art projects, participants said making new friends, eating snacks, and being able to play at the UNO park afterwards were all part of the fun!

We can’t thank our partners at MASS MoCA and the Clark enough for their enthusiastic leadership week after week, bringing new, exciting projects to the community. Stay tuned for updates on when the Art Club will return. Hopefully, sooner than later!

National Night Out Expands in North County

Every first Tuesday in August, towns and cities all across the United States celebrate National Night Out (NNO) to strengthen relationships between the residents of their communities and first responders like the police, firefighters, and EMS. Nationally, this event has been going on for over forty years, and locally, the Coalition has been supporting northern Berkshire communities in organizing and celebrating this event for almost as long. 

In the northern Berkshires, NNO was first celebrated in the UNO neighborhood of North Adams, but throughout the years, the towns of Adams and Williamstown began hosting their own NNO celebrations. Cheshire has recently joined in the fun, while Lanesborough opted for its own version of NNO that they call “Lanesborough Day”, now in its second year. 

The annual celebration has also brought out friendly competition between the communities. Who can draw out the biggest crowd? Who has the best activities and food? This year, Cheshire’s fire department offered a demonstration of the tools they use in emergency rescue operations for vehicular accidents. A crowd gathered on bleachers to watch as volunteer firefighters used large tools like the “jaws of life” to gain access to vehicles and the potential victims inside. 



Cheshire, Adams, and Williamstown kept the vibe festive with live music at their events, while North Adams opted to bring back DJ Pup Daddy to get the community grooving. Attendance numbers were down across all events, possibly due to the poor air quality from wildfires to the north. Regardless, everyone who did attend appeared to have a great time. Join the fun next year in your community on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.

Meet Some More New Members of the Team!

nbCC Board Member - Tim Callahan

1) In a few sentences, tell the community a little bit about yourself. I’m a lifelong educator with a deep commitment to Berkshire County. I was raised in Lanesborough, and grew up as a BMX and skateboard kid, traveling all over the Pittsfield area to try to find the best places to shred. (Reader, in those olden times, we did not find as many places to shred as we would have liked.) After finishing my Bachelor of Arts in English Literature at Hamilton College, I moved back to the Berkshires, working at Kay-Bee Toys before landing a regular role as a long-term substitute teacher at Drury High School. I have been with the North Adams Public Schools ever since in a variety of teaching and leadership roles, working through my Master’s in Education at Cambridge College and my Doctor of Education degree from the Sage Colleges. In the summer of 2025, I had the great honor of being appointed as superintendent of the North Adams Public Schools. I should also mention that I have two super-kind college-age kids, and an amazing wife who has taught 5th grade for 30 years. They deserve much of the credit for helping me develop into the leader I am today.

2) What is your favorite thing about living in the Berkshires? I love that we can find peace in comfort in our community and our natural surroundings. When relatives who live in urban areas visit the Berkshires, I am able to see our community through their eyes, and further appreciate how we often take for granted the tranquil beauty that surrounds us. I have found the Berkshires a great place to raise a family, with excellent schools and opportunities for youth leadership, and I have great optimism for the future of our community.

3) What are you most interested in about the work the Coalition does? I greatly appreciate the Coalition’s work with families in northern Berkshire County and the youth development work that is so important to our community. In my various leadership roles in the North Adams Public Schools, I have found NBCC a vital partner in our work to improve access and opportunity for our families and students, and to provide support to all of us when challenges can seem insurmountable. What I appreciate most about NBCC is the spirit of collaboration and the commitment to working together to improve whatever we can. None of us can do this work alone.

nbCC Board Member - Heather King

1) In a few sentences, tell the community a little bit about yourself. I am a life-long resident of Berkshire County and as an adult have come to appreciate all that it has to offer and its beauty. I am a mother of five, grandmother of four and care deeply about the community I live in and the people within it. I have been in banking all my working career and am presently employed at Greylock Federal Credit Union.

2) What is your favorite thing about living in the Berkshires? I enjoy volunteering my time to help those that need assistance. Currently, I am an active volunteer at my church and Elder Service’s Money Management Program.When not volunteering or working, you can find me enjoying the spectacular views of Berkshire County on the back of our motorcycle.  

3) What are you most interested in about the work the Coalition does? I am excited to be joining the Board of NBCC with the impact that it has on the Northern Berkshire community.

Who Will You Celebrate with a Neighborly Recognition Award?

Is there anyone you would like to thank this year for going above and beyond in the community? The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition has been collecting submissions throughout the year to recognize community members who have volunteered or supported their community in some way.

