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Following its 50th anniversary, The Bookloft looks to the community for support
Great Barrington — Shortly after celebrating its 50th anniversary in May, The Bookloft unveiled a $100,000 GoFundMe campaign to “Help Keep the Bookloft Aloft” in light of declining revenue. Giovanni Boivin, the owner of Great Barrington’s independent bookstore since late 2022, told The Berkshire Edge that while...
At least one Mass. lawmaker thinks Biden should step aside
State Sen. Jason Lewis said that last week's debate showed that President Joe Biden is not up to the task of forcefully confronting Donald Trump. As the ramifications of President Joe Biden’s poor debate performance last week continue to reverberate throughout the Democratic Party, at least one elected official in Massachusetts is calling for him to step aside in favor of a younger candidate.
Lake Mansfield's beach and recreation area reopens after improvements
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Lake Mansfield in Great Barrington is open after a yearslong construction project to improve the park. Lake Mansfield beach and recreation area opened back up. The recreation area and beach closed last year for improvements. Lake Mansfield road is now pedestrian only. People are happy...
High Spirit Community Farm provides residential farm living for adults with intellectual disabilities
High Spirit Community Farm is a therapeutic residential and farm-based work program for adults with intellectual disabilities in Great Barrington, MA. The organization was founded back in 2014 when parents of young adults with intellectual disabilities were struggling to find placement for their children after they aged out of other residential programs in the area. At High Spirit, they were looking to build a program that “provided a community approach to care,” said Justin Roccabruna, the agency director for High Spirit Community Farm.
Perseverance wins in Broadway star’s quest to renovate historical Great Barrington Home, documented in MAX series
Great Barrington — Homeownership is, for many, a major part of the American Dream. For Broadway star Robert Hartwell, his dream of homeownership became a reality in Great Barrington. Hartwell has performed on Broadway in several musicals and in two national tours, including the musicals “Dreamgirls,” “Memphis,” and “Nice...
West Stockbridge Celebrates 250 Years
WEST STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — On Saturday, July 6, West Stockbridge commemorates its 250th anniversary with a series of events throughout the day. Festivities begin at 10am at the Old Town Hall on Main Street with a procession, antique vehicle display, readings, and music. A family BBQ follows at noon,...
Stories from the Berkshire Militia
MONTEREY, Mass. — On July 6 at noon, Timothy Abbott, from Spencer's Additional Continental Regiment, will share the stories of soldiers from Berkshire County who enlisted in the Continental Army and State Levies. Their involvement in the American Revolutionary era and their experiences in the military will shine a...
Columbia County Fair To Feature 90’s Country Hitmaker In Concert
Fair season is about to begin in the Capital Region, and a beloved 90's Country artist will perform at the Columbia County Fair. It has been one of the most amazing summers ever for Country concerts here in the Capital Region. And now in addition to our 10 Country concerts at SPAC, it is time to start gearing up for all the amazing concerts we see at our local county fairs.
Climate Change and Our Berkshire Lakes and Ponds
On May 22 the Becket Conservation Commission, chaired by Dave Johnson, and the newly formed Becket Lakes and Ponds Council, chaired by Purr McEwen, co-sponsored a forum to address how climate change is impacting our Berkshire lakes and ponds. This program was a sequel to an initial forum held last year to open dialogue between our many Becket lake and pond communities.
Select Board Interview: Balancing Taxpayer Needs and High Costs
Most Becket full and part-time residents don’t attend Select Board meetings. Nor do they attend the Annual Town Meeting held each May. Select Board meetings generally draw a handful of folks and the recent Town Meeting recorded just 113 registered voters or about 10% of total registered voters. That means that the Select Board draws largely on their own work and life experience and sense of civic duty to manage the Town responsibly and to make decisions that affect all of us in some way or another.
Survivor’s play about abuse by priest to premiere in Chester
CHESTER — The Chester Theatre Company will present the world premiere of “Unreconciled,” July 4-14 on stage in the historical Chester Town Hall, 15 Middlefield Rd. Co-written by Jay Sefton and Mark Basquill and directed by James Barry, co-producing artistic director of Chester Theatre with Tara Franklin, “Unreconciled” is the true story of an adolescent actor cast as Jesus in a play directed by a pedophile priest, and the survivor’s journey that follows. Sefton, whose personal story it is, performs each role.
Montague selects new DPW Superintendent
MONTAGUE, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — The Town of Montague has chosen its new Department of Public Works Superintendent. The Selectboard has voted unanimously to offer the position to Sam Urkiel, currently the Deputy Director of the Greenfield DPW. The board noted Urkiel’s experience and local ties in offering...
Grant-funded Community Health Survey on PFAS exposure will soon begin
WESTFIELD - Kristen Mello, co-founder and director of Westfield Residents Advocating for Themselves (WRAFT) convened the first community meeting for the PFAS Community Health Survey on June 5 at Westfield Barnes Airport. Mello, an at-large city councilor who said she was representing WRAFT and not the city in this arena,...
Groundbreaking held for 43-unit affordable housing development in Ludlow
An affordable housing organization in Massachusetts is celebrating a milestone in Ludlow – breaking ground for a 43-unit multifamily housing development almost a decade in the making. Frames, beams and walls have been going up at the site of “Greenstead Grove” off Fuller Road as the project overseen by...
Library Staff Say Smith College is Breaking Labor Law
Recently unionized library workers at Smith College are alleging that the school has broken labor law in recent months as the two sides begin the process of bargaining a first contract. This spring, some 43 employees of the college’s libraries formed the Smith College Libraries Workers Union and voted unanimously...
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