1. Our feature writer Hannah Van Sickle has written a look at student film makers producing films on local, tough social issues:

2. Bill Shein, ever with his eye on the Great Barrington Airport, has written part 7 of his series examining the operations of this historic — and controversial — feature of South Berkshire County:

3.  An activist group rallied at Park Square in Pittsfield for a better future for Western Massachusetts:

4.  3. The legendary Dream Away Lodge in Becket has reopened under new ownership after being closed for almost three years.  We’re all hoping it will stay the same as before.

5.  This past Sunday we posted the third in a series of salutes to Broadway lyricists in our Anyone for Tennyson column.  This column is devoted to poetry, and the author William Perry reminds us that the best Broadway lyricists should certainly be considered poets.

1. The controversy over the Great Barrington Airport continues, with the Selectboard hosting a crowded public hearing:

https://theberkshireedge.com/large-turnout-for-airport-special-permit-public-hearing/

2. Meanwhile, in a multipart series our investigative writer Bill Shein has been examining the airport operations, and asking just how busy — and essential — the airport actually is:

https://theberkshireedge.com/the-airport-part-three-how-busy-is-great-barrington-airport/

3. The Great Barrington Selectboard is also examining programs that will support affordable housing — in a community whose real estate values have become increasingly unaffordable:

https://theberkshireedge.com/great-barrington-examines-programs-to-help-with-affordable-housing/

4. Meanwhile, the saga of the moribund Housatonic Water Works continues,

:

https://theberkshireedge.com/an-appraisal-of-the-housatonic-water-works-appraisal/

5. And finally, we should mention that we’ve just published the fourth chapter of our serial novel, “Artificial Insanity,” each chapter written by a different author. This chapter is written by Dan Tawczynski, who runs Taft: Farms and is a published author as well

https://theberkshireedge.com/artificial-insanity-the-novel-chapter-four/

Here are a few stories from the Edge this week:

1. We have a preview of the Tanglewood summer concerts and events — a schedule which our music writer David Edwards says is extraordinary, in his words, "Unconventional, subversive … exhilarating, hypnotizing, and intensely human”

: https://theberkshireedge.com/tanglewood-learning-institutes-summer-concerts-and-events-could-blow-your-mind/

2. The discussions over next year’s Berkshire Regional School District budget have begun with the district’s staff making a request for a full-time librarian at Muddy Brook Elementary School:

https://theberkshireedge.com/school-district-staff-advocates-for-a-full-time-librarian-at-muddy-brook-elementary/

3. In north Berkshire County John Pitroff has organized Second Chance Composting, collecting surplus food scraps and organic matter, to create a community compost site for gardeners:

https://theberkshireedge.com/john-pitroff-and-second-chance-composting-are-looking-to-make-community-composting-accessible-and-second-nature/

4.  The Berkshire Pride Festival is returning in June in Pittsfield, with a parade and a community celebration at the Common Park:

https://theberkshireedge.com/berkshire-pride-festival-coming-back-in-june/

5. Finally, we have part 2 of our series on the history and current status of the Great Barrington Airport that has come under fire from newly arrived second home residents disturbed by the flight activity:

https://theberkshireedge.com/the-airport-part-two-rick-solans-story-begins-with-robert-wheelers-in-1929/

Here are a few stories from the Edge this week:

1.  The Housatonic River has received a federal designation as a Wild and Scenic River, thereby further protecting the river and its immediate surroundings:

https://theberkshireedge.com/housatonic-river-receives-wild-scenic-designation/-

2. True to its progressive credentials, Pittsfield hosted a demonstration commemorating the 50 year anniversary of Roe v. Wade, now that the court has reversed itself, allowing states to determine the legality of the procedure:

https://theberkshireedge.com/pittsfield-residents-commemorate-the-50-year-anniversary-of-the-roe-v-wade-decision/

3. In a review of the state of the Berkshire economy, 1Berkshire cited the introduction of east-west passenger rail service through Pittsfield … giving hope to the business community that a more robust rail service could be restored from Pittsfield south through Great Barrington and Connecticut to New York City:

4. In her “dateline Stockbridge” column Carol Owens has summoned the soul of Stockbridge, depicting the community as still governed by traditional but vanishing old-time values:

https://theberkshireedge.com/dateline-stockbridge-in-stockbridge-history-still-informs-contemporary-decisions/

5. And finally, what’s in a name? The two southern Berkshire regional school districts are stalled in their effort to merge simply because school officials can’t decide on a name for the enlarged district:

https://theberkshireedge.com/regional-school-district-agreement-taking-longer-than-anticipated-committee-cant-agree-to-merged-districts-name/

2. We have been developing a lively new business section on Mondays, called Business Monday!.  Over the last couple of weeks, we have posted several profiles of local businesses. 

