Paul Mark

Great time hosting Vice President today at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield! Thank you to the Berkshires’ own and for making this happen and to all who attended and donated. It was really wonderful seeing so many friends and feeling the warmth of the Berkshires on the national stage. ✔️

This week Tourism Tuesday features the amazing in Stockbridge! Check out original artwork by Rockwell including the iconic Four Freedoms and my personal favorite, The Lineman, which features a telephone worker from Cheshire. There are also periodic exhibits like the art and humor of Mad Magazine. Check out Rockwell’s artist studio and more on the beautiful grounds. Learn more at this link-https://www.nrm.org ✔️

This week we feature an Agri-Tourism Tuesday with and the Pittsfield Farmers Market! Roots Rising gets young people involved in agriculture, local business, and community sustainability. The Pittsfield Farmers Market is the first teen run market in the region! I got to tour their center in development in Pittsfield and was honored to speak at a recent fundraiser in support of their mission. July is a great month to donate to support this important organization! Learn more here-https://www.rootsrising.org ✔️

Happy to report the following amendments for the district were secured during the Senate economic development bill debate this week. ✔️

This week Tourism Tuesdays features Herman Melville’s Arrowhead in Pittsfield! This historic property was the home of Herman Melville when he wrote Moby Dick and features antiques from his day, including the desk he worked at. You can learn more about and even reserve time for yourself to write at the desk by following this link-https://berkshirehistory.org ✔️

Congratulations to the Town of West Stockbridge on your 250th Anniversary! Honored to join Rep. Pignatelli to be part of the celebration on this special day. ✔️

Happy Independence Day! ✔️

The Senate debate on the Housing Bill continues, but I am happy to report the following earmarks that have been approved today for communities throughout the Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Hampshire District! ✔️

This week’s Tourism Tuesday features the 2024 World Champion Boston Celtics! Sports tourism is big in Massachusetts and the amazing playoff run contributed to our economy in so many ways. From increased restaurant and hotel revenue to a parade this Friday to increased interest in the ._hall._of._fame._ in the place basketball was invented, Springfield in western Massachusetts. I even got the chance to bring my mother to a game this season, not the Finals unfortunately. Congratulations Celtics and thank you for being a great community partner! ☘ ✔️

The State 911 Department is experiencing a technical issue affecting public safety answering points (PSAPs) across the State. If you need State Police assistance, please call one of the following regional dispatches:

Northshore: 978-538-6180
Western Massachusetts: 413-587-5700
Franklin County: 413-625-8326 or 413-625-8468
Western Worcester County: 508-867-5181 or 508-309-5350
Worcester County: 508-829-8420
South Coast, Cape & Islands: 508-397-3192
Greater Boston: 617-946-3080
Logan Airport: 617-568-7301
Metrowest: 508-820-2121

We will provide further updates when 911 service is restored.

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Remembering my friend and colleague Rep. Gailanne Cariddi today. The first picture was the last time I ever saw her and it sits in my office at the State House so she is always there with me. Honored to now represent her beloved hometown of North Adams. Seven years goes by quickly but I think of you often. 11/1/1953-6/17/2017

Great joining my colleagues in the Berkshire Delegation as well as Mayor Marchetti and Mayor Macksey for the annual meeting in Pittsfield! It was wonderful to celebrate the 2024 service award winners for their good work in our community and learn about the important programs available at BCAC. Congratulations and thank you to an amazing team dedicated to improving life in the Berkshires! ✔️

This week’s Tourism Tuesday features the Cultural Facilities Fund grant awards! I was honored to attend and speak at the grant ceremony today at the Children’s Museum of Easton alongside .cassidy.754 and as we celebrated award winners from all over Massachusetts. Grateful to see nearly $1.5 million awarded to organizations in the Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire District, including in attendance. Congratulations to all! ✔️

This week’s Tourism Tuesday features in the beautiful Town of Hancock! Hancock Shaker Village has acres of spectacular scenery that includes historic buildings, unique architecture, Shaker artifacts, as well as special attractions like baby animals. This year is a special year at the village as they celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Shakers arriving in America. Learn more at this link-https://hancockshakervillage.org ✔️

Great joining and the Berkshire County League of Woman Voters today for civics action day with 8th graders from Reid and Herberg Middle Schools in Pittsfield! Wonderful to learn about the issues important to these students while encouraging to stay involved in civics and government. ✔️

This week we feature the for Tourism Tuesday! Located in the heart of Pittsfield the Berkshire Museum features a wide range of fun exhibits for people of all ages, including an aquarium! Check out this link to learn more and plan your visit-https://berkshiremuseum.org ✔️

