Berkshire Carousel will be located in Lanesborough!

After many months of deliberation the Board of Directors and the Volunteers of the Berkshire Carousel concurred that Lanesborough will become the home of the Berkshire Carousel and Exhibit Hall. Berkshire Carousel had prided itself in not accepting any local tax monies to build this incredible million dollar work of art, but has relied on private donations, sponsorships and loans to complete the project. The only solicitation for State or Federal funding may be for assistance in rennovating space for the carousel and the exhibit hall to house collections of the Berkshires and local hobbyists. We are pleased to work with the Board of Selectmen from the Town of Lanesborough and the Berkshire Mall to create a new home for the project. For the past two years under the leadership of manager, Joe Scelsi, the Berkshire Mall has generously donated space for the carousel workshop and fundraising events. Thousands of people, many youngsters, have had an opportunity to visit the workshop and participate in educational and holiday events. The mall has been very accommodating and is currently working with the Berkshire Carousel for a workable lease to locate the carousel in a prominent spot. The Selectmen,  John Goerlach, Robert Barton and  William Pendergast have both personally and professionally commited themselves to seeing the carousel is a success in their community. A copy of the letter of commitment from these gentlemen appears below.

Maria Caccaviello  and Selectman Bob Barton                    Selectman John Goerlach, Jackie Shulman and Maria

In September, the Berkshire Carousel Board of Directors met to review the proposals submitted for the carousel location and considered the criteria below that were important for the operation and sustainability of the carousel. Based on this criteria and recommendations by the volunteers, the Board unanimously selected Lanesborough.  We are pleased to work with this community to aim for operation by the summer of 2013. 

                                          Board Members Discussing Proposals for Selection of the Location

             Rocco Dinicola and Bobbe Cohn                                        Director, Maria Caccaviello and Nancy Shulman

                                         Jim Shulman                                                 Frank Bonnevie, Marge Shulman and Jonathan Denmark

Bryon Sherman

Criteria for Selecting a Location

1. Respect for and confidence in the volunteers, the staff, the Board and the founders and all those who are creating this work of art,

2. Understanding the role of the volunteer community in the operation of the carousel and future carousel projects,

3. Accessibility (by foot, bus, car, etc.)

4. 4.Safety and security,
   

5. Adequate traffic for year around operation,  

6. Adequate and easy parking,

7. Interest by other businesses for collaborative efforts,

8. Opportunity for more than a single destination visit,

9. Space for enhancing operating income in addition to ride ticket sales, e.g., party area, educational events, exhibits, gift shop, food concession area, art gallery, etc., and

10. Assistance in developing an endowment fund.

These factors and the involvement by the community in rallying behind the carousel in Lanesborough will set the stage to create memories for generations to come.

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  E-Newsletter Report on the Carousel Location and Pittsfield Politics

Many people have been disappointed and even critical of the Berkshire Carousel for not being located in Pittsfield as originally planned. Early in November local investigative reporter, writer, published author and teacher, Dan Valenti, who edits an online newsletter called Planet Valenti, did a detailed four part series on the Berkshire Carousel and from his research addresses why the carousel did not end up in Pittsfield.  Valenti does a good job through his interviews of community leaders, volunteers and others interested in the Berkshire Carousel to put together an interesting story. You can read the Valenti Article in all four parts at the following links:

Part 1.     http://planetvalenti.com/2012/10/planet-exclusive-will-it-go-round-in-circles-round-and-round-she-goes-and-where-it-stops-is-lanesboro-not-pittsfield-question-is-why-why-did-pittsfield-turn-its-back-on-a-million-do/

Part 2.    http://planetvalenti.com/2012/10/pt-ii-of-a-planet-exclusive-the-berkshire-carousel-will-it-go-round-in-circles-project-began-as-a-1-million-gift-free-of-charge-but-a-tiny-handful-of-city-leaders-only-saw/

Part 3.   http://planetvalenti.com/2012/11/part-3-of-a-planet-exclusive-will-it-go-round-in-circles-the-carousel-project-gets-off-to-a-slow-start-but-from-the-get-go-the-city-showed-an-odd-disdain-for-the-project-why-t/

Part 4.    http://planetvalenti.com/2012/11/our-series-on-berkshire-carousel-will-it-go-round-in-circles-concludes-today/

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