Tuesday, January 13, 2026

News and Ideas Worth Sharing

Bits & Bytes: ‘Legendary Ladies of Motown’ at Fairview gala; German/Austrian film festival; Uncle Beazley moves to Worcester; new pastor at United Methodist Church of Lenox

Regularly on view as part of Berkshire Museum’s “Dinosaurs and Paleontology” exhibition, Uncle Beazley was loaned to the Berkshire Athenaeumin October 2014 and was on display in a courtyard adjacent to the children’s section of the library.

Fairview Hospital gala to feature ‘Legendary Ladies of Motown’

Great Barrington — Fairview Hospital will hold its annual gala Saturday, Sept. 22, at 8 p.m. at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center with “The Legendary Ladies of Motown” starring Mary Wilson of the Supremes and Martha Reeves of the Vandellas.

From “Stop! In the Name of Love” and “Where Did Our Love Go” to “Heat Wave” and “Dancing in the Street,” Wilson and Reeves reign as two of Motown’s most beloved singers with 14 Billboard Number 1 singles, seven Billboard Number 1 albums and 42 Top Ten singles between them. Together, Wilson and Reeves bring a kaleidoscope of Motown music memories in one evening of performance.

A limited number of gala ticket packages, including a cocktails and a buffet dinner reception under a tent on the Town Hall green preceding the show, are still available by calling (413) 854-9609. Show-only tickets are also available and can be obtained from the Berkshire Edge calendar or by calling the Mahaiwe box office at (413) 528-0100.

–E.E.

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A still from the film ‘Mademoiselle Paradis’ by Barbara Albert. Image courtesy K2 Publicity

Williams College to present fifth annual German/Austrian Film Festival

Williamstown — Williams College’s fifth annual German/Austrian Film Festival will take place on the consecutive Mondays of Sept. 17, Sept. 24 and Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. at Images Cinema.

This year’s festival explores the theme of “Power/Frauen: Women and Power.” The films will be introduced by faculty from Williams’ German department or special guests. “Mademoiselle Paradis” by Barbara Albert will be shown Monday, Sept. 17, a period drama that tells the true story of a blind pianist who recovers her sight at the cost of her musical gifts. On Monday, Sept. 24, “Toni Erdmann” by Maran Ade will be shown. The film is a dramatic comedy about a practical-joking father who tries to reconnect with his hard-working daughter by creating an alter ego and posing as her CEO’s life coach. The final film of the festival, “Hannah Arendt” by Margarethe von Trotta, examines the life of philosopher and political theorist Arendt and will be shown Monday, Oct. 1.

All films are in German with English subtitles. The screenings are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Images Cinema at (413) 458-5612 or comments@imagescinema.org.

–E.E.

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Uncle Beazley is installed adjacent to Siegfried the Stegosaurus Sept. 13 at the EcoTarium in Worcester. Photo courtesy Berkshire Museum

Berkshire Museum’s Uncle Beazley moves to Worcester’s EcoTarium

Pittsfield — Uncle Beazley, the Triceratops model that was longtime favorite of young visitors to the Berkshire Museum, moved to a new home Thursday, Sept. 13.

Originally created for the 1968 made-for-TV film “The Enormous Egg,” the 11-foot-long model was donated to the Berkshire Museum along with four smaller models in 1979 by George A. Heinemann, one of the film’s producers. Regularly on view as part of the museum’s “Dinosaurs and Paleontology” exhibition from 1980 to 2014, the largest model was loaned to the Berkshire Athenaeum in October 2014 and was on display in a courtyard adjacent to the children’s section of the library.

The four smaller Triceratops models — a foot-long just-hatched baby Triceratops, a 3-foot baby Triceratops, a 5-foot young Triceratops, and the egg — will remain at the Berkshire Museum while Uncle Beazley will now reside at the EcoTarium in Worcester.

–E.E.

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United Methodist Church to celebrate appointment of new pastor

Nami Yu. Photo courtesy United Methodist Church of Lenox

Lenox — The United Methodist Church of Lenox announces the appointment of its new pastor, Nami Yu, by Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar of the New England United Methodist Conference. The church invites the public to celebrate Yu’s appointment with an installation service Sunday, Sept. 16, at 2 p.m.

Yu comes to Lenox from previous appointments in Brattleboro, Vermont, and Leyden. Prior to that she served as Sunday school minister at Wesley United Methodist Church of Medford while completing her studies at the Boston University School of Theology, from which she graduated in July 2016. Yu is a native of South Korea. She began a church ministry in 2009 as a Sunday school minister in the Korean Holiness Church while attending Seoul Theological University. She has been a student and a volunteer with Youth With A Mission in Honolulu, Hawaii, and joined the organization’s Discipleship Training School before becoming part of the school’s staff.

–E.E.

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Notes from Southern Berkshire Ambulance: January 2026

Most town ambulances are staffed with EMTs. Our paramedic capabilities are one of the most important ways this organization adds value throughout Southern Berkshire County.

WHERE WE ARE: Eric Martin, from Mennonite country to Gould Farm community

Martin is well known as a fiddler for local contra dancing groups, a busy music teacher, as well as a long-time member of the maintenance team at Gould Farm, the nation’s first residential therapeutic community for people with mental health challenges.

BITS & BYTES: Cate Le Bon at Basilica Hudson; Peggy Reeves at New Marlborough Public Library; Louise Wannier at Lenox Library; Cynthia Zarin and Michael Gottlieb...

Known for her eclectic sound and intricate songwriting, Cate Le Bon blends elements of pop, folk, and experimental music to create a captivating live performance that showcases her unique artistic vision and style.

The Edge Is Free To Read.

But Not To Produce.