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Massachusetts Musician Celebrates 50 Years at Iconic Music Venue
There is so much to love about the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts in the summertime. Whether it's hiking one of the area's many beautiful trails like Mount Greylock or Monument Mountain, swimming in our natural bodies of water, checking out the county's variety of summer concert offerings, enjoying ice cream, or experiencing a North Adams SteepleCats game there is much to love about the Berkshires during the warm weather months.
The Route 8 Signs, They Are A-Changin’
VALLEY – The state Department of Transportation will begin replacing traffic signs and renumbering exits along the entirety of Route 8, starting on July 8. The DOT said the $9.9 million project will bring Connecticut closer to compliance with national uniformity standards. The project will include signage changes in Ansonia, Bridgeport, Derby, Shelton, Torrington, Waterbury, Beacon Falls, Harwinton, Litchfield, Naugatuck, Seymour, Thomaston, Trumbull, Watertown and Winchester.
I am grateful for Leigh Davis’ leadership
In response to Mr. Gardner’s June 30 Letter to the Editor criticizing Selectboard Vice Chair Leigh Davis’ request to publicly release executive session meeting minutes from the Housatonic Rest of River Municipal Committee:. To those who sigh with relief that the PCB dump is not in their backyard...
Undermountain housing plan ready for P&Z vote
SALISBURY — The Planning and Zoning Commission closed the public hearing on the Undermountain Road affordable housing application Monday, July 1. The commission settled on a version of the plan from the Salisbury Housing Trust which has the two houses, a larger amount of open space in the rear of the parcel than previous versions, and eliminates the informal parking lot.
State awards Construct with $3.1 million grant for Cassilis Farm
Great Barrington — Construct Inc., the leading nonprofit provider of affordable housing and support services in the Southern Berkshires, has been awarded a $3.1 million grant from the Healey-Driscoll administration’s 2024 Affordable Housing Development program. The state funds will help construct and subsidize 11 units at Cassilis Farm, a Gilded Age estate in New Marlborough, making them affordable to families and workers at or below 60 percent of the area median income (AMI).
Town consultant advises West Stockbridge Select Board regarding cannabis farmer’s odor-mitigation proposal
West Stockbridge — The Select Board heard a review July 1 by third party consultant Mike Lannan, president of Tech Environmental, of an odor mitigation proposal produced by Byars Scientific, the consultant for cannabis grower Wiseacre, 42 Baker Street. The group decided to defer further action until additional information submitted by Byars regarding the project is reviewed by Lannan.
Eagle Mill abatement, cleanup in the works to redevelop site into mixed-use project in Lee
Lee — A May 7 draft report reflected cleanup options for the mixed-use Eagle Mill project in Lee to be located at a former industrial site on West Center Street. The report is required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pursuant to its loan to the town for the mitigation in conjunction with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC). The report is being reviewed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (Mass DEP) as part of the project’s environmental assessment.
Oral History Project under new leadership
SALISBURY — Daniel McMullan has taken over the Oral History Project (OHP) from Jean McMillen, who has been transcribing old interviews, conducting new ones and indexing the collection since 2010 for the Salisbury Association Historical Society. The collection currently has 429 interviews of Salisbury residents, past and present, from...
Garden Notes: July 3, 2024
STOCKBRIDGE – Berkshire Botanical Garden presents the following upcoming programs. Music Mondays continue on July 8 with Wanda Houston and her blend of 1940s through 1960s R&B and jazz. Performances run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Food trucks will be available at selected performances. Cost is $15 members, $20 nonmembers; Thursday, July 11 and Friday, July 12, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., “Botanical Oil Painting.” Join Casey Krawczyk for an exciting summer class and delve into selected botanicals with a comprehensive study of their intricate color, form and shape while creating a unique and beautiful oil painting. Cost $235 members, $255 nonmembers; Thursday, July 11, “Sunset Yoga in the Garden.” This drop-in, outdoor program, held on the Great Lawn, is appropriate for all skill levels. Classes are held Thursdays from July 11 to September 12, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and are led by Kathi Cafiero, a Kripalu-certified yoga instructor who has been teaching the physical and mental benefits of yoga for over 25 years. Please bring a yoga mat and any props you may need. No bathroom facilities are available. Free to all members and non-members, and no registration is required. Drop-ins welcome; Saturday, July 13, “Wild Edibles,” 1 to 3:30 p.m. Join Russ Cohen at River Walk, a project of Great Barrington Land Conservancy for a walk focusing on edible native plant species, including species that you might like to plant in your yard. Russ will share some samples of foraged treats, made from wild edible plants, to taste at the beginning or end of the walk. No transportation will be provided for this class. Please meet at River Walk, 7 Cottage Street, Great Barrington. Cost is $40 members, $65 nonmembers. To register or for more information, visit www.berkshirebotanical.org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.
Businesses in downtown Lenox excited for boom in customers with Tanglewood's summer events
LENOX, Mass. — The sidewalks are full of people checking out downtown Lenox. The early summer weather is great and Tanglewood is getting ready for their summer concert series, which brings in people from all over to Lenox. What You Need To Know. Tanglewood summer concert events are starting.
Berkshires Gets $600K in Bike Path Grants
ADAMS, Mass. — The Berkshires received more than $600,000 for improvements and planning of recreational trails. The funds are part of some $12 million in awards announced recently for 65 projects across the state by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation's MassTrails program. "At DCR, we witness firsthand...
Lenox Memorial School Joins MassDOT Program
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) reported that its Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program continues to grow as the 2023-2024 academic year comes to an end, with 72 additional schools joining SRTS since last September. This includes the addition of Lenox Memorial Middle and High...
Local Author to Speak at Ventfort Hall
LENOX, Mass. — Author Elizabeth Winthrop Alsop, will tell the "an extraordinary and riveting true life story" at Ventfort Hall on Tuesday, July 9 at 4 pm. Local author and historian, Cornelia Brooke Gilder, will engage Elizabeth Winthrop Alsop in a conversational presentation. A tea will be served after the presentation.
Senator Mark Announces July Staff Office Hours
BOSTON — State Senator Paul W. Mark announced that his staff will host office hours at five locations in Berkshire County in July. Residents of any of the 57 municipalities in the Senator's Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Hampshire District are encouraged to share ideas on current or potential state legislation, or to ask for assistance with issues involving any state agency.
West Stockbridge reverses course on new Fire/EMT Committee meetings
West Stockbridge — Following a June 21 statement by Town Administrator Marie Ryan to The Berkshire Edge that the town’s new Fire/EMS Committee meetings would be held in private, West Stockbridge officials changed course. On July 2, Ryan emailed The Berkshire Edge stating that the Shared Fire/EMS Committee meetings—to include representatives from Richmond and Stockbridge—would be open to the public. However, she did not respond by press time as to whether any sessions of the West Stockbridge Fire/EMS Committee alone, without representatives from the other two towns, would be available to the public.
Millerton senior center nurtures a community
MILLERTON — The NorthEast-Millerton Library hosts the Senior Friendship Center weekly in the Annex. Working with the Dutchess County Office for the Aging (OFA), the Friendship center is provides seniors free or reduced-cost lunch from Monday through Thursday. In addition to this, many different games and activities are offered.
Copake gets ready for Bicentennial season and Roe Jan Historical Society plans 50th
COPAKE — A trip down memory lane with plenty of celebration along the way is part of Copake’s season of history as the town marks it’s Bicentennial and the 50th anniversary of the Roeliff Janson Historical Society. The observation was kicked off with three lectures at the...
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