By DAN VALENTI

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, JUNE 14, 2011) — After spending a couple of days in Perth Amboy, N.J., hardly the garden spot of the Garden State, The Planet finds it good to be back on terra more-or-lessa firma, noting with interest a new page on Facebook promoting a write-in for Sara Hathaway for mayor.

It’s not a far-fetched idea. The once-elected and once-defeated Hathaway would certainly have the motivation to seek re-election, this being an open seat and all. The area still abounds with Hathaway fans, including those who claim that, in two years, she didn’t have a chance to follow through on initiative. They also point to her work in getting Barrington Stage to Pittsfield.

The Planet remembers Hathaway well. We got along famously, especially when she wasn’t speaking to us. We hope Hathaway decides that she’s in. This would give voters at least three strong, legitimate choice for mayor, including Peter Marchetti and Dan Bianchi.

We wonder how a Hathaway candidacy would affect the fortunes of both men. We double wonder how it would be received by the small % of We The People that actually gets off their duffs and votes. Anyone care to speculate?

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COLONIALS PPD. BY RAIN IN NJ AFTER TAKING SERIES OPENER THE NIGHT BEFORE

By CHAD COOPER

Special to PLANET VALENTI Sports

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, June 14, 2011) — The Pittsfield Colonials were rained out of the road game against the New Jersey Jackals tonight. It will be made up as part of a twin-bill beginning tomorrow in New Jersey. Game time is 11:05 a.m. Pregame coverage begins at www.pittsfieldcolonials.com tomorrow at 10:45 a.m.

Last night, in the first game of the series, the Colonials scored three runs in the top of the first inning and got strong relief pitching late as they never trailed in a 6-4 win over the Jackals.

Pittsfield jumped out to a quick three-run first inning lead. With two outs, Jerod Edmondson walked on four pitches. The Colonials took advantage of some shoddy Jackals defense as a throwing error and a passed ball moved Edmondson to third base. Angel Molina chopped a single over the mound to score Edmondson for a 1-0 lead. Billy Mottram stepped to the dish next and launched a 2-0 fastball off the wall in right for a triple to score Molina. Mottram would come home two pitches later when Myron Leslie allowed his second passed ball of the inning, giving Pittsfield a 3-0 lead.

The Jackals would work their way back into the game with a pair of runs in the fourth on a solo homer by Jeremy Slayden and an RBI single from Chris White to cut the Colonials advantage to 3-2.

Pittsfield got the runs right back in the top of the fifth as with one out, Quentin Davis walked. Danny Bomback came up next and drilled a two-run homerun over the rightfield fence to put the Colonials up 5-2.

The two teams traded a run over the next inning as the Jackals scored on a Mike Jones triple, plating Myron Leslie to make it a 5-3 game. Pittsfield scored an unearned run in the top of the sixth as Johnny Welch came in to score on Leslie’s third passed ball of the game to get the lead back up to three

New Jersey would not quit, however, as with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Chris White curled a homerun inside the rightfield foul pole to slice the Pittsfield lead to 6-4. At that point, the Colonials bullpen took over as the combo of Mike Zenko, Rafael Lluberes and Matt Lyons allowed just one hit in 3.1 scoreless innings.

The win went to Pat Moran (2-1) who went 5.2 innings for Pittsfield. Lyons earned his second save of the season. Chris Vasami (1-2) took the loss for New Jersey.

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COLONIAL THEATER, BTF MERGER OFFICIAL

(FROM THE PLANET NEWS SERVICE) — Nearly seven months after two of Berkshire County’s preeminent producing and performing theaters said that they intended to join forces, Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer Kate Maguire announced that both have merged into one organization: Colonial Theatre/Berkshire Theatre Festival Merger Corporation.

“The trustees of both groups examined every aspect of the two businesses with careful deliberation, plenty of ‘due diligence’ and the prospect of dazzling programming opportunities before filing new articles of incorporation with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” Maguire said.

BTF opens its season with the rock-opera The Who’s Tommy on the Colonial Theatre stage July 7–16.

Citing the potential of three stages, Simon Shaw, programmer for the Colonial and BTF, said that jazz, folk music, and stand-up comedy will be slated for the Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge, in addition to this summer’s plays Moonchildren, Dutch Masters, Birthday Boy and the classic musical Finian’s Rainbow.

At the Fitzpatrick Main Stage there will be three comedies, Sylvia by A.R. Gurney, the world premiere of In The Mood by Kathleen Clark, and Period of Adjustment by Tennessee Williams.

Last year the two organizations served 100,000 patrons and 15,000 schoolchildren, collectively, according to Maguire. The new corporation will continue to focus on the Berkshire educational outreach programs previously done by the two organizations.

The Colonial Theatre/Berkshire Theatre Festival Merger Corp.’s board of trustees consists of the trustees from each organization. The Merger Corporation’s officers include: Executive Vice Presidents, Lloyd and Perlman; Vice President of Finance, A. King Francis; Treasurer, Neil E. Ellenoff and Secretary, Ruth Blodgett. Elected Vice Presidents are: Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr., William H. Booth, Stuart Hirschfield, Randolph Hawthorne, Robert H. Jones, Jr., Kit Dobelle and Robert M. Berzok.

The new corporation is headquartered at The Colonial Theatre, 111 South Street in Pittsfield with a satellite office at The Berkshire Theatre Festival in Stockbridge.