This week, we looked at a 24-year-old resident of Ashley Falls named Lily Geiger who spend her COVID isolation inventing a non-alcoholic aperitif called Fiore  (Italian for flower)which she is marketing through her new company called Figlia (Italian for daughter), and she’s off to a strong start.

3. Also for Business Monday, we ran a story a couple of weeks ago about Guido’s Fresh Marketplace, and about how the younger generation is taking over.

4. And our business section has a regular feature called Adventures in Retail, which looks at interesting products for sale in stores in the Berkshires.  Recently our columnist reported that you can find wold-class croissants at Pixie Boulangerie in Great Barrington, and we show how they’re made.

5. Our local celebrity Karen Allen, star of the Indiana Jones movies and owner of Karen Allen Fiber Arts in Great Barrington produced a film based on an adaptation of a Carson McCullers short story, and the film is now available to stream.  It was made in the Berkshires:

6. Our Edge weather reporter Nick Diller analyzed the weather for December, which he found to be a crazy month that couldn’t make up its mind. Overall, 15 days had above average temperatures and 13 had below. 

7. And finally, there’s a fight developing over the prospect of a new car dealership on Route 7 in Lenox.  An automobile dealership wants to buy the site now owned by the Different Drummer kitchen retail store plus an adjacent parcel, and turn them into offices, a car service center and a parking lot where test drives will presumably originate.  The neighbors are fighting it.

And there will be a public meeting about he proposed merger January 21 to explain the progress toward the school district merger:

2. Meanwhile, the Tri-Town health board is warning residents about the continuing pandemic threat, especially with a new variant spreading abroad:

3. Berkshire County has a new District Attorney — Timothy Shugrue, who has replaced Andrea Harrington and has started his term in office:

4. Our historian Gary Leveille writes a reminiscence of the snow trains that would bring skiers from the city to the Berkshires:

5. And finally, in her column Woman on the Verge, Sarah Wright discusses the Rachel Maddow’s new “Ultra” podcast — Maddow, by the way, is part of what you might call the “Greater” Berkshires, since she lives in Northampton:

Guided by respected journalistic standards, the principle of fairness, the quest for truth, a commitment to social, economic and environmental justice, and an abiding admiration for the independent spirit of the Berkshires, The Berkshire Edge offers in-depth local news reports and features, perspectives on the arts, wide-ranging commentary, and a comprehensive calendar of events – all written, illustrated, and, in some cases performed, with wit, intelligence, insight and humor.

Here are a few stories from the Edge this week:

1.  The Mass DEP is getting impatient with Housatonic Water Works, the private company that supplies drinking water (such as it is) to the village of Housatonic:

2. Meanwhile, in West Stockbridge, the town’s Planning Board approved a controversial special permit for The Foundry to continue to host special events and concerts in spite of complaints from neighbors — in particular, Truc’s Orient Express Restaurant:

3.  This week we have a profile of Eve Schatz, an attorney who founded the Berkshire Center for Justice, providing, among other services, weekly free legal clinics at the Guthrie Center:

4.  And on the bright side, Berkshire Bach will be presenting a New Year’s Baroque Concerto Showcase:

5. Greylock Glen project — a development of this area near the base of Mt. Greylock — receives preliminary approval from the Adams Selectboard… this is an unusual, perhaps unprecedented permit for a development on the mountain that has heretofore been fiercely protected from any development; 

6. Finally, we should mention that Christine Gevert’s Crescendo’s “Story of Hope” concert in Lakeville and Great Barrington January 7 and 8. It had to be rescheduled for these dates:

Guided by respected journalistic standards, the principle of fairness, the quest for truth, a commitment to social, economic and environmental justice, and an abiding admiration for the independent spirit of the Berkshires, The Berkshire Edge offers in-depth local news reports and features, perspectives on the arts, wide-ranging commentary, and a comprehensive calendar of events – all written, illustrated, and, in some cases performed, with wit, intelligence, insight and humor.

