Rally to support Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security
Pittsfield — In response to threats made by the Trump administration and the Republican-dominated Congress toward Americans’ healthcare, community members from across Western Massachusetts are invited to gather at Park Square on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 1 to 2 p.m. to rally in defense of the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. The rally is one of hundreds of similar events being held across the country this Saturday and is being organized locally by Our Revolution, College Democrats of Massachusetts, Four Freedoms Coalition, Lyme Alliance of the Berkshires, Mass-Care, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, Progressive Democrats of America, Western Mass Jobs With Justice, Western Massachusetts Young Democrats, and the Worthington Democratic Town Committee.
Speakers will include representatives from the Massachusetts Nurses Association and State Rep. Paul Mark. The Pittsfield rally is honored to have the support of various elected officials including Mark, State Sen. Adam Hinds, and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal.
For more information, contact Casey Pease at(413) 801-2820 or caseytpease@gmail.com.
–E.E.
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Sheffield Land Trust to offer ‘Backyard Habitat’ slideshow
Sheffield — On Sunday, Feb. 26, at 1 p.m., the Sheffield Land Trust will present its 19th annual winter lecture at Dewey Hall. This year’s presentation will be a slide show and panel discussion titled “Backyard Habitat: Birds, Bats, Bees, Butterflies…and Bear.” The participating panelists will be Elisabeth Cary, director of education at Berkshire Botanical Garden; Andrew Madden, western district manager for the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife; and Dale Abrams, education and volunteer coordinator at Mass Audubon.
The program and is free and open to the public, although donations are welcome. Seating is limited. Refreshments will follow the presentation. For more information, contact the Sheffield Land Trust at (413) 229-0234 or shefland@bcn.net.
–E.E.
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Sheffield Kiwanis announces scholarship program
Sheffield — Sheffield Kiwanis has announced that applications for its 2017 scholarships are now available. Graduating seniors from Mount Everett Regional High School as well as Monument Mountain Regional High School in Great Barrington and local residents graduating from Berkshire School are encouraged to apply. Returning undergraduate college students may also apply. Applications and instructions are available online and in the high school guidance offices. Applications are due by Saturday, April 1. For more information, contact Deborah Wright at debewright60@gmail.com.
–E.E.
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Writers Read at the Lee Library
Lee — The Writers Read monthly reading series will present Billie Chernicoff and Geoffrey Young on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 5:30 p.m. at the Lee Library.
Chernicoff was born in Detroit, grew up in upstate New York and was educated at Bard College. She is the author of “The Red Dress,” “The Pleasures,” and “Waters Of.” With Tamas Panitz, she co-edits the literary magazine the Doris. Her poems have appeared with the Doris, Sulfur, Inpatient Press Webworks, dispatchespoetry.com and other magazines and websites. She lives with her husband in the Berkshires, where they raised a daughter, and she teaches yoga and writes.
Young moved from Berkeley, California, to Great Barrington in 1982. He spenthis student years at the University of California, Santa Barbara and the University of New Mexico, and then lived for two years in Paris. From 1975-2005, his small press, the Figures, published more than 135 books of poetry, art writing and fiction. His own recent books of poetry and prose include “Dear Hollywood Writers;” “Sixteen Candles,” with images by Mark Olshansky; “Propitious,” with images by Lisa Sylvester; “Sapphire Drive;” and “The Point Less Taken,” with images by Lucas Reiner. He has directed the Geoffrey Young Gallery in Great Barrington since 1992 and has written catalog essays for a dozen artists.
For more information, contact David Giannini at davidgpoet@gmail.com.
–E.E.
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Councils on Aging to hold luncheon, information session
South Egremont — On Wednesday, March 1, the Egremont and Mt. Washington Councils on Aging will hold a luncheon at the Egremont Village Inn at noon featuring a talk by Egremont Police Chief Tyler Race, who will speak about how seniors can protect themselves from scams.
Said Chief Race, “Scammers see seniors as easy targets on the phone and in person. The first step in protecting yourself is understanding that this friendly, helpful person really wants to rob you.” An alternate Egremont police officer will present the program if Chief Race is unavailable at the last minute.
Lunch will be a choice of soups and sandwiches from the Great Barrington Bagel Company & Deli plus dessert and tea or coffee. To reserve seats, contact the Egremont Town Hall at (413) 528-0182 x17 or wbrinker@egremont-ma.gov by Monday, Feb. 27, and include any dietary restrictions and whether or not a ride is needed.
–E.E.
