Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College presents ‘How We Got to ICE: A Conversation with One of America’s Premier Historians of Immigration,’ with Columbia University Professor Mai Ngai and former Professor Tom Gerety
Pittsfield– On Wednesday, February 25th at 7 p.m., the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Berkshire Community College presents, as part of its Distinguished Speakers Series, “How We Got to ICE: A Conversation with One of America’s Premier Historians of Immigration,” with Columbia University Professor Mai Ngai and former Professor Tom Gerety. The discussion will explore recent shocking events, particularly those which unfolded in Minnesota.
Professor Mai Ngai holds the Lung Family chair in Asian American Studies and History at Columbia University. She started her career as a labor organizer and teacher in New York City and earned her PhD at Columbia University under the direction of abolition historian Eric Foner. She has written several notable books on immigration to America, including “Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and Making of Modern America” and “The Lucky Ones: One Family and the Extraordinary Invention of Chinese America.” Ngai has won numerous awards, including the Frederick Jackson Turner prize and a Guggenheim Fellowship.
Tom Gerety taught constitutional law through most of his career. He retired as a Collegiate Professor of law and humanities at New York University. He headed up the Brennan Center for Justice and was president of both Trinity and Amherst Colleges. He received law and philosophy degrees from Yale.
The virtual discussion is on Wednesday, February 25th at 7 p.m. on Zoom. It is free and open to all. Registration and more information can be found online.
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Change the Mass Flag presents informational meeting for public to look closer at the history and design elements of the flag and seal of Massachusetts
Sheffield– On Thursday, February 26th at 6 p.m., Change the Mass Flag presents an informational meeting for town officials and members of the public to take a closer look at the history and design elements of the flag and seal of Massachusetts, before an article on the May 4th Annual Town Meeting warrant will ask the voters of Sheffield to weigh in on whether the flag and seal of Massachusetts should be changed.
The Massachusetts flag and seal feature a white hand holding a Colonial sword poised above the head of an Indigenous figure, with a Latin motto beneath, commonly translated as: “She seeks a quiet peace with liberty under the sword.”
Protests from Indigenous leaders of the Commonwealth and their allies have led to more than 40 years of continuous study by the state legislature and the appointment of two special commissions. The special commission appointed by former Governor Charles Baker in 2021, after careful study of the history and design features determined that our state flag and seal is inflicting harm today, and is easily interpreted as “a celebration of the history of violence perpetuated (sic) by settlers against Indigenous populations.” However, this inherently violent symbol continues to be taught as part of the core curriculum to public school students in Sheffield and public schools across Massachusetts.
Since 2018, 82 cities and towns in Massachusetts have taken formal votes in support of changing the flag and seal of Massachusetts; eight town meetings have voted against the change. The informational meeting, led by David Detmold, is on Thursday, February 26th at 6 p.m. at the Bushnell-Sage Library, located at 48 Main Street in Sheffield. More information can be found online.
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Bidwell House Museum presents ‘The Life of a Continental Soldier’ a presentation by Executive Director of the Hopewell Museum Asher Lurie
Monetery-– On Thursday, February 26th at 7 p.m., the Bidwell House Museum presents “The Life of a Continental Soldier,” a virtual presentation by Executive Director of the Hopewell Museum Asher Lurie.
What was it like to be a continental soldier, and what are the truths and myths we associate with those who took up arms against the Crown? Asher Lurie will explain the experiences of a soldier in the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, including their hardships, how they fought, drilled, dined, and marched, and the purpose of the items they carried on their backs. The talk will highlight the evolution of an army that lost many early battles against one of the world’s best armies and went on to become capable of going toe-to-toe with British regulars.
Asher Lurie is the Executive Director of the Hopewell Museum in Hopewell, N.J.. Before coming to the Hopewell Museum, Asher was the chief of Historical Interpretation at the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton, N.J. At the Old Barracks, Asher organized the large-scale and annual recreation of the Battle of Trenton.
The virtual presentation is on Thursday, February 26th at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Registration and more information can be found online.
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Berkshire Talking Chronicle presents ‘The 413,’ an original serialized audio mystery created specifically for sight- and print-impaired audiences
Berkshire– Every Tuesday at 2 p.m., beginning on February 24th, the Berkshire Talking Chronicle, a radio reading service provided by UCP of Western Massachusetts, presents “The 413,” an original serialized audio mystery created specifically for sight- and print-impaired audiences, airing on WRRS 104.3 LPFM Pittsfield.