Here are a few stories from the Edge this week:

1. The saga of The Foundry in West Stockbridge seems to have reached a denoument, however temporary, by securing a West Stockbridge Planning Board approval for concerts and performances — at least for now:

2.  We alert our readers that for the duration of the holiday season, now upon us, Great Barrington has suspended parking time limits… 

3.  In a ceremony organized by the District Attorney’s Office at St. Stephen’s Church in Pittsfield, people gathered to remember those who had died in accidents due to impaired driving… serving as a warning for this holiday season:

4. The potential merger of school districts in southern Berkshire County could mean a rather long bus ride for students in the sprawling territory of South County, a study has predicted:

5.  Crescendo, the Baroque and Renaissance music performance group, will be giving holiday concerts in Stockbridge and Lakeville:

Guided by respected journalistic standards, the principle of fairness, the quest for truth, a commitment to social, economic and environmental justice, and an abiding admiration for the independent spirit of the Berkshires, The Berkshire Edge offers in-depth local news reports and features, perspectives on the arts, wide-ranging commentary, and a comprehensive calendar of events – all written, illustrated, and, in some cases performed, with wit, intelligence, insight and humor.

Here are a few stories from the Edge this week:

1. The dispute over The Foundry in West Stockbridge — a performing arts venue seeking a special permit and that’s next door to a venerable restaurant — continues before the town’s Planning and Zoning board.

2. Our feature writer Sheela Clary has been creating a series of stories (Where We Are) about local people and enterprises that epitomize the character of South Berkshire County. This week she wrote about Craig and Gail Elliott, former owners of the Egremont Store in Egremont.

3. We have a profile of Volunteers in Medicine, headquartered in Great Barrington, that offers a broad definition of healthcare —physicians integrating housing, food insecurity, employment, education, in a comprehensive approach to health:

4.  Our columnist Carole Owens has begun a series on the origins of “welfare" in the Berkshires — and how it has been a polarizing issue since the county’s founding:

5. We should note that during the holiday season we have daily updates on the many events celebrating the holidays, with links to purchase tickets:

Guided by respected journalistic standards, the principle of fairness, the quest for truth, a commitment to social, economic and environmental justice, and an abiding admiration for the independent spirit of the Berkshires, The Berkshire Edge offers in-depth local news reports and features, perspectives on the arts, wide-ranging commentary, and a comprehensive calendar of events – all written, illustrated, and, in some cases performed, with wit, intelligence, insight and humor.

Here are a few stories from the Edge this week:

1.  Here’s a story that will put a chill in the hearts of administrators of the region’s cultural organizations: Are employees of the region’s vaunted cultural organizations getting paid equitably?

2. Meanwhile, the Great Barrington Selectboard is reviewing a second proposal to redevelop the Housatonic School building in the hamlet of Housatonic. 

3. Ben Doren, the very popular principal of the W.E.B. DuBois Middle School in Great Barrington, has announced that he is leaving. He introduced the concept of “radical inclusion” into the Middle School classrooms:

4.  Well, radio fans, we have some dire news about our low power FM station in Great Barrington, WBCR, that’s run by a corps of volunteers — it may have to shut down for lack of funds:

5. Finally, if you like jazz, you won’t want to miss the Berkshire Jazz Sprawl featuring pianist Brandon Golberg:

Guided by respected journalistic standards, the principle of fairness, the quest for truth, a commitment to social, economic and environmental justice, and an abiding admiration for the independent spirit of the Berkshires, The Berkshire Edge offers in-depth local news reports and features, perspectives on the arts, wide-ranging commentary, and a comprehensive calendar of events – all written, illustrated, and, in some cases performed, with wit, intelligence, insight and humor.

