Business Briefs: SoCo Creamery flavor party; wine and spirits fair; BNRC conservation gathering; Community Film Fund launch; ‘Standing Lincoln’ acquisition

SoCo Creamery to introduce new seasonal ice cream flavors

Great Barrington — SoCo Creamery will hold a tasting of its new, seasonal flavors Thursday, Feb. 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. This will be the first in a series of flavor parties at the Great Barrington scoop shop.

SoCo Creamery’s Cooookie Monster ice cream. Photo courtesy SoCo Creamery

The creative team at SoCo Creamery has spent the winter developing ice cream flavors such as Beet Molé, Tahini Toffee Crunch, Cooookie Monster, Berkshire Fog and G.O.A.T. Pepper Jam to add to its roster.

Inspired by the bounty of the Berkshires, these seasonal flavors are made with local ingredients and tell the stories of farmland, friends, families and small businesses that work together. For instance, the goat cheese of Rawson Brook Farm in Monterey was the inspiration for G.O.A.T. Pepper Jam, pairing the cheese with blackberry jam and adding a hint of habanero.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact SoCo Creamery at (413) 644-9866 or store@sococreamery.com.

–E.E.

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Red Lion Inn to hold wine and spirits fair

Stockbridge — On Saturday, Feb. 15, from 2 to 5 p.m., the Red Lion Inn will host an inaugural tour of wines and spirits from both local and international producers. Presented in partnership with Nejaime’s Wine Cellars, the inaugural fair will take place in the hotel’s Hitchcock Room with light bites and tastings of more than 35 different types of wine and spirits. In addition to pours from the Red Lion Inn’s collection, tastes will be provided from vendors such as M.S. Walker, Classic Wine Imports, Berkshire Mountain Distillers, Ideal Wine & Spirits, and Oz Wine Company.

Attendees can also try their luck at winning a variety of raffle prizes including magnums of wine, tours of Berkshire Mountain Distillers, and an overnight stay with dinner at the Red Lion Inn. All proceeds from raffle ticket sales will benefit Community Access to the Arts.

Tickets are $25 per person and include a souvenir Red Lion Inn wine glass. Raffle tickets are not included in the ticket price. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or contact the Red Lion Inn at (413) 298-5545.

–E.E.

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BNRC workshop to gather area conservation leaders

Great Barrington — Berkshire Natural Resources Council will gather area conservation leaders at a workshop Wednesday, Feb. 12, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Saint James Place. The purpose of the workshop is to help Berkshire towns and cities learn about and share their experiences with conservation planning.

The effort is in collaboration with the UMass Cooperative Extension and Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust to implement the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Working Forests Initiative, which has an estate-planning component.

Given its countywide mission and network, BNRC is eager to convene regional leaders in a combined effort to help landowners better understand their options and make informed long-term property choices. Said BNRC President Jenny Hansell: “Collaboration and partnership are vital for all conservation work. Connecting local conservation leaders to learn about the needs and opportunities in their communities will be invaluable as we continue to work toward realizing The High Road, our vision to connect open space throughout the Berkshires.”

The event is free and open to the public. While the workshops are geared toward members of land trusts and municipal groups, anyone interested in open spaces in their community is welcome to attend. For more information or to registers, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or contact Mariah at (413) 499-0596 or mauman@bnrc.org.

–E.E.

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Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative to launch Community Film Fund

Lee — Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative and the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires will officially launch the Community Film Fund at a benefit dinner Wednesday, Feb. 12, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Chez Nous.

The Community Film Fund is a matching fund to help nonprofits in the Berkshire region create impactful videos for their branding, marketing and social media. Details of the fund will be announced and 15% of the evening’s proceeds will benefit the new fund. BFMC has raised an initial $25,000 to launch the fund. Information, guidelines and links to local filmmakers will be available on BFMC’s website Friday, Feb. 14.

Online advertising company Wordstream states that the average user spends 88% more time on a website with video. Viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video compared to 10% when reading it in text. An initial email with a video receives an increase click-through rate by 96%. Yet, according to BMFC executive director Diane Pearlman: “Many times, this essential tool is cut from a nonprofit’s budget. The Community Film Fund will help give a ‘voice’ through video to our smaller nonprofit organizations, as well as create jobs for professional filmmakers in our area.”

For more information about the Community Film Fund, contact Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative at (413) 528-4223. To make reservations for the benefit dinner, contact Chez Nous at (413) 243-6397.

–E.E.

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Stockbridge Library acquires ‘Standing Lincoln’ replica statue

The ‘Standing Lincoln’ replica statue recently gifted to the Stockbridge Library by the Williams High School Alumni Association. Photo courtesy Stockbridge Library, Museum & Archives

Stockbridge — The Stockbridge Library, Museum & Archives has announced the acquisition of the Daniel Chester French “Standing Lincoln” replica statue gifted by the Williams High School Alumni Association. The 3-foot bronze replica statue has been on loan to the Stockbridge Library since June 26, 1979.

At the WHSAA executive board meeting in October 2017, the board passed a motion to donate Daniel Chester French’s Standing Lincoln statue to the Stockbridge Library, Museum & Archives. The statue has been at the library since 1968. On Sept. 22, 2018, Williams High School alumni banquet attendees the ratified the WHSAA executive board’s motion.

On Jan. 24, 2020, WHSAA President Lawrence Tonini signed the deed of gift for the statue with WHSAA secretary Pat Flinn, library board president John Gillespie, and museum and archives curator Barbara Allen in attendance.

–E.E.