Bits & Bytes: Stockbridge Art Walk; PlayWorks Weekend; ‘Elizabeth Freeman’s Case for Freedom’; emerald ash borer tree treatment; estate land protection workshop

Stockbridge to introduce Art Walk

Stockbridge — The Guild of Berkshire Artists and TKG Real Estate will present the Stockbridge Art Walk Thursday, May 9, from 4 to 7 p.m.

The Art Walk is a self-guided tour of locations within the downtown area of Stockbridge. The venues include the new TKG Real Estate office, which will host a reception for an exhibit of Guild artists; Schantz Galleries; the Stockbridge Library, Museum & Archives (until 4:45 p.m.), Mutability in Motion; An American Craftsman; the Image Gallery, 34 Main St.; the Red Lion Inn Gift Shop, and SEVEN salon.spa (from 6 to 7 p.m.). Some venues will feature primarily local artists while others will showcase regionally and nationally known artists.

A map of the Art Walk locations, which are all within a half-mile walk, will be available at the TKG office. Thursday’s event is the first Stockbridge Art Walk; the Art Walk will continue on the second Thursday of each month through December. For more information, call (413) 298-0610.

–E.E.

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Barrington Stage Company to host PlayWorks Weekend

Brent Askari. Photo courtesy Barrington Stage Company

Pittsfield — Barrington Stage Company will host the PlayWorks Weekend, a staged reading series of new plays with performances, Friday, May 10, through Sunday, May 12, at its St. Germain Stage.

“American Underground” by Brent Askari is directed by Julianne Boyd and tells the story of an interracial couple enjoying a visit from their college-aged son when a young Muslim woman arrives at their back door looking for safe passage via a new Underground Railroad. “Citizen Scientist” by Christina Quintana is directed by Arpita Mukherjee and concerns actuary Kian and astronomer Neema who meet exploring the starfield for exoplanets, discover the planet Kepler-64b and learn what it means to be present here on Earth. “Grant & Twain” by Elizabeth Diggs is directed by Regge Life and discusses the relationship between Ulysses S. Grant and Mark Twain, the writing of Grant’s memoirs and his diagnosis with terminal cancer, and how the two unlikely friends stake everything on a race with death.

Tickets are $15 for one reading and $30 for all three. For tickets and a complete schedule of readings, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or call the Barrington Stage Company box office at (413) 236-8888.

–E.E.

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‘Elizabeth Freeman’s Case for Freedom’ to open “Rebels With a Cause” speaker series

David Levinson. Photo courtesy the Bookloft

Great Barrington — The Great Barrington Historical Society, in collaboration with Saint James Place, will open its “Rebels With a Cause” lecture series with “Elizabeth Freeman’s Case for Freedom: The End of Slavery in Massachusetts and the Effects on the Black Community in the Berkshires” by David Levinson Saturday, May 11, at 2 p.m. at Saint James Place.

Levinson is a cultural anthropologist and former vice president at Yale University’s Human Relations Area Files, an anthropological think tank. He is co-author, with Emilie Piper, of “One Minute a Free Woman: Elizabeth Freeman and the Struggle for Freedom.” In addition to discussing Freeman’s lawsuit, his talk will analyze the case’s impact on abolishing slavery in Massachusetts and consequences for the African-American community in the Berkshires.

Tickets are $20. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or contact the Great Barrington Historical Society at (413) 591-8702 or info@gbhistory.org.

–E.E.

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Trees to be treated for emerald ash borer

An emerald ash borer. Photo courtesy Emerald Ash Borer Information Network

Sheffield — On Wednesday, May 8, at noon, in an effort to increase public awareness about the emerald ash borer and to help preserve the Appalachian Trail, Arborjet Inc. and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy will treat two large ash trees along a portion of the trail on Kellogg Road.

The emerald ash borer is a bright metallic green beetle that feeds and breeds exclusively on ash trees. A native of Asia, it has killed millions of trees in the U.S. and Canada since its discovery in 2002 and is regarded as one of the most destructive forest pests in North America.

All are invited to attend and watch a demonstration of the treatment process to learn more about the options available to both homeowners and municipalities to protect and save ash trees. Arborjet will donate the treatment and work with Northern Tree Service, which will provide the equipment and labor. For more information, contact Kevin Brewer at (401) 222-9341 or kevinbrewer@arborjet.com.

–E.E.

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Estate planning workshop to focus on land protection

Lenox — On Thursday, May 9, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., the Berkshire Environmental Action Team will host an estate planning and land protection workshop at the Arcadian Shop. The event is designed for property owners interested in protecting their land either through an estate plan after their death or sooner through a variety of programs already available.

According to Harvard Forest, New England loses an average of 35 acres of forest to development every day. The workshop will feature a panel including Narain Schroeder of the Berkshire Natural Resources Council; Virginia Smith of Smith Green Wax & Gold LLP; Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Service forester Pete Grima; and a local property owner who recently conserved her land. The panel will present their expertise and experiences, and answer attendees’ questions. Light refreshments will be provided.

The program is free and open to the public. Registration is requested. For more information or to register, contact (413) 717-1255 or elizabeth@thebeatnews.org.

–E.E.