BY DAN VALENTI

ADD 2 JUNE 3, 2011

POLICE CONFIRM NORTH STREET VIOLENCE; INJURED TEEN TO BE CHARGED

Police Capt. John Mullen confirmed the incident first reported today on THE PLANET where a young man suffered “a severe laceration to his arm and lost a lot of blood” after smashing a plate glass window a5 2t Union Street with his fist. Captain Mullen also confirmed that a second store window was broken at Toomey Appliance, 345 North St., although he did not know if the same person smashed both windows. The Toomey window was broken with a bottle, according to Capt. Mullen.

Mullen said the man, 18, was treated at the scene and taken by ambulance to BMC, where he underwent surgery for what appears to be a catastrophic cut. Mullen could not confirm that the teen’s arm had been severed, although he did say that a caller who phoned the incident in to dispatch hysterically said that the the youth had severed his arm. Other sources say the arm was “hanging by a thread.” It’s not known if doctors managed to save the arm. Police would not release the identity of the man, pending charges.

Mullen said the teen would be charged with breaking a window. The Planet has reports that there was more than one person at the scene at the time of incident and that heavy drinking was involved, although officials could not confirm that. There may be other charges pending at the investigation continues. Officers Matt Ortega and David Kirchner responded, Capt. Mullen said.

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FIRST ADD JUNE 3, 2011

BLOOD, MAYHEM ON NORTH ST., BUT THE BB DIDN’T HAVE A PEEP OF IT

It began with a tip to this website a couple days ago. Still Wondering wrote:

Dan, did you hear about the drunk teenager who punched in a plate glass window at Studio 25? The glass acted like a gilliotine and cut off his arm. The doctors are trying to reattach the arm down at Bat State Medical Center but it apparently is not succeeding.
No mention in the Eagle of course. Can’t let the wealthy weekenders know how bad the chaos is here in Pittsfield.

The Planet has confirmed that there was a horrific incident at that location. Studio 25 is adjacent to Mary’s Carrot Cake Shop on Union Street. It’s also the side entrance to Studio 311, where the possible molestation or rape of a female artist may have taken place several weeks ago, upstairs. The incident in which a young man suffered a severe arm injury took place early in the morning of June 1, just after or before 1 a.m.

Scene on North and Union: ‘Scary’

At 1:30 a.m., police called one of the tenants of the building and asked her to come to the site ASAP. PPD officer Matt Ortega met her there. According to one witness, “Lots of stuff on North Street got trashed. Flowers were uprooted and flipped over. Garbage was stern about. Toomey’s Appliance [on North Street] got hit in front, too.” That is located next to Wild Sage. One source described “several young males causing mayhem.” Sources described it as “scary.”

At Mary’s Carrot Cake and Studio 25, a huge plate glass window was broken. A source who did not want her name used said “there was blood everywhere. Martin’s Glass came right over. They boarded up the window and cleaned the blood.” The Planet has not confirmed that a man’s arm was severed, though we have received multiple reports of that happening. Descriptions of the scene painted it red with a huge amount of “spilled blood everywhere.”

Growing Concern for Downtown Lawlessness

Inside the shop window, the shattered glass damaged a military display honoring the Battle of Bennington, the Fighting Parson, and Memorial Day. Many hand-painted miniatures were either destroyed damaged. No art work was reported damaged.

The Planet has calls into police chief Michael Wynn and Irving Cohen, the building’s owner.

The incident exemplifies the growing concern of random violence on North Street. One downtown shop owner who did not her name used said she was afraid that news of this would get out, because “it might scare the bejeezus out of anyone who’s thinking of coming downtown. There’s been so much progress [in the downtown]. We are trying to make things better and turn it around. This is discouraging, yes, but it’s not defeating.” The big plywood covering over the shattered plate glass window testifies to the discouragement.

As Still Wondering pointed out, not a word about this in the Boring Broadsheet. They have all the resources, an armed newsroom, and the talent. The BB does not have the ESSENTIAL ingredient, though: Care. They don’t care to be the Fourth Estate for the people of Berkshire County.

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(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, JUNE 3, 2011) — The weekends are getting busier, now that The Season has come upon us. The Season is that interlude that begins post-Memorial Day and includes Labor Day Weekend. That’s when the Berkshires becomes “The Berkshires” — a magical land where boughs are sugary, people retreat from personal history, glad to embrace Art’s mystery, swift to be hurled here — here — and out of “the world.”

Here, in this Berkshire Shangril-La, with Arnold the tourists flee from their tumultuous lives to find great repose where, twice a day, the gifted, glad sun comes and goes under high pines. Far from any huge town, they sit themselves down. For want of them, the world’s course will not fail. They worry and wear will go on, but the lie shall rot. The Truth is great and shall prevail when no one cares that it prevails — or not.

Now that we have flushed the poetic water hydrant, we bring you two musical notes. One takes place tomorrow (Saturday, June 4) and one in few days (June 18). The first is Berkshire Countryfest. The Planet presents this preview.

