Millbrook Listens is listening. Project Leader Christopher Wilson paused for a photo at The Millbrook Library on Monday, Oct. 27. The year-long project to gather residents’ ideas for the village’s future is now underway.
MILLBROOK — A year-long effort is underway to help Millbrook residents define their vision for the community’s future and identify priorities that would enhance life in the village for generations to come.
The Millbrook Listens project, led by Christopher Wilson and a 20-member volunteer committee, aims to collect as many ideas as possible. Volunteers in colorful T-shirts have been attending community events, eager to hear residents’ thoughts.
“We have had over 200 idea submissions since Community Day that cover everything from walkability and town park improvements to community dances and masquerades to road safety concerns on Franklin Avenue to the need for more afterschool teen programming,” Wilson said in response to interview questions on Thursday, Oct. 23.
Residents can share their ideas using the Project/Idea Submission Form on the Millbrook Library website (www.millbrooklibrary.org) under “Resources.” The form also lets participants vote for their top three priorities.
Praising the commitment and talent of his volunteer team, Wilson said the project aims “to enhance, not to change” the village experience.
“I believe that the simplicity of just listening to what people care about will be the wellspring toward success,” Wilson said. “We are here to celebrate the traditions and heritage that continue to inspire people every day to choose Millbrook.”
Wilson said the project’s reach extends beyond the village limits, encouraging all residents—both in and around Millbrook—to share their ideas.
Broad in scope, the initiative invites open-ended input on everything from future development and infrastructure to the conservation of the natural environment, recognizing that all aspects of community life are interconnected.
“My education is in Parks and Public Management. Understanding and fostering the relationship between human and natural worlds is critical. If we continue to talk about them separately, we will continue to undermine the effectiveness of calls to action, Wilson said.
“Our environment includes the forest, the streams, the wildlife, as well as the businesses, houses, roadways, and people. So many speak about nature as something apart and different; it does not have to be one or the other, it is the harmony between accessibility and stewardship that needs to be achieved,” Wilson explained.
Drawing on his background in grants administration, Wilson said the project’s outcomes will help shape future goals for both the village and the town.
“We are looking to come out of this planning process with three priority projects that the community has voiced and voted on in order to show that we are unified in our direction,” Wilson said, a step toward seeking new funding sources and collaboration with potential funders.
Reflecting on his work as an outdoor educator, writer, and strategic planner, Wilson expressed a deep appreciation for the people, landscapes, and communities that have influenced his life.
“I have dedicated my life to articulating and securing funding for opportunities that inspire people and their communities,” Wilson noted. He serves as one of six select Fellows of the Funding Futures Program in conjunction with the Partners for Climate Action organization.
Two Millbrook Listens project information sessions are planned for November at the Millbrook Library. The first will be held on Monday, Nov. 17, from 1-2 p.m. and the second on Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
With the property up for sale and its future uncertain, programming is winding down at the iconic Race Brook Lodge in Sheffield, Massachusetts. But there are still events on the calendar designed to carry music lovers through the winter and into spring.
From Friday, Nov. 21, to Monday, Nov. 24, Race Brook Lodge will hold its Fall Gratitude Festival. Celebrating the tail end of fall before the colder depths of winter, the festival features an eclectic mix of music from top-notch musicians.
The festival begins Friday, Nov. 21, with an evening of Indian classical music with Eric Fraser (bansuri flute), Abhik Mukherjee (sitar), Mir Naqibul Islam (tabla) and Vinay Desai (santoor). Fraser is one of the few exponents of the original “gayaki-ang,” or vocal style, of bansuri flute. He is also a key member of Brooklyn Raga Massive, a nonprofit musicians’ collective that creates cross-cultural understanding through the lens of South Asian classical music. Fraser’s playing rings with authenticity and pure Indian tone, carrying a distinct and masterful sound imbibing a pure gharana, or lineage. He is also a multi-instrumentalist, educator, composer and songwriter.
On Saturday, Nov. 22, Palestinian multi-instrumentalist Zafer Tawil (qanun, violin, nay) performs alongside friend and collaborator Rabbi Zachi Asher (oud), offering Arabic maqam, Sufi trance, piyut and tarab sounds that bring ancient desert traditions to life. Tawil and Asher present a rare vision of collaborative futures at the crossroads of art and justice, music and spirituality. For this performance, Duo al Rouh will be joined by vocalist Zahra Zubaidi, percussionist Rich Stein, violinist Megan Gould, belly dancer Myrto Daskaloudi and other special guests.
Rabbi Asher will also lead a special Shabbat gathering, ceremony and dinner with songs, teachings, dance, stillness, silliness, poetry and wilderness time for adults and kids on Friday, Nov. 21. Everyone is welcome. Shabbat dinner is included.
