Berkshire Bach Society Brings 'Bach at New Year's' to Mahaiwe

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass — The Berkshire Bach Society will present its holiday tradition, Bach at New Year's: The Six "Brandenburg" Concertos, at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, Dec. 31, at 6 PM.

The concert, now in its 35th anniversary season, will be led by Artistic Director Eugene Drucker, a founding member of the Emerson String Quartet, alongside the Berkshire Bach Ensemble.

The program features Johann Sebastian Bach's six "Brandenburg" Concertos, a celebrated collection of distinct orchestral works showcasing a range of instruments, including strings, winds, brass, and harpsichord. Known for their joyous and inventive character, the "Brandenburgs" are a hallmark of Baroque repertoire.

Tickets are available through the Mahaiwe box office. Children under 18 and students with valid ID receive free admission. For more information, visit berkshirebach.org.

Great Barrington Fire, Police Respond to Chimney Fire

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
02:48PM / Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Fire Chief Scott Turner called for mutual aid as soon as he saw flames. 

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Firefighters made quick work of a chimney fire on Tuesday afternoon and two police officers aided the occupant in escaping the building. 

 

Fire Chief Scott Turner said the blaze at 205 North St. was reported about 12:38 p.m.

 

"When I arrived on scene, we had a small amount of flames coming out of the eaves of the roof over by the chimney for the wood stove, and then we had light smoke conditions on the second floor," he said. 

 

Police Officers Andres Huertas and Elias Casey were first on the scene and immediately entered the single-family home to find the occupant was on the second floor. 

 

They helped her out of the building, Turner said, "they did a great job."

 

The chimney is a metal chimney and burn marks could been seen where it meets the eaves on the side of the building. 

 

North Street is a narrow residential way and firetrucks from Alford, Egremont, Monterey, Richmond, Stockbridge and West Stockbridge were parked along nearby streets. Scene support was provided by police, Southern Berkshire Ambulance, and National Grid.