January 17, 2019
Mickey Friedman
Tis the season we count our blessings. I’m most grateful for “Artworks” and “Hope Hall.” Because here in Great Barrington wishes really are horses, and we have a stampede. A veritable GB Jamboree.
We best appreciate the present by remembering the past. Remember the dark days before our deteriorating downtown fire station at 20 Castle Street became “Artworks.” Bricks falling, and so many hoped-fors, wishes galore.
Then, like the proverbial phoenix rising, we beheld “Artworks.” And like me, you must be eternally grateful for the hard work of Attorney McClintock, former Town Wrangler Keith “Big Daddy” McD and our Selectfolks, those who bravely dragged us from the past into the future, to the transformation.
Each New Years, I read from the inspiring founding document: “The 20 Castle Street LLC Proposal.” The blueprint foretelling the compelling “mix of entities” with “a programmatic focus of education, vocational training, jobs, and career counseling.” What they promised, and except for those few afraid of the future, what we collectively dreamed of was the “catalyst for employment growth in Berkshire County.” And we boldly allocated nearly three hundred thousand for asbestos removal.
Now I’ve been lucky enough to volunteer at the monthly “Welcome to The Best Small Town in America Orientation Sessions” at the Dairy Queen. I’m sure you can guess what the first question our inquisitive visitors ask. Yes, you’ve got it: “Where are the bathrooms?” But the second most popular question is “Where can we find ‘The Local Canvas?’” Just last week Anthony Mortadello from Upper Montclair, New Jersey said “Dottie and I have heard so much about that groundbreaking for-profit cafe that specializes in the farm to table concept. Buono Appetito Magazine said it not only serves breakfast, lunch and dinner but features a unique educational and training component.” I was happy to tell the Mortadellos that folks just love the opportunity to dine, then use the enlarged kitchen of “The Local Canvas” for their inspiring culinary classes.
So often those who read the stirring profiles of GB in Architectural Digest, Birdwatchers Biweeky, and High Times tell us how impressed they are by what 20 Castle Street reveals about our higher purpose and spirit. I love to quote the proposal:
“The vision, mission and motivation inspired by this property lies within its rich history and the original purpose of the building to help and serve the community. “Artworks”, through its programming will provide young people with the opportunity to learn valuable technical skills as well as practice business guidance counseling. Keeping our young people employed within the community is essential to the future growth and economic development of Great Barrington, inclusive of farm and agricultural, high tech and the culinary arts …”
One former Fortune 500 C.O.O. took me aside at the Dairy Queen to confess that when he heard the words “inclusive of farm and agricultural, high tech and the culinary arts” so boldly linked to “private enterprise” he couldn’t keep the tears from rolling down his cheeks. And he immediately wrote a check for five million to purchase a cottage in Alford.
I’m sure you saw the inspiring segment on WGBZ’s landmark DIY program, “Carpentry for Klutzes.” Entitled “How to Make A Buck and Teach Dodos the Dado,” Klutz host Billy Bob Brenham and Keith McD discussed the transformative impact of 20 Castle Street’s “The Wooden Yankee.” Keith excitedly told viewers:
“The Wooden Yankee will operate a for profit business, split between paid for fine furniture and cabinetry classes and vocational training in all aspects of home building and remodeling. The later focus will be towards young adults. The vocational area will have a cross section of home building under construction with foundation, framing, electrical, plumbing, heating, bath, kitchen, etc. It will be a life cycle of being built, dismantled and rebuilt and providing hands on experience for students. Courses will also include the economics of operating and sustaining one’s own business.”
Clearly, “The Wooden Yankee” has struck a chord in so many. Who doesn’t love the life cycle? Of course, young internet savvy entrepreneurs and their significant others, and the happily retired rich executives who’ve read the glowing reports in Vogue now dream of moving here. And based upon their reactions at our Orientation Sessions can’t wait to purchase Wooden Yankee’s fine furniture for their first, second, or third homes then take advantage of the cabinetry classes.
“Artworks” all comes together with Hope Hall, the second floor non-profit that provides much-needed and much-appreciated career, vocational, and employment counseling, as well as specific classes designed to educate in the basics of starting and running your own business. With its common area suite consisting of two offices, shared reception and conference room.
I say start the New Year with the farm-to-table, free-range, vaccine-free chicken special at ‘The Local Canvas’ followed by a visit to Hope Hall.
Hope. What we needed. What we got.
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Hope Hall was first published in the January 10, 2019 issue of The Berkshire Record.