The Berkshire Edge On-Air - May 16

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.

This week we talk about:

1. Town elections in Sheffield, New Marlborough and Great Barrington:
In Great Barrington, newcomer Kate Feuer Burke was elected to the Selectboard, bringing youth and energy to the governing board:

Cooke re-elected, newcomer Burke brings ‘youth’ to Great Barrington Selectboard; Atwood out at FinCom

In Sheffield, on the other hand, a former selectperson, Rene Wood, decided to get back into the fray, and was re-elected. And in New Marlborough, Tara White was re-elected..

After a hiatus, Wood returned to Sheffield selectboard; White beats back challenge in New Marlborough

So it was a victory for the women all around.

2. Despite reports that the school-age population is declining, the Montessori School of the Berkshires is expanding, as its enrollment increases:

With enrollment increasing, Montessori School adds new educational spaces

3. Our environmental reporter, Mary Douglas, has a very interesting update on the negotiations over the removal of PCBs from the Housatonic River, that have been going on for 20 years. The EPA is attempting to come to terms with those who have contested the agency’s proposed cleanup plans — both GeneralElectric, the source fo the pollution and liable for $500 million in remediation costs — and environmental action groups who feel the cleanup hasn’t gone far enough. As long as I’ve been a journalist in the Berkshires, this has been an ongoing struggle to remove these carcinogens from the Berkshires.

EPA initiates second round of mediation on Housatonic River cleanup

4. We should also mention a positive story about the much maligned Berkshire Museum, which has just sold off its valuable art collection — perhaps they’ll have to rename the institution. In any case, the museum held a PechaKucha Night, 400 seconds of creative sharing — in Japanese it means chit chat — the first of many such sessions. 20 slides, 20 seconds each on ‘Celebrating Knowledge’ featuring county schoolteachers.

PechaKucha at the Berkshire Museum: 400 seconds of creative sharing

5. And finally, we have a publication about to hit the stands: BerkshiresCalendar.com … Marcie will explain.