Berkshire Edge On-air

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. 1. Second homers beware! The Great Barrington Selectboard is considers raising property taxes for out-of-town property owners, lowering them for full-time residents (and how will they determine the difference?): 2.  We have the latest weekly update on the COVID19 outbreak in Berkshire County. A 2x increase in new cases: https://theberkshireedge.com/tri-town-health-departments-covid-19-update-for-january-7/ 3. Speaking of COVID, Dr. Richard Kessin, a microbiologist at Columbia University and a resident of Lakeville, Conn

The Berkshire Edge LLC is a locally owned, regional publication. Our goal is to provide – regularly and in depth – content that truly reflects the life, interests and aspirations of this unusually rich and vibrant community. 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. 1. Our lede story is that former state Senator Ben Downing, a Democrat who had announced he would run for governor next year, has called it quits: https://theberkshireedge.com/with-gubernatorial-campaign-running-low-on-funds-former-berkshires-state-senator-calls-it-quits/ 2. A worker co-op in Pittsf

The Berkshire Edge LLC is a locally owned, regional publication. Our goal is to provide – regularly and in depth – content that truly reflects the life, interests and aspirations of this unusually rich and vibrant community. 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. 1. Responding to a spike in COVID19 cases, Gov. Charlie Baker issued a new mask-wearing advisory and called up the National Guard to relieve the beleaguered staff at state hospitals: 2.  Meantime, the Berkshire Hills Regional School Committee decided against a COVID19 vaccine mandate for stud

The Berkshire Edge LLC is a locally owned, regional publication. Our goal is to provide – regularly and in depth – content that truly reflects the life, interests and aspirations of this unusually rich and vibrant community. 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. 1. Great Barrington Selectboard is seeking limit the conversion of the town into a collection of rental properties: https://theberkshireedge.com/opposing-sides-tangle-over-short-term-rental-proposal-for-great-barrington/ 2. Dennis Powell, president of the Berkshire County Chapter of the NAACP, has writ

The Berkshire Edge LLC is a locally owned, regional publication. Our goal is to provide – regularly and in depth – content that truly reflects the life, interests and aspirations of this unusually rich and vibrant community. 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. 1. The iconic Cove Bowling Alley in Great Barrington is (finally) up for sale — and likely foreclosure unless a buyer can be found: https://theberkshireedge.com/foreclosure-auction-set-for-iconic-cove-lanes-owner-vows-to-get-out-of-the-situation/ 2.  Berkshire Grown has assembled a network

The Berkshire Edge LLC is a locally owned, regional publication. Our goal is to provide – regularly and in depth – content that truly reflects the life, interests and aspirations of this unusually rich and vibrant community. 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. 1.  After 10 years, redevelopment of mothballed Eagle Mill in Lee is finally getting under way: https://theberkshireedge.com/after-nearly-10-years-redevelopment-of-eagle-mill-gets-underway/ 2.  On the 61st anniversary of the desegregation of schools in New Orleans, epitomized by the Norman

The Berkshire Edge LLC is a locally owned, regional publication. Our goal is to provide – regularly and in depth – content that truly reflects the life, interests and aspirations of this unusually rich and vibrant community. 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. 1. The Great Barrington Selectboard fielded suggestions from the public on how best to allocate the $2 million in Recovery Act funds — a windfall. Repair of the Housatonic Water Works, affordable housing, sewer line extension were the items the public proposed: https://theberkshireedge.com/affordable-h

The Berkshire Edge LLC is a locally owned, regional publication. Our goal is to provide – regularly and in depth – content that truly reflects the life, interests and aspirations of this unusually rich and vibrant community. 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. 1. A brainstorming session is set for this coming Saturday for a public discussion about what the derelict Housatonic Elementary School building could become: https://theberkshireedge.com/what-will-happen-to-housatonic-school-amid-uncertainty-brainstorming-session-set-for-saturday/ 2. The town of Gr

The Berkshire Edge LLC is a locally owned, regional publication. Our goal is to provide – regularly and in depth – content that truly reflects the life, interests and aspirations of this unusually rich and vibrant community. 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. Good morning… please call us at Edge headquarters: 413-528-3408 1.  Mass. Attorney General Maura Healey has joined with 24 other state attorney generals in urging the Supreme Court to nullify Texas abortion ban: https://theberkshireedge.com/ag-healey-urges-supreme-court-to-halt-unconstitutional

