Scholarship to honor Gillian Seidl
Great Barrington — The Housatonic Valley Art League has announced an individual grant of $1,500 to a deserving senior at Mount Everett Regional High School in Sheffield who chooses to pursue a fine arts degree or the equivalent upon graduation. The scholarship is in memory of Gillian Seidl, a Sheffield resident who died as a result of a traffic accident in April. In addition to her widely known acting and theater accomplishments, Seidl was a long-time hobby painter and HVAL’s program coordinator, and HVAL aims to honor her memory with a meaningful gesture. For more information about the scholarship or instructions on how to apply for it, contact Mount Everett principal Glenn Devoti at gdevoti@sbrsd.org or HVAL president Tina Chandler at tinachan232@gmail.com.
–E.E.
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Fairview golf classic accepting registration
Great Barrington — Fairview Hospital has announced that its 2017 golf classic will be held at the Stockbridge Golf Club on Thursday, Sept. 7, and is currently accepting registration for teams and individuals. This year’s event will support Fairview’s nationally accredited pulmonary rehabilitation program, which assists patients who suffer from cardiac and pulmonary conditions. Funds raised by the tournament will help the hospital expand the program by investing in equipment to meet increasing demand. The tournament is mixed-scramble format and includes greens fees, cart, gift, barbecue lunch, snacks and a clubhouse dinner prepared by chef Michael Ballon, former owner of the Castle Street Cafe and who now leads the restaurant at the Stockbridge Golf Club. The cost per player is $140 or $560 per team. For more information or to register, contact Fairview’s community relations and development office at (413) 854-9609.
–E.E.
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Local author is finalist for Thurber Prize
Great Barrington — Author Aaron Thier is a finalist for the Thurber Prize for American Humor, the only recognition of the art of humor writing in the United States. Thier’s book Mr. Eternity stands alongside Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah and Amp’d by Ken Pisani in the running for the prize.
Thier is the recipient of a literature fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, a former columnist for Lucky Peach and a contributor to the Nation. His third novel, The World is a Narrow Bridge, will be published in the spring of 2018.
The winner will be announced at a ceremony at Carolines on Broadway in New York City on Monday, Oct. 2. The winner will receive $5,000 and a commemorative plaque, and will be invited to Thurber House in Columbus, Ohio, as a featured guest at a special event.
–E.E.
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Josh Billings RunAground requests volunteers
Pittsfield — The Josh Billings RunAground triathlon, which celebrates its 41st anniversary this year, crosses five Berkshire County towns with a 27-mile bike ride; a 5-mile canoe, kayak, or paddleboard sprint; and a 6-mile run is scheduled to take place Sunday, Sept. 17. The race will begin at the Price Chopper plaza, 320 Stockbridge Rd., Great Barrington, and end at Tanglewood in Lenox. Teams and ironpersons are encouraged to participate and may register online. Organizers are calling on volunteers to help support the event. For more information, contact (413) 344-7919 or patty@joshbillings.com. Proceeds from the event will benefit Berkshire United Way.
–E.E.