Here are a few stories from the Edge this week:

1. We have a huge fight going on in West Stockbridge between a performing arts venue called The Foundry and a restaurant called Truc’s Oriental Express.  https://theberkshireedge.com/trucs-vs-foundry-soap-opera-continues-at-contentious-public-hearing/

2. There’s an informal group in Housatonic fighting the Housatonic Water Works.  It’s called the Housatonic Clean Water Alliance.  This week a member of the alliance hired an attorney from Boston, upping the ante in this fight.

3.We had two interesting stories this week as part of our Business Monday line-up: 

One was the announcement that a store on Railroad Street in Great Barrington is closing after 43 years.  And the owner has born witness to the changes in the town. https://theberkshireedge.com/business-monday-byzantium-set-to-close-in-january/

The second comes from our “Personal shopper” Harriet Ziefert who admits to being a scarf-aholic and talks about the scarves she has found at Karen Allen Fiber Arts on Railroad Street in Great Barrington. https://theberkshireedge.com/personal-shopper-finding-scarves-at-karen-allen-fiber-arts/

4. Our weather guru Nick Diller puts the recent warm weather into historical perspective.

5. We have the second in an ongoing series by Sheela Clary called “Where We Are”, in which she talks to local community people who live and work in the Berkshires about how they feel about their lives here.  This installment focuses on three local voices ranging in age from eighteen to forty-one. They were all born and raised in South County.

The first installment was published on October 30, and includes conversations with six local people onhow they are doing, what troubles them, and what gives them hope. 

Guided by respected journalistic standards, the principle of fairness, the quest for truth, a commitment to social, economic and environmental justice, and an abiding admiration for the independent spirit of the Berkshires, The Berkshire Edge offers in-depth local news reports and features, perspectives on the arts, wide-ranging commentary, and a comprehensive calendar of events – all written, illustrated, and, in some cases performed, with wit, intelligence, insight and humor.

Here are a few stories from the Edge this week:

1. It’s the Housatonic Water Works — again. The town of Great Barrington — Housatonic is a village within the town — is considering its next steps to acquire the privately owned — and troubled — water system tht serves the village of Housatonic and environs:

2. What’s Halloween without visual mischief…. in this case, area students set about to decorate Great Barrington storefront windows with ghoulish art… and the merchants are all for it… and to go along with this bit of mischief, we have our historian Gary Levieille recall Halloweens past in Great Barrington:

3. We continue with another chapter in Bill Shein’s examination of the development projects under way and envisioned by entrepreneur Ian Rasch. This installment  (Part 6) examines Rasch’s plans for Prospect Lake in Egremont:

4. Our political and cultural observer Mickey Friedman has been writing a series of essays analyzing the immediate and long-term effects of what he calls “Trumphobia” on the vitality of American democracy:

5. One of our writers, Sheela Clary, has been writing a fascinating series of interviews with various South Berkshire County residents to "ask local people how they are doing, what troubles them, and what gives them hope.” In this installment she talks with the Rev. Jill Graham of First Congregational Church of Sheffield: https://theberkshireedge.com/where-we-are-south-county-voices-from-late-october-2022/

6. And finally,  Sarah Wright, in her Woman on the Verge feature, has an essay on how voting is a sign of civic health — Vot-ER’s Civic Health Fellowship — imagine, she asks, health care providers asking their patients if they’re prepared to vote:

Berkshire Style is an online magazine that celebrates this richness and vitality of its architects, designers, artists and businesses who have made their mark preserving the Berkshire aesthetic

Guided by respected journalistic standards, the principle of fairness, the quest for truth, a commitment to social, economic and environmental justice, and an abiding admiration for the independent spirit of the Berkshires, The Berkshire Edge offers in-depth local news reports and features, perspectives on the arts, wide-ranging commentary, and a comprehensive calendar of events – all written, illustrated, and, in some cases performed, with wit, intelligence, insight and humor.

Here are a few stories from the Edge this week:

1. We have now published five parts of a seven-part series by Bill Shein that explores in great depth the housing market in the Berkshires, especially in Great Barrington.  It’s called THE DEVELOPER, and organizes the information around the story of one local developer named Ian Rasch.  Here’s a link to today’s installment:

2.Nick Simonds is bringing much needed services and education to Berkshire County with his Harm-Reduction Mobile Unit.