The Berkshire Edge LLC is a locally owned, regional publication. Our goal is to provide – regularly and in depth – content that truly reflects the life, interests and aspirations of this unusually rich and vibrant community. 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. 1. My Day at Ground Zero. Retired Episcopal priest Dr. Stephen White, who has served in the Berkshires, recalls his day at Ground Zero as a volunteer clergyman:https://theberkshireedge.com/steve-white-my-day-at-ground-zero/ 2. The state giveth, and sometimes giveth not. An unexpected grant for a roa

The Berkshire Edge LLC is a locally owned, regional publication. Our goal is to provide – regularly and in depth – content that truly reflects the life, interests and aspirations of this unusually rich and vibrant community. 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. 1. What do you know…. Boston acknowledges the western county of Massachusetts. Great Barrington is to receive $2.1 million in COVID relief funds, and state auditor acknowledges the state’s “East/West divide”: 2. And to that point, State Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli, D-Lenox, has called for “eq

The Berkshire Edge LLC is a locally owned, regional publication. Our goal is to provide – regularly and in depth – content that truly reflects the life, interests and aspirations of this unusually rich and vibrant community. 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. 1.  Great Barrington Selectboard has given the green light for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations available to the general public. Fueling up, though, won’t be free: https://theberkshireedge.com/its-official-great-barrington-will-charge-for-electric-vehicle-owners-to-fuel-u

The Berkshire Edge LLC is a locally owned, regional publication. Our goal is to provide – regularly and in depth – content that truly reflects the life, interests and aspirations of this unusually rich and vibrant community. 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. 1. Free battery charging for electric vehicles in Great Barrington? That’s a plan being touted by the Selectboard, for charging stations to be installed in a municipal parking lot behind Carr Hardware on Main Street.  The idea has aroused some criticism: https://theberkshireedge.com/free-elect

The Berkshire Edge LLC is a locally owned, regional publication. Our goal is to provide – regularly and in depth – content that truly reflects the life, interests and aspirations of this unusually rich and vibrant community. 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. 1. The Berkshire International Film Festival opens this week, and one of the films is “Sproutland,” a film by Great Barrington’s Cynthia Wade, a fictional account about “Sproutman” (Steve Meyerowitz): https://theberkshireedge.com/a-film-sublime-sproutland-focuses-in-on-local-lives/ 2. There will

The Berkshire Edge LLC is a locally owned, regional publication. Our goal is to provide – regularly and in depth – content that truly reflects the life, interests and aspirations of this unusually rich and vibrant community. 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. 1. We’ve had several stories about the dispute in West Stockbridge between The Foundry and the owners of Truc Orient Express restaurant. The Foundry being an open air venue not far from the restaurant where concerts are held, leading to a glut of traffic and parked cars around the restaurant. We may fi

The Berkshire Edge LLC is a locally owned, regional publication. Our goal is to provide – regularly and in depth – content that truly reflects the life, interests and aspirations of this unusually rich and vibrant community. 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. It is the dog days of August, as they say— with few big news happenings but lots of routine items: 1. And here’s a measure of what I’m talking about. Infrastructure… a story about the painting of the “brown” bridge red: https://theberkshireedge.com/after-rehab-pink-bridge-work-nears-completion-two-o

The Berkshire Edge LLC is a locally owned, regional publication. Our goal is to provide – regularly and in depth – content that truly reflects the life, interests and aspirations of this unusually rich and vibrant community. 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. 1. It’s official: The troubled Housatonic Water Works, the private water company that serves the village of Housatonic within Great Barrington, is less than worthless — to the tune of negative $25.2 million, an engineering firm determines. 2. After 50 years, the Snap Shop photo processing and phot

The Berkshire Edge LLC is a locally owned, regional publication. Our goal is to provide – regularly and in depth – content that truly reflects the life, interests and aspirations of this unusually rich and vibrant community. 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. 1. The town of Great Barrington is assessing what it will take to clean up three brownfields sites: https://theberkshireedge.com/burdensome-brownfields-town-eyes-cleanup-of-three-important-but-polluted-properties/ 2. On a happier note, Volunteers in Medicine (VIM) is creating enrichment summer activ

The Berkshire Edge LLC is a locally owned, regional publication. Our goal is to provide – regularly and in depth – content that truly reflects the life, interests and aspirations of this unusually rich and vibrant community. 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. 1.  What to do with the unoccupied Housatonic Elementary School… one thing not on the table is demolition: https://theberkshireedge.com/village-improvement-panel-wont-consider-demolition-of-housatonic-school/ 2. School consolidation process creates a web site to share information and progress o

The Berkshire Edge LLC is a locally owned, regional publication. Our goal is to provide – regularly and in depth – content that truly reflects the life, interests and aspirations of this unusually rich and vibrant community. Guided by respected journalistic... Read More ›