The temperature outside may be cooling down, but not the activities at the Sandisfield Arts Center.

October is a robust month, beginning with a not-to-be-missed doubleheader. The first weekend of October (3 and 4) features a sobering documentary, "Nazi Town, USA." Produced by Peter Yost, who will be present for a discussion about the film, the documentary describes a part of American history that few of us learn in our history classes. Certainly, I never learned about in my years in the Mt. Everett Regional School System. It is part of the acclaimed PBS American Experience series and the presence of producer Yost offers an opportunity to learn more about the series and this particular film.

The Thistles Plus One Quartet.

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Less than twenty-four hours later, The Thistles Quartet, will perform from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Instrumentation for this eclectic group includes: electric violin, piano, clarinet, oboe and duduk (Armenian oboe), with Sandisfield's own Jaye Alison Moscariello on vocals. Check out the Sandisfield Arts Centers Website sandisfieldartscenter.org to read about the accomplished members of this quartet (really a quintet for this occasion).

Music has always been a foundation for events at the Arts Center, and two weeks later Noah Baerman, Jazz pianist, composer, educator (Director of Wesleyan University's Jazz Ensemble) and activist, and his longtime collaborator bassist Henry Lugo, will provide another eclectic afternoon. Original compositions by Baerman and jazz repertoire by greats such as Monk, Coltrane, Hancock, and Rollins as well as material from Baerman's new album "Independent Declarations," which is directly related to America 250.

All of the above is happening in the upstairs where Baptist and Jewish services were held for "150 years."

Below, in the newly renovated Garfield Family Gallery, you have an opportunity to view two magical art shows. Through October 11, "Touch Me Gently," invites you to experience three dimensional art through touch. This tactile exhibition features fabric arts, papier-mache, and other touchable sculptures designed to soothe during turbulent times. It provides an opportunity to gently explore textures and forms with your hands, engaging with art in an intimate, calming, and multi-sensory way.

Photo: From the Family Fotos exhibit, "Louie with a swollen eye," by Josie Miner.

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October 24 at 4:30 p.m., is the opening of Family Fotos, an exhibit that explores the idea of family in all forms - biological/chosen, remembered/imagined, whole/fractured - and considers questions of memory, intimacy, identity, absence, and belonging. As with "Tough Me Gently," it will be open weekends 12:00-3:00 p.m., during other Sandisfield Art Events through December 5 at 6:30 p.m., and by appointment at gallery@sandisfieldartscenter.org.

Ticket sales rarely cover the performance expenses. Nevertheless, the Arts Center Board does not want ticket price to exclude participation. Reduced price tickets are available at our website and complimentary tickets can also be made available via a member of the Sandisfield Art Center Board soconnell@wesleyan.edu.