Thank you to all who took the time today to remember the sacrifice of those who gave their lives in service to our country. Honored to participate in several Memorial Day events throughout the region this holiday weekend. ✔️

I am happy to report that a number of important amendments I filed have been adopted this week as part of the Senate Budget! Highlighted by $17,500,000 in Rural School aid, the highest amount yet in state history, and a $2,500,000 increase over last year. Grateful to have secured $950,000 in local and regional items as well as $500,000 for statewide tourism investment. Thank you to all who partnered on securing this important funding. ✔️

What an amazing honor to be awarded a Doctor of Public Service degree, honoris causa, from this weekend. I have had the great privilege of occasionally teaching at MCLA as an adjunct professor for the past five years and partnering with and championing this college as a member of the House of Representatives and now as their Senator. But the most special part of this for me was that my father went here when it was North Adams State College, and never completed his degree, so I was so grateful for the chance to bring home a diploma that bears his name and join him as an alumni of this school. Thank you to everyone who made it happen and who joined me to celebrate, and congratulations to the entire class of 2024! ✔️

Thank you to all who attended and participated in our 2nd Annual Beacon Hill in the Berkshire Hills event in Lenox! We had an informative and productive day full of discussions and presentations with guest speakers from the and executive branch. Thanks so much to and Secretary Ed Augustus for taking the time to make sure the Berkshires and Beyond are not forgotten! ✔️

Really great to attend the ribbon cutting and open house for the new Have Hope Recovery Center in North Adams! This Support Center is a free peer-driven, peer-led community space supported by the Brien Center which provides individuals in recovery from substance use, as well as families and loved ones affected by addiction, the opportunity to both offer and receive support in their community environment. Learn more at this link-https://www.briencenter.org/havehoperecovery/ ✔️

Congratulations to Pittsfield and Berkshire County on being named the #1 medium sized community in the country as part of the Top 40 Vibrant Arts Communities of the Year! Also excellent to see Massachusetts ranked in the Top 3 state by state!

City Hall - City of Pittsfield, Mayor Peter Marchetti, Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier. See the full list here-https://culturaldata.org/arts-vibrancy-2023/the-top-40-list/

This week for Tourism Tuesday we feature the art of currently on display at Boston City Hall! Laura’s exhibit “Fairytales of the Public Garden” is showcased on the 5th Floor Mayor’s Gallery now through April 12th. It is a rare treat to have a Berkshire artist featured and makes it especially important. Thank you to Laura for taking the time to give a private tour to me and my staff! ✔️

This week for we feature the Old State House in Boston, curated by Revolutionary Spaces and a featured attraction on the Freedom Trail! The Old State House dates back to 1713 and was the former seat of government for the colony and state of Massachusetts. The Boston Massacre occurred in front of the building on March 5, 1770, and I was honored to join this year’s ceremony in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the name of free speech and democratic representation 254 years ago today, including Crispus Attucks. Check out this link to learn more about visiting this important piece of our shared history—https://revolutionaryspaces.org ✔️

This week for Tourism Tuesday I am please to announce 33 FY’24 Cultural Investment Portfolio grants from the Mass Cultural Council to organizations in the Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire District! These grants support local cultural organizations and benefit all of our communities through the and great partnership! ✔️

This week Tourism Tuesday features the Baseball in the Berkshires “Black Baseball History in Berkshire County” exhibit at the Dalton Cra this February! In honor of this collection highlights the history of black baseball players and teams from the Berkshires with photos, news stories, and explanations full of interesting facts. Learn more about the Baseball in the Berkshires project and the stops it will make this year, including this month in Dalton, https://baseballinberkshires.org ✔️

Great day yesterday at the State House as the Massachusetts State Senate unveiled the bust of Frederick Douglass in the Senate chamber on Valentine’s Day, which he considered to be his birthday. As Chair of Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development it was wonderful to see the results of the good work of the State House Arts Commission at this moving ceremony. ✔️

This week celebrates with a visit to a special exhibit, Catch the Fire, at the Worcester Center for Crafts in the Heart of the Commonwealth! Thank you to Senator Robyn Kennedy for bringing me and Tourism Vice Chair Senator Jake Oliveira to experience this amazing collection, including a quilt dating to the 1840’s and the Underground Railroad. Follow this link to learn more, it’s worth taking the trip to Worcester, and the exhibit is open through February 29th. https://worcestercraftcenter.org/events/black-history-project/
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This week we feature the Bryant Homestead in Cummington! This 195 acre The Trustees property located in a beautiful setting close to the Cummington Cultural District is a great place to sneak off to for beautiful scenery and old fashioned architecture. It is also listed as a National Historic Landmarks. Follow this link to learn more-https://thetrustees.org/place/william-cullen-bryant-homestead/ ✔️