The Community Recreation Association announces a food drive and a Winter Snow Sculpture Contest.
The food drive is being conducted by the CRA s Rotary Interact Group from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, Feb. 14, rain or shine. Donations will support the St. Agnes and the United Methodist Church food banks in Dalton and the First Congregational Church food bank in Hinsdale.
For safety, canned goods or non-perishable food items should be left at the curb in front of the Community House, 400 Main St., where they will be collected.
The Snow Sculpture Contest runs from Feb. 14 to 28. Families residing in the central Berkshires are invited to create a snow sculpture in their yards. Decorations, food coloring, and/or paint are allowed, and prizes will be awarded for most original, best snowman and best sculpture.
The Gib Kittredge Memorial Award is given annually to an individual who has shown service and the spirit of generosity to the CRA, its community programs and events. It is named after Gilbert Gib Kittredge, who was a lifelong resident of Dalton and an active member in the community. Among other volunteer roles, he was director of the Pittsfield National Bank, the Berkshire Museum, the Community Recreation Association, Inc., the Boys and Girls Club of Pittsfield, the Berkshire County Red Cross and the Pittsfield Country Club. Nomination forms are available on the CRA website or at the CRA front desk. For further information, contact the CRA at (413) 684-0260 or visit www.daltoncra.org. Nominations can be submitted by mail to CRA, 400 Main St., Dalton, MA 01226 or via email to CRA office manager Taylor Vreeland (tvreeland@daltoncra.org).
The Community Recreation Association is seeking nominations for the Gib Kittredge Memorial Award which will be presented at the 27th annual Gib Kittredge Auction and Awards Ceremony in August. The
The walk begins Saturday, Dec. 19 at an opening night celebration from 4:00-7:30 pm and remains on display through Jan. 31, 2021, for community members to stroll through at their leisure. Opening Night will be a socially distanced event requiring pre-registration and masks. Register for a time slot by calling the CRA at 413-684-0260. Pre-registered visitors will pick up a CRA property map at the Dalton Youth Center (DYC) sign-in which lists locations of trees sponsored and decorated by local businesses. The walk continues from the DYC, through the Mill + Main property, and over to the Community House. To maintain social distancing, visitors will be guided along the path by elves. Mixed throughout the trees will be sponsored stations for kids to pick up goodies and crafts-to-go, as well as a Holiday Story Walk. Visitors are encouraged to bring cameras as the gazebo will be decorated for holiday photos.
To the editor:
The Community Recreation Association recently celebrated its 97th birthday. Winthrop Murray Craneâs visionary gift to the Central Berkshire area, which has survived wars, recessions and the Great Depression, is facing one of its biggest challenges in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Itâs hard to operate a nonprofit whose mission is to bring the community together during a year when gathering was forbidden, but the CRA staff has performed admirably. During the summer, they offered outdoor fitness classes and safe-distance concerts on the lawn. Now that the weather has turned, thereâs pickleball and yoga in the gym, as well as appointment-only exercise opportunities in the fitness center and Massachusettsâ oldest swimming pool.