Performances to Benefit Berkshire Community Radio 97.9
Great Barrington— A benefit performance for Berkshire Community Radio will be held at The Egremont Barn on December 7, 2022, from 6 to 9 p.m. Performers will include local Reggae band, The Haughties, and Andrew H. Smith. The Berkshire’s all-volunteer, community radio station founded in 2004 needs the community’s support to keep up and running.
WBCR-lp 97.7 FM (Berkshire Community Radio) is a fully independent, volunteer-based, commercial-free, low-power community broadcast radio station in Great Barrington, Massachusetts licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. The station’s mission is focused on teaching the art of radio and providing access to the airwaves for all members of the Southern Berkshire community. It broadcasts 24/7 at 97.7 megahertz on the FM dial and streaming live at berkshireradio.org.
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‘Enchanted: Why Magic Persists Across Millennia’ Lecture
Pittsfield— Professor Kathryn Laity will present a lecture on ‘Enchanted: Why Magic Persists Across Millennia’ online via Zoom on December 7 at 7 p.m. as part of the OLLI Distinguished Speakers Series.
“There are few things that persist in human culture across history: stories, laughter, love, hate – and magic. From a modern perspective, we might equate magic with superstition, but magic has always been the province of those without power. Children believe in magic, adults pretend they don’t—until they spill some salt, or cross their fingers, or knock on wood. Magic fills our beloved stories and we tend to view people who have access with awe and sometimes fear. Why do we want magic? What do we need it to do for us?”
Kathryn Laity is an Associate Professor of English at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York, where she teaches medieval literature, film and digital media, and crime fiction.
Admission is $10 for OLLI at BCC and Berkshire Museum members, and $15 for the general public. Admission is free for Berkshire Community College students, youth 17 and under, and those holding WIC, EBT/SNAP, or ConnectorCare cards.
$15 for the public, $10 for members. Register online or call 413-236-2190.
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Kate Swenson’s ‘The Secret World of Autism’ Talk
Great Barrington— CHP Family Services will welcome author, activist, and parent Kate Swenson for a virtual event, ‘The Secret World of Autism’ on Wednesday, December 7 at 11 a.m. via Zoom. Parents, caregivers, grandparents, neighbors, friends, and others who may have a child with disabilities in their home, neighborhood, or wider circle are encouraged to attend.
Swenson, author of the 2022 book Forever Boy: A Mother’s Memoir of Autism and Finding Joy, will reflect on her family’s journey through her son’s autism diagnosis, early intervention, transition to school services, and the emotional toll these processes can take on a family. Swenson will discuss the transformations she experiences not only as a parent but as a person and her journey to finding joy in this new chapter of life.
This event is part of an ongoing effort from CHP social work intern Rania Markham to expand offerings to families and caregivers of those with special needs. Her programs include a special needs support group, playgroups, and an online program called IEP 101, which trains parents to navigate public schools’ educational programming for children with disabilities.
This event is free and open to the public but registration is required.
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Pittsfield High School’s Talent Showcase Features Gifted Students
Pittsfield— Pittsfield High School’s Proteus Theatre presents its annual Talent Showcase on December 7th at 6:30 p.m. The Talent Showcase will be directed by Summer Lawton and Dea Wood. Performances include singing, dancing, musical performances, and more. Join Pittsfield High School for an evening of entertainment showcasing the many talents of the students.
Tickets are $5 upon arrival. (Please note that only cash or checks will be accepted at the door.) Please enter through the Appleton entrance of PHS.
Email kblocker@pittsfield.net with questions.
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Franny Choi Poetry Reading at Bennington College
Bennington— On December 7 at 7 p.m. Franny Choi will read from her new poetry collection, The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On, named a Most Anticipated Book by Lit Hub, Vulture, and Time. This event will take place in Tishman Lecture Hall at Bennington College.
Franny Choi is the author of three poetry collections: The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On (Ecco/HarperCollins, 2022), Soft Science (Alice James Books, 2019), and Floating, Brilliant, Gone (Write Bloody Publishing, 2014), as well as a chapbook, Death by Sex Machine (Sibling Rivalry Press, 2017). Soft Science was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award and was awarded the Elgin Award for Science Fiction Poetry. Franny is a Lilly/Rosenberg Fellow, a recipient of Princeton’s Holmes National Poetry Prize, and a graduate of the University of Michigan’s Helen Zell Writers Program. They are the founder of Brew & Forge, a project that builds connections between writers, organizers, and movement workers.
This event is free and open to the public.