3. For movie buffs, we have an insightful overview of the New York Film Festibal by reviewer Barbara Quart

4.In the heat of the current election season, we have a letter to the editor discussing why it’s not good to steal the opposition’s lawn signs.

5.  In this week's Business Monday line-up, we have an interesting profile of a Great Barrington institution, Barrington Brewery

6. And also in the Business Monday section, we have an announcement that the much loved Mission Restaurant in Pittsfield is closing.  Mission was well known for its Monday Night Jazz sessions.  It leave a gib hole in the cultural landscape.

Guided by respected journalistic standards, the principle of fairness, the quest for truth, a commitment to social, economic and environmental justice, and an abiding admiration for the independent spirit of the Berkshires, The Berkshire Edge offers in-depth local news reports and features, perspectives on the arts, wide-ranging commentary, and a comprehensive calendar of events – all written, illustrated, and, in some cases performed, with wit, intelligence, insight and humor.

Here are a few stories from the Edge this week:

1.  Today we started Part One of aa six part series called The Developer.  It’s written by our in-depth/investigative reporter Bill Shein who has already done a multi-part series on housing in the Berkshires.  The developer Ian Rasch emerged as a major player in that first series, and now Shein is looking at all the projects Ian Rasch is doing in the Great Barrington area, as a way to look into larger questions of development.

2. The Housatonic Water Works story continues.  Our managing editor Shaw Izikson reported yesterday that the Great Barrington select board is now considering two options, each with its own pros and cons.  The board has invited the Aquarian Water Company, which owns the water company in nearby Sheffield, to bid on buying HWW.  The other option is to merge HWW with the Great Barrington Fire District which means, essentially that the town takes over the company.

3. It’s election season, and we have two long-time incumbents running for re-election.  

We had a profile of Incumbent Congressman Richie Neal who has served in the House since 1989, even though the districts have changed, and he is now Chair of the House Ways & Means Committee. Neil is being challenged by Republican Dean Martilli from West Springfield who is accusing Neal of being a do-nothing follower of Nancy Pelosi.  

We expect soon to have a profile of Dean Martilli, whom we have interviewed.

The other incumbent is State Representative Smitty Pignatelli, and we have received several letters of support for him that praise him for his dedication and omnipresence.  We have not yet had any letters in support of his opponent Michael Lavery of Becket, who is running on the Green Party ticket.

4. For those of us old enough to remember, this week is the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and we have a very nice remembrance by a local contributor named Steve White who reflects on how seriously the country took that experience,  White reminds us that we may be facing the same kind of crisis today.

5.  In our Business Monday line-up, we had a profile of an extraordinary young woman named Madison Quinn who, at the age of 13, started a non-profit called Strong Little Souls to provide support and experience to children with pediatric cancer.  Now in her early 20’s, she has kept the organization going and growing for eight years now.  

Guided by respected journalistic standards, the principle of fairness, the quest for truth, a commitment to social, economic and environmental justice, and an abiding admiration for the independent spirit of the Berkshires, The Berkshire Edge offers in-depth local news reports and features, perspectives on the arts, wide-ranging commentary, and a comprehensive calendar of events – all written, illustrated, and, in some cases performed, with wit, intelligence, insight and humor.

Here are a few stories from the Edge this week:

1. There’s a revolt stewing among the members of the 8-town planning committee in southern Berkshire County trying to come up with  strategy for consolidating educational facilities and spending:

2. Concurrently, this same 8-town committee is complaining about a lack of input from staff at the school districts and from the public:

3. The restoration of the historic A.M.E. Zion church in Great Barrington, where W.E.B. Du Bois worshipped, is moving ahead, with the goal of creating a Du Bois Freedom Center:

4.  The residents of Housatonic are really getting up in arms about the troubled water system their village depends on. Now the owner of the system is saying there has to be an “alternative” plan to address the water quality issues. At the top of his list, merging his failing system with the town of Great Barrington’s:

5.  Pulling for the Pantry. The Great Barrington Food Pantry, where those in need can get food, held a successful Pulling for the Pantry fundraiser, with performances by local musicians:

Guided by respected journalistic standards, the principle of fairness, the quest for truth, a commitment to social, economic and environmental justice, and an abiding admiration for the independent spirit of the Berkshires, The Berkshire Edge offers in-depth local news reports and features, perspectives on the arts, wide-ranging commentary, and a comprehensive calendar of events – all written, illustrated, and, in some cases performed, with wit, intelligence, insight and humor.

