Berkshire Bach Society Presents Renée Anne Louprette in Organ Recital

HOUSATONIC, Mass. — The Berkshire Bach Society is set to present the first event in its Organ Masters series with a recital by Renée Anne Louprette on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, at 2:00 PM.

The recital will take place at the historic UU Meeting House in Housatonic, showcasing the 1893 Johnson Organ.

Louprette's program, titled Best of Bach—The Great Organ Works, will feature some of Bach's most iconic organ pieces, including the renowned Toccata in D minor, BWV 565 and several transcriptions from his cantatas, such as Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, Sheep May Safely Graze, and Sleepers Awake. The performance will offer a fresh perspective on these well-loved works, played on the sweet-voiced Johnson Organ.

Louprette, an accomplished organist and Assistant Professor of Music at Bard College, has performed globally and received a Fulbright research grant to document historic organ restorations in Romania. She will be joined by Bach scholar George B. Stauffer, who will provide commentary on Bach's life and musical legacy.

Tickets for the event are $45 for nonmembers, $40 for Berkshire Bach members, and $10 with a Card to Culture. Children and students with valid ID are admitted for free. For more information, visit www.berkshirebach.org/events.

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.