Bits & Bytes: ‘Martin Luther King in This Time’; 37 Interlaken open house; Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service; Dugway at Lenox Library

Cantilena Chamber Choir, Urban Choral Arts Society to present open sing

Lenox — The Cantilena Chamber Choir will present the “Martin Luther King in This Time: A Concert of Songs and Spirituals” open sing Sunday, Jan. 14, at 3 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church featuring special guests the Urban Choral Arts Society of Baltimore, Maryland.

King will be remembered in poems and speeches, but the focus of the program will be a spiritual sing-along with the choirs. All words and music will be provided. A featured work on the program will be “They Called Her Moses” about the life of American abolitionist and humanitarian Harriet Tubman and written by choral director and composer Robert De Cormier. The performance will be dedicated to De Cormier, who died Nov. 7, 2017, at the age of 95. Also on the program will be the winners of the Berkshire Eagle’s Martin Luther King Jr. student essay contest, who will be present to read their winning entries.

The Urban Choral Arts Society is a combined choir of youth and adults under the direction of Ronald McFadden and based at the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center. The society is dedicated to improving the achievement and esteem of Baltimore-area youth through music and cultural arts. Its mission is to build a community of artists, preserve music of the African diaspora and empower youth with competitive artistic skills for innovation.

There is a suggested donation of $15. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or contact the Cantilena Chamber Choir at (518) 791-0185 or satbchoir@yahoo.com.

–E.E.

*     *     *

37 Interlaken partners to hold open house

The former DeSisto School on Route 183 where developers have proposed a complex of houses and condominiums. Photo courtesy Kellsboro

Stockbridge — The developers of the 37 Interlaken project will host informational sessions for Berkshire residents Friday, Jan. 12 from 5 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 13, from 10 a.m. to noon.

The open houses will allow for a project update and discussion of the proposed bylaw amendment. The events also will provide an opportunity to address questions from the public regarding bylaws and the project. The plans for 37 Interlaken would have the 1890s estate transformed into an “agri-hood” community built around a year-round working farm. A historic inn, houses and condominium/hotel units are also proposed for the 320-acre site, though most of the property will remain undeveloped open space and woodland.

A brief presentation about the project will take place every 45 minutes during the sessions. Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP by 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, to 37interlaken@gmail.com, or contact Tony Guthrie at (508) 246-3236 or tguthrie@robertpaul.com.

–E.E.

*     *     *

Volunteers from Berkshire Community College’s 2016 Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service event visit the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center in Pittsfield. Photo courtesy Berkshire Community College

BCC to hold Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service event

Pittsfield — Berkshire Community College will give back to the community at its annual Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service event, which will begin Monday, Jan. 15, at 8 a.m. in the Connector building at BCC’s main campus.

The event will begin with registration and a light breakfast. At 9 a.m., Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts history, political science and public policy professor Frances Jones-Sneed will give a keynote address about the history of Martin Luther King Jr. and his call for more community service. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., attendees will go out into the community to volunteer at Habitat for Humanity, Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center and Harvest Table.

Those interested in volunteering are asked to register in advance by contacting BCC’s career center coordinator Charles Stephens at (413) 236-1611 or cstephens@berkshirecc.edu.

–E.E.

*     *     *

Lenox Library coffeehouse to feature Dugway

Chris Considine of Dugway. Photo courtesy Dugway

Lenox — The Lenox Library invites the public to a coffeehouse in its Sedgwick Reading Room Friday, Jan. 12, at 8 p.m. featuring hot coffee and the music of Dugway.

Chris Considine performs as Dugway, both solo and with original band member Blake Poore. Based in western Massachusetts and Connecticut, Considine writes and produces Dugway’s innovative music inspired by 1960s British and 20^th-century American tunes. Dugway has performed across the Northeast including at the Bitter End in New York City, Club Passim and Harvard Square Music Festival in Cambridge, the Guthrie Center in Great Barrington, and the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield.

The coffeehouse is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Lenox Library at (413) 637-0197.

–E.E.