Here are a few stories from the Edge this week:

1.  We have a new director of Great Barrington libraries… Samara Klein, daughter of the well-known writer Daniel Klein:

2. The Great Barrington selectboard spent a scant 15 minutes on the issue of the Housatonic Water Works water system for the village of Housatonic, despite hundreds of Housatonic residents demonstrating outside Town Hall:

3.  Finally, after a long and weary effort, the village of Sandisfield has been designate a national historic district:

4.  On August 31 a candlelight vigil was held in front of the South County Recovery Center in Great Barrington to remember those lost to drug overdoses and to call attention to the scourge of drug addiction.. This coming Saturday, a “Smash the Stigma” event will take place at Town Hall, sponsored by the South County Rural Recovery Center:

5.  OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) at Berkshire Community College is sponsoring  a program on the indigenous peoples of the Berkshires. Hint: they still live here:

6.  Finally, our columnist Carole Owens, who lives in Stockbridge, has touched a live wire with her column supporting a residential tax exemption that would place more tax burden on the second-home owners:

Guided by respected journalistic standards, the principle of fairness, the quest for truth, a commitment to social, economic and environmental justice, and an abiding admiration for the independent spirit of the Berkshires, The Berkshire Edge offers in-depth local news reports and features, perspectives on the arts, wide-ranging commentary, and a comprehensive calendar of events – all written, illustrated, and, in some cases performed, with wit, intelligence, insight and humor.

Here are a few stories from the Edge this week:

1. We have the primary election results from Berkshire County:

In a closely watch race, Tim Shugrue easily defeated Andrea Harrington for the post of District Attorney, and Tom Bowler was elected sheriff.

2.  Housatonic residents are continuing their protest against the rusty water emanating from the Housatonic Water Work. There are new developments in the frustration that Housatonic residents feel against Housatonic Water Works On Thursday, September 1, the company’s owner issued a press release that its water quality now meets compliance with some of the state’s DEP standards, and to address the problems of manganese in the system, they would be raising rates. This led to an angry protest in front of Town Hall last Saturday. s:

3. Our regular columnist Carole Owens discussed the proposed Residential Tax Exemption (RTE) that has been proposed for Stockbridge.This would lead to second home owners paying taxes at a higher rate than full-time resident.  In response to a terrible fight looming in Stockbridge over this, Carole advocates civility and truthfulness, and she has attracted several spirited comments. This is a very interesting issue.

4.  Just as most of us think we can lower our guard against Covid, our commentator Mickey Friedman offers a warning that we’re not out of the woods yet titled “Covid: What, me worry?"

5. The inaugural authors guild WIT (words, ideas and thinkers) festival is coming to Shakespeare & Company. The theme: Reimagining America:

2. District Attorney Andrea Harrington has been a controversial figure, since she was elected four years ago, not the least because she’s reformer and a woman. Now she’s up for re-election, and the arguments over her tenure are heating up as the Sept. 6 primary date approaches… she faces off against another Democrat, Attorney Tim Shugrue, the old-guard candidate. It should be noted that U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has endorsed Harrington:

And we should add that one of the issues she is confronting is gun violence:

She’s been recognized by the national gun control organization Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America — and we should poit out that Harrington is herself a mom:

3. On the education front, Berkshire Hills Superintendent Peter Dillon has assured the community — parents, students and teachers — that the imminent school year will be productive — and the district is prepared to open its classrooms once again after the trying period of dealing with the COVID19 pandemic:

4.  Closer to you guys, in New Marlborough, well-known Shakespearian — and Shakespeare & Company — actor John Douglas Thompson will be at the New Marlborough Meeting House on the 27th to talk about his life and work…

5.  Talk about downsizing. The American Tiny House Association (is that an oxymoron?) made a presentation to the Great Barrington Selectboard:

Guided by respected journalistic standards, the principle of fairness, the quest for truth, a commitment to social, economic and environmental justice, and an abiding admiration for the independent spirit of the Berkshires, The Berkshire Edge offers in-depth local news reports and features, perspectives on the arts, wide-ranging commentary, and a comprehensive calendar of events – all written, illustrated, and, in some cases performed, with wit, intelligence, insight and humor.

