Park of Honor opening ceremony
Sheffield — The Sheffield Historical Society, in collaboration with the Kiwanis clubs of Pittsfield and Sheffield, will hold an opening ceremony for the Sheffield Park of Honor Saturday, Nov. 4, at 1 p.m. Between Saturday, Nov. 4, and Sunday, Dec. 3, Barnard Park will be filled with rows of American flags, each honoring a specific veteran or group of veterans. Local residents sponsored the flags and the money raised will go toward a scholarship for Berkshire student who is the child or grandchild of a veteran. The Park of Honor serves as a reminder and a tribute to Veterans who have served or are presently serving our country. The opening ceremony will include a blessing of the flags and speeches by local politicians and veterans. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact the Sheffield Historical Society at (413) 229-2694 or sheffieldhistoricalsociety@gmail.com.
–E.E.
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MASS MoCA to welcome the Weepies
North Adams — MASS MoCA will present Los Angeles-based husband-and-wife folk duo the Weepies Saturday, Nov. 4, at 8 p.m. Benjamin Jaffe of HoneyHoney will open the show with his new duo.
When Deb Talan and Steve Tannen met in 2001, they were already fans of each other’s music; it didn’t take long for the melodies to take shape, the harmonies to slide into place and for the Weepies to take off. The band’s self-released first album, “Happiness,” was released in 2003, followed by “Say I Am You” in 2005. The Weepies have collaborated with many distinguished musicians and artists since then, notably playing and writing on Mandy Moore’s 2007 album “Wild Hope.” Their music has also been featured in television shows, films and advertisements including “Sex and the City,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and a 2008 campaign ad for former President Barack Obama. On the Weepies’ most recent release “Sirens,” the pair’s trenchant lyrics take on new meaning when Tannen sings, “I don’t need any trouble, but sometimes trouble needs me,” a prophetic statement written just weeks prior to Talan’s diagnosis of stage 3 breast cancer. Recorded during 2013 and 2014 when Talan was in treatment for cancer, the 16-song album is the Weepies most ambitious and best-received effort to date.
Years before he hit the road as one half of HoneyHoney, Williamstown native Jaffe began his career in Los Angeles as a solo artist. A decade later, he has returned to that path with “Oh, Wild Ocean of Life,” his first solo full-length release.
Tickets are $20–$34. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or contact the MASS MoCA box office at (413) 662-2111.
–E.E.
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Simon’s Rock faculty to exhibit art
Great Barrington — Bard College at Simon’s Rock will present an art exhibition featuring work by its studio arts instructors Friday, Nov. 3, through Wednesday, Dec. 20. On Thursday, Nov. 2, at 5:30 p.m., the artists will give a brief talk in the Hillman-Jackson Gallery followed by a reception.
The exhibition will provide a glimpse into the creative and professional work of the artists who teach in Simon’s Rock’s arts division. Participating artists include Ben Krupka, faculty in ceramics and Brett Evans, resident artist in ceramics; Dan Karp and Aaron Turner, faculty in photography; Anthony Kirk, faculty in printmaking; Jacob Fossum, faculty in painting and drawing; John Musall, faculty in theater lighting and set design; and Monk Schane-Lydon, faculty in graphic design.
For more information, contact Simon’s Rock at (413) 644-4400 or info@simons-rock.edu.
–E.E.
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‘Shades of Stockbridge’ at Stockbridge Library
Stockbridge — On Saturday, Nov. 4, from 5 to 7 p.m., history will come alive as the ghosts of past Stockbridge residents at the Stockbridge Library, Museum & Archives for program titled “Shades of Stockbridge.” Early authors Catharine Maria Sedgwick and Rachel Field, industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, original settler Abigail Williams Sergeant, photographer Anson Clark and other illustrious guests, all of whom will be played by volunteers, invite living, breathing residents and visitors to join them for an evening of historical gossip and spirited discussion. Visitors may merely eavesdrop or they may speak directly to the apparitions if they wish. Tickets are $5 and all proceeds will benefit the Stockbridge Library’s Procter Museum & Archives of Stockbridge History. For more information, contact the Stockbridge Library (413) 298-5501 or info@stockbridgelibrary.org.
–E.E.
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BCC to hold FAFSA Day Massachusetts
Pittsfield — Berkshire Community College will host FAFSA Day Massachusetts Sunday, Nov. 5, from 1 to 4 p.m.
FAFSA Day Massachusetts is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven effort providing free assistance to students and families seeking to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which is required of all students seeking grant or loan assistance. BCC’s financial aid staff, along with financial aid professionals from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams and Williams College in Williamstown, will be available to provide free assistance to Berkshire County families applying for college financial aid for the 2018-2019 academic year.
FAFSA Day activities will begin with check-in at the Koussevitzky Arts Center and include a “fast Track” table in the lobby for questions, hands-on assistance from support personnel stationed in computer labs around campus for those prepared to file their FAFSAs, and a guided presentation in Room K-111 for parents and students new to the financial aid process. Online registration is strongly recommended. For more information, contact fafsadaypittsfield@gmail.com.
–E.E.
