The Arts at Hotchkiss will present a Spring Choral Concert featuring The Hotchkiss Chorus, on May 13, at 7 PM in the Hotchkiss Chapel at 11 Interlaken Road in Lakeville. On Friday, May 18, at 7 PM, The Hotchkiss School presents a South American Extravaganza, an evening of chamber music from Brazil & Argentina with works by Villa-Lobos, Piazzolla, Mignone. The concert takes place in Katherine M. Elfers Hall, Esther Eastman Music Center.

***TRADE SECRETS***, a two-day annual event to benefit Women's Support Services (www.wssdv.org), takes place May 19 and 20 at Lion Rock Farm off Route 41 in Sharon. May 19 features rare plant and garden antique sales and May 20 features a tour of four splendid gardens, including Trade Secret's signature garden of Bunny Williams in Falls Village. For tickets & further information, visit www.tradesecretsct.com or call 860-364-1080. (Please - regretfully, no pets are welcome.)

The Salisbury Forum (where ideas come together!) will feature a talk on "Race France to France: Leave Antarctica to Starboard" by Rich Wilson, sailor and international lecturer. Only the second American in history to complete the perilous, non-stop, solo around-the-world, Vendee Globe Race. The free lecture will take place on Friday, May 18, at 7:30 PM in the Seifert Theater at Salisbury School on Route 44 in Salisbury.

Sid Bernstein, the American music producer and promoter, changed the American music scene by bringing The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Kinks to the U.S. He recently stated that John D'Ercole's bass guitar playing and his gentle manner are so magnificent that "I know he'll be a headline performer before he leaves his twenties." John D'Ercole's musical repertoire includes jazz, classical and contemporary music. He has arranged a repertoire of classical compositions for the six-string bass guitar. D'Ercole, son of local Lakeville resident, Sergio D'Ercole will perform at the Hudson Union Society in New York City on May 16. For more information and to order a ticket, go to hudsonunionsociety.com.

Save the Date: Community Mental Health Affiliates, Inc. (CMHA) is planning a GALA EVENT at Lime Rock Park for Saturday, June 2 -- "An Evening Under the Stars, From Ferraris to Fettuccine." Experience the thrills and romance of Italy during the fashionably chic 1960's era. The curated event will feature classic, locally owned Italian sports cars. Following cocktails, dinner will include Italian artisan breads, cuisine and wine, followed by a live auction. Tickets cost $150 per person. Proceeds will support counseling and behavioral health services provided by CMHA. For more information, call Carol Mack at 860-435-2529, ext. 114, or go to www.cmhacc.org/tickets to purchase online.