Olana Partnership presents Third Thursday at Olana State Historic Site
Hudson, N.Y.— On Thursday, March 20th from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Olana Partnership presents Third Thursday at Olana State Historic Site, a free monthly community day of tours and programs for all ages.
From 9:30 a.m to 10:30 a.m., Abbie Zuidema will lead ‘Morning Mindfulness’ in the gallery. Zuidema holds a Masters in Creative Arts Therapy from Pratt Institute and will lead mindfulness practices to deepen your experience of the two artworks on view. Pre-registration is required for this event. To register, email education@olana.org.
From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., there will be a free Drop-in Drawing with Charcoal workshop at the Wagon House Education Center. Visitors are encouraged to use inspiration from their visit to Olana to create personal works of art. All materials will be provided, and all ages are welcome. From 11 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., there will be free historic landscape and house tours. A Spanish language tour will be given at 2:45 p.m.
The event is on Thursday, March 20th from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Olana State Historic Site, located at 5720 NY-9G in Hudson, N.Y. More information can be found online.
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Ventfort Hall presents Slavic egg decorating workshops
Lenox— On Saturday, April 12th from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Ventfort Hall presents Slavic egg decorating workshops.
Celebrate the Easter season with a unique opportunity to learn a time-honored Eastern European craft at Ventfort Hall’s annual Slavic Easter egg decorating demonstration and instructional workshops. This Eastern European tradition of creating intricate and beautifully decorated eggs has been passed down for generations. The workshop will be led by Lenox resident Tjasa Sprague, who learned the technique many years ago from her Czechoslovakian mother Maria Krofta.
The technique begins with unwashed eggs (provided by a local poultry farm) which have a residue-free shell surface. The Slavic Easter egg uses a wax resistant technique which employs aniline dye later in the process. The decorating begins with drawing on the egg with wax, followed by immersion in the dye, with repeated wax drawing and dying as desired. The eggs are uncooked and are blown out after the decorating has been completed. The eggs may be displayed, when stored carefully, for an indefinite number of years.
The workshops, recommended for ages 12 and up, are on Saturday, April 12th from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Ventfort Hall Gatehouse, located at 55 Kemble Street in Lenox. Reservations are required. Reservations and more information can be found online.
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OLLI presents ‘Make Someone Happy: Singing from the Great American Songbook,’ a workshop led by Chelsea Beatty
Lenox— On Saturday, March 22nd from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., OLLI presents “Make Someone Happy: Singing from the Great American Songbook,” an in-person workshop led by Chelsea Beatty at Kimball Farms.
This workshop will take participants through an interactive song preparation process using the song “Make Someone Happy” by Jule Style. Participants will examine the lyrics, melody, rhythm, and stylistic choices, and then apply what they learn to their own singing. No solo singing will be required, but volunteers will be invited to share with the group in the course of the workshop.
Chelsea Beatty trained as a classical soprano, with degrees in vocal performance from The Boston Conservatory and University of Colorado Boulder. Over the past two decades, she has performed on opera and concert stages around Boston and beyond, and was a two-time district finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. From 2014 to 2018, Chelsea served as an Instructor of Voice at The Boston Conservatory, and very recently joined the voice faculty of Berkshire Music School.
The in-person workshop is on Saturday, March 22nd from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Kimball Farms, located at 235 Walker Street in Lenox. This workshop will be good for choral singers or those who love to sing along to their favorite records. Music will be provided. Registration and more information can be found online.
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First Congregational Church of Lee presents jazz pianist Stephen Page
Lee— On Wednesday, March 19th from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., First Congregational Church of Lee presents jazz pianist Stephen Page, playing a range of selections from the Great American Songbook, jazz classics, and improvisation.
Page has performed for more than 30 years from The Plaza to Yale University. He has shared the stage with jazz luminaries such as Sheila Jordan, Avery Sharpe, and Archie Shepp, who called him a “brilliant talent.” He teaches piano performance at Amherst College, Deerfield Academy, and in his Amherst studio.
Page’s musical journey started with drums and trumpet before he dedicated himself to the piano at age seventeen. After completing his jazz studies at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Page continued studying with jazz luminaries Billy Taylor, Yusef Lateef, and Kenny Werner. In 1999, Page found his oracle, the renowned music educator Charlie Banacos, and for ten years was blessed to receive teachings that Banacos had designed uniquely for him. Privately, Page cultivated his sound by dissecting and analyzing the greats who influenced him Bill Evans, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Bud Powell, and Oscar Peterson among others, deconstructing and assimilating to create his own dynamic voice.
The concert is on Wednesday, March 19th from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Lee, located at 25 Park Place in Lee. It is free and open to the public. More information can be found online.
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Lenox Library Association to host Poker & Pizza Night to benefit the Lenox Library
Lenox— On Friday, March 21st from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Lenox Library Association will host a benefit poker tournament in the Welles Gallery at the Lenox Library.
This unique fundraising event, hosted by Lenox Library Association Trustee, Max Scherff, offers community members and card players an opportunity to enjoy a friendly game of poker while supporting a meaningful cause, the Lenox Library.
The game will be played in Texas Hold ‘Em style, in an engaging tournament format which forces raised antes throughout the night to reveal top finishers who will win significant prizes donated by area businesses, including a day spa for two at Canyon Ranch, a wellness experience with an exclusive GOOP luxury product basket, a dining certificate to a local restaurant, and more.
The event is on Friday, March 21st from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Welles Gallery at the Lenox Library, located at 18 Main Street in Lenox. The “buy in” to this event is a $125 donation, which includes admission, pizza, mocktails, and cocktails. It is a tax-deductible donation to the Lenox Library Association. To register, contact the Lenox Library Association Development Department at contact@lenoxlib.org or call 413.637.2630 x115.
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Energize Connecticut℠ eesmarts™ student contest celebrates 20 years of energy efficiency education
Connecticut— Registration is open for the 20th annual eesmarts™ Student Contest. For two decades, eesmarts has encouraged Connecticut students in grades K-12 to discover how energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable solutions can impact our world through grade-level-appropriate prompts. This year, in addition to student entries, teachers are invited to showcase their creativity by making a video or song alongside their students addressing why saving energy is important.
Eversource Director of Business Operations and Support, Stephen Bruno. “The contest has celebrated the creativity and vision of students and teachers who are building a brighter, more energy-conscious world for the last 20 years – one idea at a time.” Erik Robie, Director of Customer Programs and Products, added, “From community projects and playwriting to posters and public service announcements, the eesmarts Student Contest has received thousands of entries since its inception in 2005, but despite the varying prompts, one theme has remained constant throughout all of the student submissions – small habits or changes can make a big impact.”
Student prompts for Grades K-8 include a poster (Grades K-2,) limericks (Grade 3,) outdoor billboard (Grade 4,) fictional story with an energy-saving character (Grade 5,) persuasive letter (Grade 6,) comic strip (Grade 7,) or social media post (Grade 8.) High school-age students, Grades 9-12, are asked to produce a persuasive image in words or pictures, such as a short poem (125 words or less) or cartoon strip (12 cells or less) that advocates for an energy-saving topic. Entries will be evaluated based on scientific validity and concise and convincing imagery.
Contest registration is open until March 21st. Project submissions are due on March 28th. Finalists in all categories and grade levels will be honored at a special awards ceremony to be held in May at the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford. Winners will receive a certificate and an Amazon gift card. More information can be found online.
