Old Time Fiddle by Ear Workshop at Dewey Hall

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SHEFFIELD, Mass. — In this workshop Aaron Jonah Lewis will teach old time fiddle by ear on Friday April 22 with a workshop from 5:30 to 6:30 pm and a concert at 7:30. 
 
The old time fiddle styles of the Appalachian mountains are characterized by their syncopated bowing patterns and driving rhythms. The workshop will be spent discussing musical and technical aspects and learning a tune. 
 
This workshop is for people who can already play their fiddle/violin, but will be taught by ear so you don't need to read music.
 
Tickets can be purchased here.
 
The event will take place at Dewey Hall at 91 Main St.
 
About the Aaron Jonah Lewis:
 
Virtuoso banjo player and fiddler Aaron Jonah Lewis has involved in traditional American music since their first lessons at the age of five with Kentucky native Robert Oppelt. Their concerts include old time and folk music, with detours through ragtime and early jazz. 
 
Lewis has taken blue ribbons at the Appalachian String Band Festival in Clifftop, W.Va., and at the Old Fiddlers Convention in Galax, Va., the oldest and largest fiddlers convention in the country. They spend most of their time teaching, touring as a solo performer, with the Corn Potato String Band, the Lovestruck Balladeers, and other projects.
 
Lewis has appeared on dozens of recordings from bluegrass and old time to traditional jazz, contemporary experimental and Turkish classical music projects. They have taught workshops at the the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow and at the English Folk Dance and Song Society in London. They also play and teach banjo, mandolin, and guitar and are currently based in Detroit.
 
Dewey Presents events are supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council through grants from the local cultural councils of Alford-Egremont, Sheffield, Mt. Washington, and New Marlborough Local Cultural Councils.
 
 

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Greenagers Founder Will Conklin Honored as Business Person of the Year

By Breanna Steele

Casey Pease of state Sen. Paul Mark's office presents William Conklin, right, with a state Senate proclamation.
EGREMONT, Mass. — The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce honored a local businessman and nonprofit leader on Sept. 24 at Catamount Mountain Resort.
 
William Conklin was this year's Business Person of the Year, recognizing his work as founder and executive director of Greenagers, a nonprofit that helps youth and children engage in work in environmental conservation, sustainable farming, natural resource management, and vocational skills building. 
 
Conklin and his family also run Sky View Farm and he is a managing partner of Konkapot Tree and Timber, a small-scale forest products business.
 
"If you spent any amount of time in Southern Berkshire, chances are you've heard his name, whether you realize the connection at the time or not," said board member Sierra King Watson, who emceed the event. "You might be having a conversation about farming, a new barn or structure that was built, students learning hands-on skills in sustainable agriculture, or a family that receives donated firewood to help keep their home warm through a cold Berkshire winter, or maybe you're simply talking about one of those community leaders who somehow manages to show up, support everyone, and seemingly be everywhere all at once.
 
"Well, one name has a way of continuously popping up, and that is Will Conklin."
 
Board President Mark Rulison said the region has more than 1,200 nonprofits. One in four jobs in the county is in the nonprofit sector, which ranks 27th nationally for nonprofit employment. He said the economic impact on the community is huge, thanking those who help.
 
For the event on Thursday, Conklin requested that as much of the food as possible was sourced locally. Most of it came from Greenagers, Sky View Farm, Indian Line Farm and Fancy Feast Supper Club, creative dinner series. 
 
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