Designed entirely for audio using “theater of the mind” storytelling techniques, the series ensures every clue and character interaction is fully accessible without visual elements. Produced through a transparent collaboration between human creators and A.I. tools. Each episode features behind-the-scenes discussions that introduce listeners to the technology used, while encouraging confidence and creativity among the A.I.-curious.
The story follows a group of college friends working over winter break in the Berkshires. They stumble into a decades-old disappearance to discover that it may be happening all over again. When a woman vanishes from a local diner, leaving only a cryptic note, from the very same booth where her grandmother disappeared forty years earlier, the friends are pulled into a mystery that spans generations.
The show will air on Tuesdays at 2 p.m., beginning on February 24th, on WRRS 104.3 LPFM Pittsfield. More information can be found online.
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BCC Players at Berkshire Community College announces auditions for its spring musical ‘The Prom’
Pittsfield– On Thursday, February 26th and Friday, February 27th at 6:30 p.m., the BCC Players at Berkshire Community College (BCC) invites community members, students, faculty, staff, and local performers to audition for their Spring 2026 production of “The Prom,” a high-energy Broadway musical filled with heart, humor, and show-stopping songs.
“The Prom” tells the story of four eccentric Broadway actors who travel to a small town to help a high school student banned from bringing her girlfriend to the prom. With humor, heart, and dazzling musical numbers, the show celebrates inclusion, acceptance, and the power of standing up for what’s right.
Actors should prepare a one-two minute monologue (or brief story/fairy tale) and a short song (approximately 32 bars) preferably from a musical that best showcases vocal range. Bringing backing tracks is encouraged.
The auditions are on Thursday, February 26th and Friday, February 27th at 6:30 p.m. in the Robert Boland Theatre on BCC’s main campus in the Koussevitzky Arts Center at Berkshire Community College, located at 1350 West Street in Pittsfield. Those unable to attend auditions on the scheduled dates but wishing to be considered should email Alzie Mercado at amercado@berkshirecc.edu or Thomas Towne at ttowne@berkshirecc.edu.
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Railroad Street Youth Project’s South Berkshire Community Health Coalition and South Berkshire Rural Health Network to offer monthly ‘Kitchen Table Talks’ and community care sessions
Great Barrington– On Tuesdays, February 24th, March 24th, and April 28th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Railroad Street Youth Project’s South Berkshire Community Health Coalition and the South Berkshire Rural Health Network have partnered to offer monthly ‘Kitchen Table Talks’ and community care sessions.
This program is designed for parents and caregivers interested in building their knowledge and communication skills with their children around big issues, including substance use, while receiving meaningful support, care, and belonging in a wellness setting.
“Parenting is hard, prevention matters, and the most effective support meets people where they are,” says Jennifer Goewey, Director of the Southern Berkshire Rural Health Network. “I am excited for parents and caregivers to have this opportunity to share, learn, and prioritize their own well-being – something that is both important and too often sacrificed.”
Each session begins with a community dinner in a supportive, peer-to-peer environment where a trained facilitator guides fellow parents through a prosocial, preventive approach to helping parents and caregivers improve communication with their children and other youth in their lives. The dinner is followed by a community care session with offerings such as guided meditation and light movement, all led by a wellness provider.
The sessions are on Tuesdays, February 24th, March 24th, and April 28th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Great Barrington Family Resource Center, located at 141 West Avenue in Great Barrington. Childcare will be provided to attendees. To register and arrange childcare, call 413-717-7070 or email laura@rsyp.org.
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Annual Becket Democratic Caucus
Becket-– On Thursday, February 26th at 6 p.m., the annual Becket Democratic Caucus will be held at Becket Town Hall.
The agenda includes electing delegates to the Massachusetts Democratic State Convention in May, who will nominate candidates for the Massachusetts Democratic September Primary. Following the caucus, a regular committee meeting will be held to discuss the importance of the annual town census, the annual town meeting, and the annual spring elections.
The meeting is on Thursday, February 26th at 6 p.m. in the downstairs Community Room in the Becket Town Hall, located at 577 Main Street in Becket. Refreshments will be served. Questions can be directed to Tommie L Hutto-Blake at 551-208-0215.