Here are a few stories from the Edge this week:

1. At a special meeting the Great Barrington Selectboard listed affordable housing and the predicament of the Housatonic Water Works as primary issues for the town:

Indeed, the Selectboard has called for an audit of the troubled Housatonic Water Works — a relic of the days when a public utility were privately owned and maintained:

2. Meanwhile, some good news for this summer’s Berkshire cultural season: The number of COVID cases remains low:

3.  Julianne Boyd, founding director of Barrington Stage, is retiring… and she was celebrated at a farewell gala. She has been a creative force for the arts and theatre in the Berkshires:

4.  The town of Great Barrington has been presented with a number of promising proposals for the reuse of the Housatonic Elementary School building:

Guided by respected journalistic standards, the principle of fairness, the quest for truth, a commitment to social, economic and environmental justice, and an abiding admiration for the independent spirit of the Berkshires, The Berkshire Edge offers in-depth local news reports and features, perspectives on the arts, wide-ranging commentary, and a comprehensive calendar of events – all written, illustrated, and, in some cases performed, with wit, intelligence, insight and humor.

Here are a few stories from the Edge this week:

Hi Marshall —

You can call us at 413-528-3408

Here are a few stories for our radio audience tomorrow:

1. The local food coop, the People’s Pantry, is in need of help — and more donations:

2. The town of Great Barrington will celebrate the life of civil rights leader W.E.B. Du Bois on August 27 — at Du Bois River Park. The controversial civil rights leader was born in Great Barrington:

3. We have a feature on the Railroad Street Youth Project’s RYSE program, supporting youth in finding a potential career after high school — and a life with purpose:

4. And here’s another good news story, so to speak… in the dog days of summer. Local church groups have banded together to provide AT hikers a “corner of kindness” as they navigate the trail between Maine and the southern Appalachians:

5. The press, but not the public, is invited to a “debate" between sheriff candidates… this has been a particularly bitter contest. Given the format, this may be the first time I can recall a law enforcement organization trusting the press rat her than the public:

Guided by respected journalistic standards, the principle of fairness, the quest for truth, a commitment to social, economic and environmental justice, and an abiding admiration for the independent spirit of the Berkshires, The Berkshire Edge offers in-depth local news reports and features, perspectives on the arts, wide-ranging commentary, and a comprehensive calendar of events – all written, illustrated, and, in some cases performed, with wit, intelligence, insight and humor.

Here are a few stories from the Edge this week:

1. At a special meeting the Great Barrington Selectboard listed affordable housing and the predicament of the Housatonic Water Works as primary issues for the town:

Indeed, the Selectboard has called for an audit of the troubled Housatonic Water Works — a relic of the days when a public utility were privately owned and maintained:

2. Meanwhile, some good news for this summer’s Berkshire cultural season: The number of COVID cases remains low:

3.  Julianne Boyd, founding director of Barrington Stage, is retiring… and she was celebrated at a farewell gala. She has been a creative force for the arts and theatre in the Berkshires:

4.  The town of Great Barrington has been presented with a number of promising proposals for the reuse of the Housatonic Elementary School building:

Guided by respected journalistic standards, the principle of fairness, the quest for truth, a commitment to social, economic and environmental justice, and an abiding admiration for the independent spirit of the Berkshires, The Berkshire Edge offers in-depth local news reports and features, perspectives on the arts, wide-ranging commentary, and a comprehensive calendar of events – all written, illustrated, and, in some cases performed, with wit, intelligence, insight and humor.

Here are a few stories from the Edge this week:

1. The process for merging the South Berkshire County school districts is moving ahead. The merger planning board has hired a transportation conclutant to fisgure out the logistics of getting kids to the enlarged district schools:

2. Finally, on a cheerful note, downtown Great Barrington on Friday night, and Saturday afternoon and evening, will feature “busking” to enliven the visiting experience:

And by the way, if you want to find out what’s happening in the Berkshires, at the region’s theaters and concert halls, as well as on its stages, check out the Berkshire Edge calendar where you can also purchase tickets.

