Hancock Shaker Village announced plans for the 29th annual Shaker Seminar, a five-day conference focused on various aspects of Shaker history, collecting, and research, July 20-25.
This year's seminar is centered at the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, Massachusetts and will give special focus to the Shaker communities of Harvard and Shirley. A full week of stimulating presentations, private tours, and programs by scholars, museum professionals, and academics combine with unique functions to offer a program that appeals to people with a variety of interests.
Behind-the-scenes and Private Tours
On Tuesday, July 22, Seminar participants will travel to the former Shaker site in Shirley, Massachusetts, which is now a State Correctional Facility, to view the original Shaker buildings that remain.
Following lunch, participants will be given a tour of the Harvard Meetinghouse, South Family Sister's Shop, and 1835 South Family Dwelling which are now private homes not open to the public. At the Fruitlands Museum on Wednesday, July 23, Curator Mike Volmar offers a glimpse at the museum's collection of Shaker manuscripts and Roben Cambell will provide a tour of Fruitlands' extensive collection of Shaker textiles.
Speakers
On Sunday evening July 20, Dorothy Andrews opens the seminar with Elijah Myrick's Herbarium, a lecture on Shaker herbalist Elijah Myrick and his book of herbs.
Monday's program include God's lovely Vineyard: An Intimate Look at the Harvard and Shirley Shakers, an historical overview of the Harvard and Shirley Shakers presented by Suzanne R. Thurman.
In her lecture Shaker Nurses and the American Botanico-medical Movement of the Early 19th Century, Martha Libster discusses the work of the Shaker nurse herbalists and their contribution to the expansion of the American botanical health care movement of the 1830s - 1850s. Robert Adam presents a detailed account of the dismantling and documentation of the Shirley Infirmary and Privy. Meredith Marcinkewicz provides introductory remarks and background for Tuesday's tour of the former Shirley site.
Following dinner on Tuesday, Mary Ann Haagen and Christian Goodwillie gave a presentation about and performance of the music of the Shaker community at Harvard.
David Newell begins the day on Thursday with Great Spiritual Wars and Sharp Testimonies: The Church at Ashfield, an examination of the social, economic and religious conditions in Ashfield, Massachusetts, that lead to the rise and spread of Shakerism in this and surrounding towns in 1779-1780. Starlyn D'Angelo presents Fragments of Ann Lee, an overview of objects in museum collections that are associated with founder of the Shaker movement.
On Friday David Fay and Roben Campbell present Comings and Goings at the Harvard Shaker Village, an examination of aspects of village life and the forces that transformed Shaker communities in the 19th century based on records of the Harvard Shaker Church. Jane Crosthwaite presents Clouds of Witnesses: Testimonies in the Sacred Texts of Mother's Work which discusses the visions received by the Shakers during the 1840s.
Meals and Evening Events
Seminar participants enjoy fun and fine dining, and evening activities. Planned meals and activities include: lunch at the historic Bull Run Restaurant (they say George Washington stopped by for a "cup of hot buttered rum"), preview of the "Discovery Sale" and behind-the-scenes tour of the Skinner gallery, dinner at The Fruitlands Museum with its spectacular valley view, dinner and tour of the breath-taking Noshoba Valley Winery in Bolton, and a picnic supper at The Fruitlands Museum followed by an outdoor concert by the Concord Band, a 70 piece symphonic band.
Registration
Pre-registration is required by June1 and can be made by contacting Hancock Shaker Village at (413) 443-0188 ext.221. A Variety of options are available:
Resident- $680 per person double occupancy - includes all offered meals, programs, admissions, events, seminar book, and lodging; Single Supplement - $250
Commuter - $410 - includes all offered meals, programs, admissions, events, seminar book.
Sunday only - $50 - includes dinner and evening talk, seminar book
Tuesday - $95 - includes all programs, lunch, and seminar book
Single Day - $125 - includes all offered programs, meals, and seminar book
Lodging is at the Best Western Royal Plaza in Fitchburg, Massachusetts located just 10 miles from the Fruitlands Museum.
For a complete Shaker Seminar schedule, contact the Village or go to www.hancockshakervillage.org and click on the Shaker Seminar icon after May 12.
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NAHA Board Accepts Director's Resignation, Unlocks Tenants Association Office
By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Housing Authority Board of Commissioners officially accepted the resignation of Executive Director Jennifer Hohn and restored access to the Tenants Association office.
The board held a special meeting Thursday to vote to accept Hohn's resignation and determined that there are currently no plans to replace her.
"We didn't make any final determinations in terms of the executive session so we will schedule another meeting at another time," Chairwoman Leigh Uqdah said after returning from more than an hour session. "Day-to-day operations will continue to be managed as normal by staff."
Per their bylaws, board member Marie Harpin will continue to handle finances, and Uqdah will manage contracts.
Hohn stepped down on Oct. 8 after 24 years leading the agency. Her resignation followed rising tension between her and the NAHA Tenants Association, culminating in the scheduling of a formal grievance hearing between both parties.
The boiling point was the locking of the association's office this summer. Tenants alleged the lockout was retaliation for posting a video on social media depicting improperly functioning door alarms. Hohn claimed the office was locked for tenant safety and to stop the spread of misinformation.
Tenants Association President Corey Fortin asked if Hohn's security access had been removed. Uqdah confirmed her credentials were revoked the day she resigned, meaning she can no longer monitor security cameras remotely.
Jennifer Barbeau, a former city councilor who was liaison to the Housing Authority, asked when the board met to discuss Hohn's severance package. Uqdah stated that Hohn did not have one.
The board also accepted the resignation of Commissioner Richard Lavigne, though they will vote officially on the matter at their next meeting.
The open portion of the meeting was brief, with nearly an hour and a half spent in executive session. Before entering executive session, the board opened the floor to tenants.
"The tenants requested an opportunity to talk to the board," said Uqdah. "It has been quite a while, but we have decided to honor that."
Fortin, who posted the original video to social media, was the first to speak. He was clear in his request: unlock the office door.
"Let's cut straight to the chase tonight. The former resigned Director Jennifer Hohn ordered the office locked," he alleged. "She is gone. The lockout is a direct violation, and the board has a duty to end that tonight."
He cited federal and state laws that mandate the tenants association be provided with office space, including computer and network access.
"We are here with a direct administrative demand. We demand that the board vote tonight to unlock the doors," he said. "Do not let a resigned director's illegal action remain the board's ongoing liability. Open our door tonight, and let us get back to work."
The North Adams Housing Authority Board of Commissioners officially accepted the resignation of Executive Director Jennifer Hohn and restored access to the Tenants Association office. click for more
That was the list of grievances that current and former tenants of the North Adams Housing Authority's high rise laid before the City Council on Tuesday.
click for more
City officials want to know if the attorney general will defend them if they refuse to abide by certain provisions in a federal grant for the Police Department. click for more
