Saturday, February 8, 2025

News and Ideas Worth Sharing

BITS & BYTES: ‘Uncharitable’ at The Mahaiwe; Flophouse Follies at Race Brook Lodge; OLLI Dr. Tom Gerety; Jewish Federation of the Berkshires presents Susan Blumberg-Kason; Berkshire Regional Planning Commission home modification loans; Free homework help at Boys & Girls Club

No topic is more crucial and timely as we confront an increasingly unstable world with the growing revelation that we are all interconnected and that our fate lies in how much we are willing to invest in positive change.

The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, with Berkshire United Way, Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, and Tanglewood Learning Institute, will screen the documentary film ‘Uncharitable’

Great Barrington— On Thursday, January 30th at 6 p.m., The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, with Berkshire United Way, Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce and Tanglewood Learning Institute, will screen the documentary film ‘Uncharitable.’ (2023).

After three incredibly successful U.S. charitable campaigns were attacked by charity watchdogs, destroying lives and cutting off precious resources, many of the top influencers in the field knew something had to be done to overhaul the nonprofit sector. Led by Dan Pallotta, whose record-breaking TED Talk on the subject has inspired leading philanthropists and changemakers, this feature-length documentary directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal exposes the dark side of philanthropy and introduces a radical new way of giving. In a powerful call to action, “Uncharitable” demands that charities be freed from the traditional sackcloth-and-ashes constraints, so that they can truly change the world.

No topic is more crucial and timely as we confront an increasingly unstable world with the growing revelation that we are all interconnected and that our fate lies in how much we are willing to invest in positive change.

The free screening is on Thursday, January 30th at 6 p.m. at The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, located at 14 Castle Street in Great Barrington. More information can be found online. 

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Race Brook Lodge presents Berkshire trio Flophouse Follies

Sheffield— On Thursday, January 30th from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., Race Brook Lodge presents Berkshire trio Flophouse Follies. 

Flophouse Follies is an invitation to slip through the velvet curtains of time and into a world brimming with jingle and jangle. Lamps flicker on polished mahogany, the laughter of corseted belles melds with the syncopated rags tinkering out of calliopes. Musk and ambergris, tobacco and brandy perfume the air where dandies try to outdo each other with quips and cranks. Flophouse Follies revive the spirit of an age when pop songs first rose to the level of mass cultural myths. From the whimsical to the crooked, the follies will tickle your fancy and make you nostalgic for something you didn’t even know you were missing.

Courtesy Race Brook Lodge.

This Berkshire based trio conjures a bygone era with parlor ballads, novelty songs, and vaudeville satires. Flophouse Follies combine the forces of Heather Fisch on vocals, ukulele and accordion; Kip Beacco six string guitar; and Alex Harvey on tenor banjo and mandriola.

The concert is on Thursday, January 30th from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Down County Social Club at Race Brook Lodge, located at 864 South Undermountain Road in Sheffield. Tickets and more information can be found online. 

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OLLI presents ‘The Trump Executive Orders and the Constitution’ with Dr. Tom Gerety

Pittsfield— On Wednesday, January 29th at 7 p.m., OLLI presents “The Trump Executive Orders and the Constitution” a virtual talk with Dr. Tom Gerety.

Dr. Gerety will go over the legal and institutional obstacles that the 47th president will face in seeking to bend the government (and the nation) to his will.  He will emphasize the attempts to end birthright citizenship, to close our borders, and to deport millions of undocumented migrants —with the help of our military. He will also survey the whole range of orders and assertions from shower heads to national security.

Dr. Tom Gerety. Courtesy OLLI.

Tom Gerety taught constitutional law through most of his career. He retired as Collegiate Professor of law and humanities at NYU.  He headed up the Brennan Center for Justice and was president of both Trinity and Amherst Colleges. He has law and philosophy degrees from Yale.

The virtual talk is on Wednesday, January 29th at 7 p.m. on Zoom. It is free and open to all. Registration and more information can be found online. The talk will also be recorded and posted on Youtube. 

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Jewish Federation of the Berkshires presents ‘Bernardine’s Shanghai Salon: The Story of the Doyenne of Old China’ with biographer Susan Blumberg-Kason 

Pittsfield— On Thursday, January 30 at 7 p.m., Jewish Federation of the Berkshires, as part of Jewish Literary Voices, presents and exploration of an unusual story set in the Far East with biographer Susan Blumberg-Kason, who will talk about her new book “Bernardine’s Shanghai Salon: The Story of the Doyenne of Old China.”

‘Bernardine’s Shanghai Salon: The Story of the Doyenne of Old China’ by Susan Blumberg-Kason. Courtesy Jewish Federation of the Berkshires.

Only 33 years old, Bernardine Szold Fritz arrived in Shanghai in 1929 to marry her fourth husband. Yet from the night of their wedding, Bernardine’s new husband did not live up to his promises. Instead of feeling sorry for herself or leaving Shanghai, Bernardine decided to make a place for herself. Like other Jewish women before her, she started a salon in her home. When Bernardine’s salon could not accommodate all who wished to attend, she founded the International Arts Theater to produce avant-garde plays, ballets, and lectures, often pushing audiences beyond their comfort zones. As World War II loomed, Bernardine’s devotion to the arts and the people of Shanghai brought joy to the city just before it would change forever.

Susan Blumberg-Kason is a memoirist, biographer, and co-editor of an anthology set in Hong Kong. She is a regular contributor to the Asian Review of Books and World Literature Today.

This virtual program will be on Thursday, January 30 at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Registration and more information can be found online. 

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Berkshire Regional Planning Commission invites applications to the 0% interest home modification loan program for accessibility improvements

Berkshire— Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) is pleased to invite applications to the Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP). 

HMLP is a state-funded no-interest loan program to provide modifications to those in need of accessibility improvements to their homes. Eligible applicants include homeowners and landlords with fewer than 10 units when necessary changes are needed to their homes to keep disabled or elderly family members in their own homes. 

Possible modifications include bathroom and kitchen modifications, ramps, stair lifts, platform lifts, sensory/therapy spaces, hard-wired alarm systems, fences, accessory dwelling units, and more. Please note that this is not a home repair program. Repairs to roofs, windows, and heating are not eligible. All work must be completed by licensed and insured contractors. 

Courtesy Berkshire Regional Planning Commission.

For property owners, 0% interest loans range between $1,000 and $50,000. No monthly payments are required, with repayment is required when the property is sold or transferred. If you own a manufactured or mobile home, 0% interest loans range from $1,000 to $30,000. 

All applications are subject to HMLP eligibility requirements. More information can be found online or by emailing HMLP@berkshireplanning.org.

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Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires continues to offer free homework help

Pittsfield— Every Monday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires proudly provided a free homework help program for youth members in third grade and up.

The program is a cornerstone of the Club’s commitment to education. With the assistance of dedicated staff and volunteers, students receive personalized support in completing assignments, tackling challenging topics, and building confidence in their abilities. Parents and guardians are encouraged to explore “Power Hour,” a structured and engaging approach to homework help that promotes focus, time management, and academic growth. 

Courtesy Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires.

“This program is an invaluable resource for families in our community,” said Joseph McGovern CEO at the Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires. “Over the years, we’ve seen students benefit from the extra support and structure this program provides, and we are committed to continuing this vital service.” 

A membership is required to participate in the program. More information can be found online.

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The Edge Is Free To Read.

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