Please consider recognizing an individual in one of the following categories: 

• Businesses & Groups Pulling Together- These groups have helped a neighborhood or the wider community by working together for the benefit of others. 
• Youth Taking the Lead- Young people are making positive change in their neighborhood or community. 
• Family Support- These individuals have advocated and/or supported family units in a variety of ways. 
• Community Health and Wellness- These individuals have contributed to making their community a healthier place to live. 
• Neighborly Acts - These individuals go above and beyond for their neighborhood or community, helping others in many different ways. 

Everyone whose name is submitted will be recognized at the Celebration on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Here is a link to the nomination form, along with a physical copy which can be filled out and mailed or brought to our office at 61 Main Street, Suite 218, North Adams, MA 01247. 

Fill out a Neighborly here: https://bit.ly/the_nbcc_neighborlies

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BECOME A CONTRIBUTOR TO THE COALITION?

Contributions can be made online or mailed to:

Northern Berkshire Community Coalition

  61 Main Street, Suite 218

  North Adams, MA 01247

nbCC Events and Programming this Month

nbCC Monthly Forum: Community Needs Assessment 

Friday, September 12, 10:00 AM -12:00 PM, at Hotel Downstreet, 40 Main Street

All are welcome! Join us for our September forum and share your thoughts on what needs are most urgent in your community, and what you’ve seen happening that has improved. We’ll compile everyone’s thoughts and ideas and vote on the topics for this year’s monthly forums. Please join us!

The presentation will be preceded by a round of introductions and an opportunity for everyone to share announcements. For questions or more information, give us a call at 413-663-7588.

Learn Through Play: A,B,C’s & 1,2,3’s

Saturday, Sept. 13, 10:00 - 11:00 AM, UNO Center, 157 River Street, North Adams

In collaboration with Child Care of the Berkshires. Activities and circle time with sensory activities. Best for ages 0-5 years. No registration required. Contact us at 413-663-7588 or nkennedy@nbccoalition.org 

W.o.W. Workshop: Create Better Health - Meal Planning & Grocery Shopping Tips

Thursday, Sept. 18, 1:30-2:30 PM, UNO Community Center, 157 River Street, North Adams

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, in partnership with SNAP-Ed, offers free nutrition education programs to our member agencies. Explore MyPlate healthy eating guidelines, tips to add more exercise into your day, and learn to make budget-friendly meals! Jo-Ann Ault, 413-663-7588. Reservations required.

Virtual Workshop: Active Parenting - the First Five Years

Thursday, Sept. 25, 12:00-1:30 PM, via Zoom

This lunchtime virtual workshop will cover: identifying your child’s strengths. your child’s temperament, the power of choice, paying attention to feelings, everyday little play, self-care, and mindfulness. For Berkshire County families with children under 6 years old. 

Attendees will receive a $20 gift card. In collaboration with Child Care of the Berkshires. To register: 413-663-7588 or 413-664-4821.

WEEKLY EVENTS/PROGRAMS

nbCC Bike Collective Hours 

*Tuesdays, 3:30-5:30 PM, The Armory, 206 Ashland St., North Adams 

1st Tuesdays - OPEN HOURS

2nd & 3rd Tuesdays BY APPT.

Bring your own bike or work on a bike at the bike collective. You’ll have the opportunity to learn from other community members on basic bike fixes or team up with more experienced bike mechanics to rebuild a bike. Tools and stands are provided. All NB residents are welcome! For more info, call us at 413-663-7588. 

FRC Parenting Together Group * NEW TIMES 

 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 10AM - 12PM, UNO Community Center, 157 River Street, North Adams 

A peer-driven/peer-supported group in a judgment-free, confidential space. Snacks provided. Children welcome.

*NEW LOCATION: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Coffee Time

1st Friday, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Adams COA, 3 Hoosac St., Adams

3rd Friday, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. North Adams COA/Spitzer Center, 116 Ashland St., North Adams

 This is a group for grandparents who are actively parenting their grandchildren giving them a safe and confidential space to share similar experiences with other grandparents. Coffee and snacks provided. 

Here are a few other upcoming and recurring events happening at the UNO Center at no, or low cost to participants:



• Every Wed: 6:30-10:30 PM | Berkshire Gamers - Board Game Night (No Admission fee. Open to the Public)

• Every Sun: 2:00-6:00 pm | RPG Game Night - $2 Admission Fee. A collaborative storytelling game where one person plays the narrator and supporting cast to the ensemble played by the other players. Open to the public to drop in, learn how to play and connect with the community of gamers.

Click here to see what's going on at nbCC in SEPTEMBER