Tuesday, January 20, 2026

News and Ideas Worth Sharing

HomeLife In the Berkshires

Life In the Berkshires

BITS & BYTES: Jewish Federation presents Samantha Geracht; Chat GBPT Series returns; Tarot at Ventfort Hall; Women artist submissions sought; Learn improv at Becket Arts Center

Anna Sokolow was a Jewish cultural icon, daughter of immigrants and social activist whose powerful theatrical choreography shaped American modern dance over the course of a 70-year choreographic career.

Bits & Bytes: Shire City Sessions; Stanton Home 30th anniversary; Marko Remec at Chesterwood; ‘Ugly Lies the Bone’ talkback; Behold! New Lebanon July 23...

Stanton Home has been providing care for people with special needs since 1986 and invites the public to tour its grounds, weavery and organic gardens, as well as to meet residents, staff and international volunteers.

Bits & Bytes: ‘The Stone Witch’; Ralph Nader at the Scoville Library; ‘Mysterious and Unexpected’ at Spencertown Academy; HVA trains River Stewards of Tomorrow;...

Three young adults have joined the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) for the summer in its River Stewards of Tomorrow internship program.

Bits & Bytes: Farley-Bouvier named Massachusetts floor whip; interfaith talk at Ahavath Sholom; Lynne Koplitz and friends; Deborah Kain exhibit; Williamstown Commons picnic: Blue...

In her role as whip, Rep. Farley-Bouvier will serve as the primary conduit of information between the national campaign and the Massachusetts delegates pledged to Clinton at the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia.

CONNECTIONS: Rebirth of Naumkeag’s Chinese Temple Garden

The Trustees of Reservations consider the gardens at Naumkeag, created over 30 years, a masterpiece because Fletcher Steele was a leader in establishing modern American landscape design.

Bits & Bytes: Neal and Tyer to present heroin documentary; ‘Artistic Insights’ at Shakespeare & Co.; ‘Nudes Beyond the Prado;’ Carole Owens book signing;...

Shakespeare & Company Founding Artistic Director Tina Packer and Company actor Jonathan Epstein will give a talk entitled “Shakespeare and the Jews,” which will explore Shakespeare’s controversial play “The Merchant of Venice.”

Bits & Bytes: Equipment grant for GBFD; Egremont zoning changes; Behold! New Lebanon tours; Hilda Banks Shapiro CD release; Laszlo Gordony Quartet; ‘tree-torials’ at...

Hilda Banks Shapiro began taking piano lessons when she was 4 years old and, at 16, made her solo debut at Carnegie Hall in New York City and Symphony Hall in Boston.

Bits & Bytes: ‘Resisting the Pipeline;’ CATA art exhibits; Stephen Hough at Tannery Pond; Harvey Granat at Berkshire South; Shabbat at Tanglewood

The 'Resisting the Pipeline' celebration will move to Lower Spectacle Pond/Otis State Forest in Sandisfield for a solidarity rally from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 16, that will include musical guests Ben Grosscup, Kate O'Conner, Bonner McAllester, and Steve Adams.

Bits & Bytes: ‘Stars in the Orchard;’ ‘Jennifer’s Birth;’ NRBQ at Club Helsinki Hudson; Berkshire Summer Strings benefit concert; firefly hike at Olana; household...

“Jennifer’s Birth” tells the story a 57-year-old woman who goes back to the time of her birth and witnesses events that shake up her views about her parents and about herself.

Bits & Bytes: Aston Magna all-Bach program; Multicultural BRIDGE calls for community response; Roselle Chartock on Windsor Mountain School; ‘Saratoga in the Victorian Era;’...

In response to the recent racially charged violence in Baton Rouge, La., and Minnesota, Multicultural BRIDGE and several local clergy members are calling allies together to offer support to South County’s African-American population.

Bits & Bytes: Don Wynn exhibition; ‘Happiest Baby’ class; ‘connoisseurship’ panel discussion; dance intensive at Berkshire Pulse

Led by CHP breastfeeding peer counselor and certified Happy Baby educator MaryBeth Merritt, the 'Happiest Baby' program focuses on simple, effective ways of soothing babies such as activating the calming reflex, swaddling, and soothing sounds and motions.

Bits & Bytes: GB K-9 unit grant; D.R.E.A.M. Ring dance; Hotchkiss piano concerts; Olana ’66; ‘Interiors’ exhibit

Throughout their partnership, Officer Ullrich and K-9 Jori have assisted in conducting numerous missing persons’ cases, suspect apprehensions and narcotics investigations.

Bits & Bytes: ‘CHOW’ in Hillsdale; Science Night; Dale Chihuly in Stockbridge; Happiness Toolbox summer programs; Behold! New Lebanon tours

At the Berkshire Museum the annual summer night of science, invention, and sensory fun will include activities for children of all ages.

CONNECTIONS: Poetic mysteries solved, but no way to prove it

Stockbridge in 1856 was rich with poets, painters, and novelists, as were neighboring Lenox and Pittsfield.

EDGECAST VIDEO: The Mount: A legacy restored. An interview with Susan Wissler

Edgecast videographers Jason Brown and Jim Frangione interview Susan Wissler, executive director of The Mount, who explains how The Mount has restored the legacy of author Edith Wharton.

Nick Diller’s weather summary: June 2016, dry but comfortable

With the jet stream to our south, keeping us in a dry weather pattern with very low dew points made this June the 15th driest in 51 years of record keeping.

Bits & Bytes: Live on the Lake; CHP dental clinic; the Capitol Steps at Cranwell; stargazing workshop; ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ preview; Pittsfield Garden...

CHP dentists Dr. Lina Bermudez and Dr. Minwood Jang will conduct exams and offer fluoride treatments for children up to age 16; those over 16 will receive an oral exam only.