Countryfest to fill Beloved Wahconah Park with a Day Full of Music

By JOSH CUTLER

While the Pittsfield Colonials will be spending this weekend eight hours to the north in Quebec City battling the defending Can-Am League Champion Quebec Capitales, the playing field on Historic Wahconah Park will be far from dormant, as the Colonials’ front office presents the first annual Berkshire Countryfest, with music and events planned throughout the day Saturday, June 4th.

THE MUSIC IS ON — Berkshire Countryfest is tomorrow at BWP (Courtesy of BerkshireCountryfet to PLANET VALENTI)

“This concert is going to be fabulous [featuring the] heart and souls of performers we are so proud to have on board, [since] they are the  ‘Berkshire’s Own,’“ said event co-director Cheryl Wendling.

Wendling and co-director Kathy Fabrizio have been working on a near daily basis since October  the avalanche of tasks to make this event possible. “Without the two of us working so very hard as we have for something we both truly believe in, Berkshire Countryfest would not be happening, (as) many long days, nights and hours have gone into this wonderful project”, Wendling said.

Nashville Cat, via Richmond, Mass., will Headline

The event will be headlined by Nashville entertainer Michael Joseph Fabrizio and his Nashville Band. A native of Richmond, Fabrizio’s sound blends rock, country, pop, and soul.  Fabrizio currently has a new album in the works with Nashville-based musician/producer Kent Wells, who has worked with such artists as Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, and Travis Tritt.

As part of the event, Berkshire Countryfest will also feature a tribute to the military to kick off the day. The VFW and Vietnam War Veteran’s Honor Guard will march onto the field, followed by a performance by Pittsfield’s Eagles Band ensemble. Taconic High School graduate and Williams College student Caroline Sinico will sing the National Anthem and Rock On will sing a selection of patriotic songs. The tribute will conclude with a parade of Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders along the side of the field displaying flags.

All day lineup includes a Bevy of Bands and an Array of Acts

The lineup of performers throughout the day all feature ties to Berkshire County, including: The Rick Rebel Band, Whiskey City, Duncan Earl Walters, JoAnne Redding, Corey Zink with County Line, Aged in the Hills, Bobby Sweet, and David Grover, with Fabrizio and his band the final performers of the night.  A fireworks display will cap off the full day of activities following the performances.

Wendling emphasized that the day’s activities will feature amenities for people of all ages and with different interests, including face painting and a bouncy house for children, craft vendors, a “meet and greet” with the performers after each band completes their set, and food and beverages supplied by Michael Roller, owner of Samel’s Deli and the Colonials’ concessions caterer.

The gates for Berkshire Countryfest will open at 9 a.m. on Saturday, with entertainment scheduled to begin at 11. Tickets may be purchased at the gate or by logging on to http://www.berkshirecountryfest.com.  A portion of the ticket revenues will be dedicated to Soldier On, a non-profit organization dedicated to provide health services and shelter to troubled veterans.

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How Sweet it Is

Another event, this one scheduled at the Colonial Theater, features one of the performers at Countryfest. Bobby Sweet will release his latest solo album at the venue.

Sweet will perform with his BSweet Band on Saturday, June 18 at 8p.m. at The Colonial Theatre to celebrate the release of his sixth solo album, Cowboys and Poets.

Tickets are $15 and may be purchased in person at the Colonial Ticket Office at 111 South Street or by calling (413) 997-4444 or online at www.TheColonialTheatre.org. The ticket office is open Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-5p.m., Saturdays 10a.m.-2p.m. or on any performance day from 10 a.m. until intermission.

Sweet’s folk/Americana style has been compared to artists such as John Prine, Jackson Browne, Guy Clark, and a countrified Bruce Springsteen. Sweet has shared the stage with performers such as Vince Gill, Bill Staines, Bill Morrissey, Martin Sexton, Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Jonathan Edwards. He toured with Arlo Guthrie’s 2008-2009 Lost World Tour and has just returned from Guthrie’s 2010-2011 Journey On Tour. He has opened for George Jones, Asleep at the Wheel, Willie Nelson, The Bellamy Brothers, and Waylon Jennings. He has also written songs that have aired on the hit television series Touched By An Angel, CSI, Walker Texas Ranger, Soul Foodand Judging Amy.

Sweet will be performing with his BSweet Band featuring Pete Adams (pedal steel guitar), Rick Leab (drums), Bruce Mandel (bass) and Abe Guthrie (keyboards).

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LOTS PERCOLATING ON THE PLANET. STAY TUNED AS WE MAY BREAK IN AT ANY TIME WITH IMPORTANT NEWS FLASHES ABOUT PROMGATE (the current hit WHODUNNIT in the Naked City of Pittsfield) OR ANYTHING ELSE THEY “DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW.”

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE”

LOVE TO ALL.