Ventfort Hall to Host Introductory Astrology Workshop

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LENOX, Mass. — Ventfort Hall has announced an introductory astrology workshop to be held on Sunday, May 3, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The two-hour, lecture-style session aims to provide beginners with the foundational knowledge required to interpret a natal chart.

The curriculum covers several core astrological concepts, including the "big four"—the Sun, Moon, Rising sign, and chart ruler. Participants will also study the 12 zodiac signs and their associated elements and modalities, the 12 houses representing different life areas, and major planetary aspects such as conjunctions and squares. The workshop is designed for individuals aged 13 and older and requires no prior knowledge of the subject.

Chelsea Gaia, the Director of Programming and Communications at Ventfort Hall, will serve as the instructor. Gaia, a practitioner of Tarot for 25 years, utilizes astrology as a tool for identifying personal intuition and metacognition.

The session includes a Q&A segment and a mid-way tea service. Attendees are encouraged to bring a notebook and pen, or purchase them at the site's gift shop. Organizers also suggest that participants bring their birth date, exact time, and location to assist in sketching their personal charts.

Tickets for the event are $35 and are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. While walk-ins will be accommodated if space allows, reservations are recommended due to limited seating. Reservations can be made through the Ventfort Hall website or by telephone.

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Josh Billings Athletes Can Support Local Non-Profits

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. - A new fundraising initiative is giving participants in  one of the Berkshires’ most recognized community traditions a simple way to support local  nonprofits.
 
Launched this year by the Josh Billings RunAground and Mill Town Foundation, the Finish Line Fund allows participating teams to select a Berkshire-based nonprofit and invite friends, family members, colleagues, and others to support the organization through a  team fundraising page.
 
With time still remaining before the Sept. 20 event, participating teams already have raised more than $16,000 for local nonprofits.
 
“The Finish Line Fund is about expanding participation in local philanthropy,” said Andy Wrba, Program Director at Mill Town Foundation. “You don’t need to make a large gift to have an impact. When hundreds of people contribute $10 or $20 to organizations they care about, those individual gifts can add up to something significant. We want to make local  giving accessible, personal, and connected to an event people are already excited to be part of.”
 
Rather than directing all fundraising to a single beneficiary, the Finish Line Fund places the  choice in the hands of participants. Teams select a Berkshire nonprofit that is meaningful to them and use their own networks and personal stories to build support for the organization.  Donations made through each team’s fundraising page go directly to its selected nonprofit.
 
The initiative reflects a peer-to-peer approach to philanthropy in which individuals become  ambassadors for the organizations and causes they value. In addition to raising funds, the  program is designed to introduce more people to Berkshire nonprofits, expand their networks of supporters, and encourage community members to see themselves as active participants in local giving.
 
To encourage broad participation, Mill Town Foundation will also contribute an additional $500 to the nonprofit represented by each of the five teams that attracts the greatest number of individual donors. The incentive is based on the number of unique supporters – not the total amount raised – reinforcing the message that gifts of every size matter.
 
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