Opera Meets Hollywood at Ventfort Hall

LENOX, Mass. — The Prima Music Foundation's returns to Ventfort Hall with their popular Opera Meets Hollywood concert on Thursday, Aug. 21 at 5:30 pm.

This special evening at Ventfort Hall, presented by Anastasia Dedik Prima Music Foundation Artistic Director, features a blend of opera, musical theater, and iconic piano works from film.

Anastasia Dedik founded the Prima Music Foundation, Prima Music Academy, and the Prima Music Institute & Festival Summer Camp that is held every summer in Berkshires. Her students have performed at Carnegie Hall and won top national and international awards. She is an internationally acclaimed pianist

Dedik welcomes soprano Jeanne Gérard, a special guest from Paris, France, reuniting with pianist Anastasia Dedik, her longtime collaborator from their years at The Juilliard School and the Manhattan School of Music.

This concert also marks the Prima Music Foundation debut of soprano Sadiyah Babatunde.

PMF and Artistic Director Anastasia Dedik present young pianists from the Foundation; Artois Sancho, Opal Garg and Dylan Conuel, who recently participated in the 2025 Prima Music Institute and Festival held at the Berkshire Music School. 

Tickets are $45 general admission. Reservations are required as seats are limited. For reservations visit https://gildedage.org/pages/calendar or call (413) 637-3206. Note that all tickets are nonrefundable and non-exchangeable. The historical mansion is located at 104 Walker Street in Lenox.

Prosperity Way Phase 1 Complete; Berkshire Gas Volunteer Day

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:21AM / Friday, June 26, 2026

Some 55 Avangrid/Berkshire Gas employees spent the day sawing, hammering and painting at Prosperity Way.

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Prosperity Way was founded on the dream of creating an affordable neighborhood where local working families can own a home, build a future, and create lasting memories. Soon, that vision will become reality as homeowners begin moving in.

 

Nearly a year ago, Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity broke ground on its three-phase affordable housing project. Now, volunteers are putting the final touches on the six homes and have already begun phase two. 

 

"One of the homeowners is closing on her house tomorrow, so she's moving in this weekend, and then the other family is moving in next week," said Habitat CEO Carolyn Valli. 

 

During Phase 2, seven additional homes will be built, the first modular ranch for that phase has been set, and the stick-built ranch is currently in construction. There are two additional ranches on site, to be set once foundations are cured and two colonial homes are scheduled for delivery on Monday, she said. 

 

Phase 3 will have the construction of another seven homes. Central Berkshire Habitat hopes to finish the project before 2028, dependent on securing sufficient grant funding to bridge the gap between construction costs and affordable sale prices, Valli said. 

 

Energy ran high on Thursday, as more than than 50 employee volunteers from Berkshire Gas, a subsidiary of Avangrid Inc., spent the day helping move the project forward through painting, landscaping, and construction work.

 

"We are an energy company in all aspects. We generate wind energy, we have electric utilities and gas utilities, and this crew is demonstrating their energy for a good cause today to support home building for folks who might otherwise never be able to afford a home," said Chris Farrell, Berkshire Gas' communications and government relations manager.