Agenda Departments

Agenda

The Secret Village
Oct. 25-28: Berkshire Museum’s Little Cinema will host the world premiere of a suspenseful new thriller, The Secret Village, directed by Swamy Kandan and shot on location in Berkshire County. The film opens on Friday, Oct. 25 with a 7 p.m. screening, followed by a discussion with the director. It will also be shown Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26 and 27, at 7 p.m., and on Monday, Oct. 28 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Secret Village follows Greg (Jonathan Bennett), an unsuccessful screenwriter, and Rachel (Ali Faulkner), a spunky journalist, as they research an outbreak of mass hysteria and ergot poisoning in a small village. They rent a house together and start to uncover a secret that has affected the village for years. But the cult activity has been kept a secret by locals Joe (Stelio Savante) and Paul (Richard Riehle), and when Greg disappears, Rachel is left alone to unravel the mystery and save their lives. The Secret Village was shot in late spring 2012 at a variety of locations in the Berkshires, including Olivia’s Overlook, Naumkeag, Stockbridge Cemetery and other parts of Stockbridge, Hancock Shaker Village, and other places in Lee, Lenox, and Monterey. Little Cinema admission is $7.50, $5 for museum members. For advance tickets, call (413) 443-7171, ext. 10.

Art in the Orchard
Through October: Park Hill Orchard, at 82 Park Hill Road, Easthampton, will play host to 22 sculptures by 22 artists through Oct. 31. Art in the Orchard 2013 is a multifaceted sculpture exhibition and festival taking place on the grounds of a working apple orchard. The core project is a sculpture trail showcasing three-dimensional outdoor works and installations created by local and regional artists. Additional events (such as music, moonlight walks, dances, and school field trips) will be programmed on most weekends. See parkhillorchard.com/art for more information on the artists, their works, and an event schedule. Art in the Orchard is building on the success of the first exhibition in 2011, which came to existence thanks to the desire of Park Hill Orchard owners Alane Hartley and Russell Braen to have their farm play an active part in the local cultural economy, and a dream of Easthampton gallery owner Jean-Pierre Pasche to recreate an outdoor sculpture exhibit like the one set in meadows near his hometown in Switzerland. The success of the 2011 event exceeded expectations, with thousands of visitors discovering the sculpture trail and Park Hill over the 10-week period, many returning more than once. This achievement was recognized by the Mass. Cultural Council, which awarded Art in the Orchard one of its three annual Gold Star Awards, out of more than 5,000 projects funded annually by local cultural councils statewide.

Western Mass. Business Expo 2013
Nov. 6: Get ready for the Western Mass. Business Expo 2013, a day-long business-to-business event to take place at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield. This fall’s show, the third edition of the Expo, which is again being produced by BusinessWest, will feature more than 100 exhibitors, seminars on timely issues of the day, special Show Floor Theater presentations, breakfast and lunch programs, and the wrap-up Expo social, which has become a not-to-be-missed networking event. The breakfast speaker will be Jim Koch, founder of Samuel Adams, while the lunch speaker will be author, activist, and marathon runner Kathrine Switzer. This issue of BusinessWest contains all you need to know about event details, which can also be found online at www.wmbexpo.com or www.businesswest.com. For more information on the event, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100.

Bright Nights Ball
Nov. 16: Spirit of Springfield will hold its 18th annual City of Bright Nights Ball at the Sheraton Springfield. MGM Springfield will sponsor the black-tie event, which raises money to support the many events presented by Spirit of Springfield. Kelley Tucky, vice president of Community and Public Affairs for MGM Resorts, will serve as the gala’s chair. Visit spiritofspringfield.org for more information.

Government Reception
Nov. 21: The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield will present its Government Reception from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Carriage House, Storrowton Tavern, West Springfield. This is a great opportunity to meet socially with local, state, and federal government officials. Sponsors include Baystate Health, Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, and United Personnel. Tickets cost $50 for members, $70 for general admission, which includes complimentary beverages and hors d’oeuvres. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.