3.  We have a vigorous agricultural community in the Berkshires, and two local farmers, Elizabeth Keen and Alexander Thorp, are raffling off tickets for a far-to-table dinner on July 30… with proceeds going to the Harry Conklin Fund for Farmsteads.. Conklin was a beloved attorney in Great Barrington:

4.  The contest for the post of Berkshire County High Sheriff is usually one of little notice… but not this time. There’s bitter dispute between candidate Alf Barbalunga and Sheriff Tom Bowler:

5. And finally, we have a story about Greenagers, what we have designated as the “premier youth environmental organization in the region.” They build gardens for people, repair woodland trails, engage in sustainable farming. and partner with local institutions on all sorts of projects:

Guided by respected journalistic standards, the principle of fairness, the quest for truth, a commitment to social, economic and environmental justice, and an abiding admiration for the independent spirit of the Berkshires, The Berkshire Edge offers in-depth local news reports and features, perspectives on the arts, wide-ranging commentary, and a comprehensive calendar of events – all written, illustrated, and, in some cases performed, with wit, intelligence, insight and humor.

Here are a few stories from the Edge this week:

1. Great Barrington Selectboard is denying accusations that some members may have violated the open meeting law in the deliberations over short-term rentals:

https://theberkshireedge.com/selectboard-members-deny-violating-open-meeting-law-violations/

2.  Meanwhile, there’s the controversial proposal to construct a roundabout at a busy Great Barrington intersection: Essayist Bill Shein considers the implications:

https://theberkshireedge.com/reason-gone-mad-the-history-of-great-barringtons-first-roundabout/

3. Back to the bigger issues: Great Barrington residents took to the streets to protest the Supreme Court ruling about abortion:

https://theberkshireedge.com/south-county-residents-protest-against-scotus-roe-v-wade-decision/

4.  And speaking of bigger issues, essayist Mickey Friedman takes on the attempt by former President Trump to subvert the outcome of the election:

https://theberkshireedge.com/the-other-side-theres-redemption-and-theres-the-back-door/

5.  Writer Hannah Van Sickle has created a fascinating profile of author and book coach Courtney Maum and her new memoir “The Year of the Horses”:

https://theberkshireedge.com/book-coach-courtney-maum-at-the-mount-june-30-to-celebrate-her-first-memoir-the-year-of-the-horses/

6. Finally, if you’re in a mood for the pithy mysteries of Agatha Christie, the Theatre Barn in New Lebanon, N.Y. — just west of Great Barrington — is staging “Fiddlers Three” — reviewer Peter Bergman highly recommends it: https://theberkshireedge.com/theater-review-agatha-christies-fiddlers-three-at-the-theater-barn-in-new-lebanon-n-y/

Guided by respected journalistic standards, the principle of fairness, the quest for truth, a commitment to social, economic and environmental justice, and an abiding admiration for the independent spirit of the Berkshires, The Berkshire Edge offers in-depth local news reports and features, perspectives on the arts, wide-ranging commentary, and a comprehensive calendar of events – all written, illustrated, and, in some cases performed, with wit, intelligence, insight and humor.

Here are a few stories from the Edge this week:

1.  The Great Barrington fire department subdued a blaze at the mothballed former Searles Elementary School in Great Barrington. The fire reminds us of the frustration Great Barrrington has had in rejuvenating its abandoned properties:

2. The writer Mickey Friedman, one of our regular feature writers and columnists, has written a thoughtful essay on why he will continue to wear a mask to avoid COVID19 exposure, even though the requirements for mask-wearing seem to be easing: 

3. Now here’a story dear to your heart. Our local AM/FM station, WSBS, was knocked off the air, and had to resort to online streaming:

4. Despite the pandemic, the iconic Pittsfield Fourth of July Parade — “America’s Parade” — will proceed this year as usual:

5. 

And at last there seems to be a full array of performances and concerts at the many summer venues:

The Mavericks and Nick Lowe at Tanglewood,

And “Ain’t Misbehavin’ at Barrington Stage Company:

6.   And finally, our columnist Carole Owens has written a fascinating column reminding us of how vital a role the Berkshires played in sustaining the “underground railroad” before the Civil War and emancipation of black citizens: