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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North Adams Police Charge 7 After Drug Investigation
Staff Reports
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Police charged seven people after executing simultaneous search warrants on Eagle Street and Arnold Place.
On Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, members of the North Adams Police Department Detective Unit and Berkshire Law Enforcement Task Force executed search warrants at 212 Eagle Street Apartment 3 and 59 Arnold Place.
According to police, the search warrants were the result of a month-long investigation into a group of people from Springfield utilizing both residences as part of their heroin and cocaine distribution operation.
Police reported that during the search warrant execution at 212 Eagle Street Apartment 3, Giovanni Ramirez was taken into custody. Joanne Bentley and Chad Luczynski were also located in the apartment and will be charged as part of this investigation.
During the search warrant execution at 59 Arnold Place, Sandra Bunt, Raven Vanderburg, Jaiden Langford-Andrews and Angel Ortiz were all taken into custody.
Bunt's bail was revoked on a separate open case, and she is held without bail. Vanderburg is being held without bail for a probation violation on a separate case.
Langford-Andrews, Ortiz and Ramirez were all held without bail pending dangerousness hearings scheduled for later this week and early next week.
As a result of the investigation, the following evidence was seized:
Approximately 110 grams of cocaine
Approximately 2,323 bags of heroin (46 grams)
Approximately $6,817 U.S. Currency
Multiple functioning digital scales with residue
The following people were arrested and charged with the following:
Jaiden Langford-Andrews of Springfield:
Arrest Warrant
Trafficking Heroin 36-100 grams
Possessing with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
Conspiracy
Angel Ortiz, of Springfield:
Trafficking Heroin 36-100 grams
Possessing with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
Conspiracy
Giovanni Ramirez, of Springfield, Massachusetts:
Trafficking Cocaine 36-100 grams
Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin
Conspiracy
Sandra Bunt, of North Adams:
Trafficking Heroin 36-100 grams
Possessing with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
Conspiracy
Raven Vanderburg, of North Adams:
Trafficking Heroin 36-100 grams
Possessing with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
Conspiracy
The following people were charged but not taken into custody:
On a day set aside for recognizing local veterans, the city unveiled a new plaque that added or corrected the names of 169 who served during wartime.
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The City Council on Tuesday accepted a fiscal 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $14,231 for the construction of an evidence room.
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Drury High School students don't have to ask "where's the beef" from, now that the school has partnered to bring local meat into its food service system. click for more
