Still No Leads On Who Vandalized The Whit In July

There are still no leads on the individual or individuals that brutally vandalized The Whitney Center for the Arts on Wendell Avenue in Pittsfield, according to executive director, Ghazi Kazmi. Someone broke into the building at 42 Wendell Avenue last month and trashed the interior and caused extensive damage – including water damage from running the upstairs bathtubs.

Kazmi told the Berkshire News Network that they are still in the process of cleaning up, which could take another week or two before repairs can begin. That is expected to take another month or possible two.

One of the problems that The Whit is facing is the replacement of the window that was broken to gain access to the building. The building was built in 1866 and is registered with the National and State’s Historical Societies. This being the case, they cannot just go to Home Depot and pick up what they need to repair the window. According to Kazmi, they must find materials that match the original. That will not be easy, as no one makes that glass pattern anymore. The goal is to match the other windows.

Meanwhile, a fundraiser for The Whit, set up on Facebook by local musician and producer, Sandy McKnight through his organization’s Columbia Arts Team and Berkshire Organization for Original Music has collected $3,230 of a $5,000 goal from members if the community who care about The Whit and want to see it back up and running again as soon as possible.