The Berkshire Edge On-Air - May 23

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:

Two stories about W.E.B. Du Bois:

1. The Great Barrington Library Trustees have endorsed the concept of installing a statue of the civil rights leader and NAACP founder and native son W.E.B. Du Bois on the front lawn of the Mason Library. They anticipate resistance …. and sure enough, no sooner had the story been posted than an ex-Marine weighed in:

The story: https://theberkshireedge.com/library-trustees-endorse-du-bois-statue-but-see-trouble-ahead/

The Marine: https://theberkshireedge.com/du-bois-statue-does-not-belong-on-library-lawn/

2. This development comes on the heels of a story about the Berkshire Hills Regional School Committee considering renaming Monument Valley Regional Middle School after Du Bois. This revisits the same fight over the name… when the elementary school was named after a nearby stream rather than Du Bois.

Another go-around: The complicated matter of naming a school after Du Bois

3. We had a visit from White House correspondent April Ryan, who gave a rousing commencement address to the graduating class at Bard College of Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington;:

Renowned journalist April Ryan urges Simon’s ‘Rockers’ to be ever-curious

4. Then, controversy erupted at the first meeting of the Great Barrington Selectboard after the annual town elections. Steve Bannon, who is chair of the regional school committee (see above) was selected as chair of the Selectboard. These two committees don’t necessarily have convergent agendas … especially around budget time. People are writing in to object:

Discord marks Bannon’s appointment as chair of the new Great Barrington selectboard

5. On a happier election day note, Alford elected it’s first woman selectboard member: horticulturalist Peggy Rae Mendon-Wilson

In a first for Alford, a woman is elected to the Select Board