The Berkshire Edge On-Air - Wednesday August 12, 2020

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. Of course we have to start out with the COVID19 pandemic news:Berkshire Hills Regional School District has announced it will open in the falls with remote learning:https://theberkshireedge.com/under-pressure-from-teachers-berkshire-hills-will-start-year-with-remote-learning/

2. Meanwhile, in the village of Housatonic, residents are still seething over the discoloration of their tap water, provided by the only remaining private water company in the Berkshires (water companies like roads were all once privately owned)… and the town of Great Barrington will convene at public hearing this Thursday on what to do about this situation:https://theberkshireedge.com/as-brown-water-plagues-housatonic-ratepayers-state-officials-feel-powerless/

3. Tanglewood calls it a “summer season transformed” — by which they mean performances available online and through streaming… among them, is a recital program with  members of the Boston Symphony that will be available until Friday online…
https://theberkshireedge.com/bso-musicians-in-recital-from-tanglewood-bewick-gorney-oconnor-coleman-drivera/
https://theberkshireedge.com/preview-bso-musicians-in-recital-from-tanglewood-beethoven-gabrieli-j-s-bach-day-ellington-hughes-and-debussy/

4.  Now, for all those journalists out there, and for those who are fans of the New York Post, we have a profile of the renowned columnist Pete Hamill, written by Leonard Quart, himself a New Yorker and resident of the Berkshires, who also teaches film at NYU:https://theberkshireedge.com/leonard-quart-pete-hamill-the-bard-of-brooklyn-dies-at-85/

5.  Then there is Bob Luhmann, who writes about the trials and tribulations of being an executive chef at posh Berkshire resorts:
https://theberkshireedge.com/dreams-and-nightmares-of-a-former-restaurant-chef-part-two/

6.  Finally, the town of Great Barrington has adopted a creative practice to enhance its role as a destination community… on Friday and Saturday evenings it closes its charming commercial district — railroad street — so that restaurants can set up outdoor tables — and maintain the kind of social distancing required by the COVID19 pandemic… and the town received a $70,000 grant to do it:
https://theberkshireedge.com/town-receives-70000-grant-for-covid-related-outdoor-space-on-railroad-street/