On Sunday, Nov. 23, master Senegalese sabar percussionist Aba Diop performs with fellow griot artists and global collaborators the Yermande Family. The group’s full-length release, “Family,” affirms sabar as a rhythmic language that has shaped music across continents and centuries and continues to shape what comes next. The group takes its name from the Wolof word “yermande,” which means compassion, care for others and deep respect for community.
Closing out the festival on Monday, Nov. 24, keyboardist John Medeski, along with bandleader Mike Rivard on bass and sintir, Will Bernard (guitar), Mister Rourke (turntables) and Dean Johnston (drums), performs as Club d’Elf. Club d’Elf has been helping audiences lose track of time for 27 years with its synthesis of Moroccan traditional music and electronic, dubbed-out funk.
Race Brook Lodge is a restaurant, inn and event space that provides a place for guests to engage with nature, culture and community. With a commitment to sustainability and accessibility, Race Brook Lodge is a unique Berkshire institution. The property is for sale and long-time owners Dave Rothstein, Casey Rothstein-Fitzpatrick and Saadia Khan hope that the new owners “will care for the property in a way that is respectful to the land and our local community,” said a social media post.
For tickets to the Fall Gratitude Festival, visit rblodge.com/fall-gratitude-festival-2025.
Holiday decorations bring cheer.
I just put the skeletons away — literally — into their neatly labeled Halloween plastic bins, along with the faux cobwebs, flickering lanterns and haunted houses that feature tiny tea lights. As I closed the lid, I found myself eyeing — albeit hesitantly — the Christmas décor.
We just voted, and now I’m sprinting toward Christmas? Too soon? Maybe. But before you judge, hear me out.
As an interior designer with a seasonal division, decorating restaurants, hotels and client homes fills the calendar long before December’s first flakes fall. While many of you are still working your way through leftover trick-or-treat candy, I’m busy fluffing garlands, steaming bows and untangling strings of lights that somehow tie themselves into sailors’ knots. Full inventory assessments are underway, batteries and extension cords are being tested, and by Thanksgiving or shortly after, every wreath, tree and ornament will be perfectly placed.
As for my own holiday décor? Well, it’ll likely go up somewhere between Black Friday and Christmas Eve, when I’ll be tiptoeing through my living room at 2 a.m., stringing lights and hoping I get even half of it up before I run out of time.
This year, I’m seriously considering pulling a page from my freshman daughter’s and college-aged niece’s book. Their bedrooms in our home are already little winter wonderlands — soft fairy lights, flocked mini trees, cozy throws, flannel sheets and all the sparkly magic of the season. It’s less “Santa’s Workshop” and more “quiet snow globe” — peaceful, pretty and brimming with cheer.
And honestly, who couldn’t use a bit more of that?
Truth be told, there’s some science behind it. Studies show that people who decorate earlier tend to be happier. Psychologists say it triggers nostalgic feelings, releases dopamine — the “happy hormone” — and brings back joyful memories from childhood. In other words, twinkling lights really do make life brighter.
Still, not everyone’s on board with decking the halls before the bird’s even in the oven. So, in the spirit of balance, let’s do a deep dive into the pros and cons.
The Pros of Decorating Early.
Longer enjoyment: You’ve spent time, energy and maybe a small fortune on décor — why not enjoy it for more than three weeks?
Less stress: Getting it done early means you can actually relax come December. Imagine that!
Instant cheer: The world feels a little kinder under twinkle lights.
Creative freedom: You’re not rushed. You can style and restyle until it feels just right.
Built-in motivation: Once it’s up, you’ll want to keep everything else organized and tidy. (It’s the decorator’s paradox.)
The Cons of Decorating Early.
Holiday burnout: Start too soon and you might be ready to take it all down before Santa even arrives.
Thanksgiving confusion: A turkey centerpiece under mistletoe just feels ... conflicted.
Peer pressure: Not everyone’s thrilled about jingling bells before mid-November.
Storage shuffle: Early decorating means the Halloween bins and Christmas bins battle for garage space.
Power bills: All those early twinkle lights can add up — financially and electrically.
For me, it’s a toss-up. I’m not hosting Thanksgiving — I do a big bash in October for our traditional Canadian Thanksgiving — so we’ll be at my in-laws’ here in Lakeville. That might give me just the breathing room I need to lean into the sparkle a little sooner.
But really, in the end, it isn’t about when the décor goes up — it’s about what it stirs inside us. The scent of pine, the glow of soft lights, the little moments that slow us down and remind us what we’re grateful for. Whether in November or December, if your holiday décor fills your home with peace and your heart with joy, that’s perfect timing.
Kerri-Lee Mayland is an Emmy award-winning news anchor and designer. She lives in Lakeville.
