The Berkshire Edge On-Air - Wednesday August 28, 2019

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. The conversion of the former Searles Middle School, a historic building on Bridge Street in Great Barrington, into an 88-room hotel, has back on track for hotelier Vijay Mahida, who has many projects in the works to expand his motel/hotel network throughout South County and Pittsfield:https://theberkshireedge.com/conversion-of-searles-school-into-88-room-hotel-back-on-track/
2. At last, the school committees of the Berkshire Hills Regional School District, comprising the towns of Stockbridge, Great Barrington and West Stockbridge, and the Southern Berkshire School District, with five smaller communities — Sheffield, Alford, Egremont, Monterey and New Marlborough — have agreed to begin merger talks. They’ve recognized that declining enrollment jeopardizes the quality of their districts, and that together they can create a viable educational structure:
https://theberkshireedge.com/in-historic-night-two-districts-set-wheels-in-motion-for-merger/

3. On the marijuana beat, Great Barrington Planning Board recommended — and the Selectboard approved — a special permit for a marijuana growing and processing facility in Housatonic, in a former gravel pit. Fulcrum Enterprises will erect 15 greenhouses and a processing plant… but it has not been without much gnashing of teeth by some residents in Housatonic:
https://theberkshireedge.com/planning-board-recommends-special-permit-for-marijuana-cultivation-processing-facility-in-housatonic/
4. The Eagle Mill redevelopment project in Lee has received another boost, in the form of $400,000 in tax credits, announced by U.S. Rep. Richard Neale. The project aims to create a marketplace housing, and incubator spaces for enterprises.https://theberkshireedge.com/vips-descend-on-lee-as-eagle-mill-celebrates-funding-acquisition/
5. It may be late in the season but our gardening columnist Judy Isacoff, in her latest ’Nature’s Turn,’ explains how to make the most of these last warm days of summer and early autumn, and she’s even in high gear planting crops that thrive in cool weather:
https://theberkshireedge.com/natures-turn-dont-garden-naked-and-other-late-season-highlights/
6.  And we should give a shout out to our wonderful cultural reviewers who cover dance, theatre, and music in the summer… They’ve been terrific. We’ve had Eli and Carolyn Newberger providing superb coverage of Jacob’s Pillow and Tanglewood, with expert observations and illustrations by Carolyn; dancer Ruslan Sprague has written a splendid review of the Boston Ballet; David Edwards is the Renaissance Man of culture, tackling classical music, jazz, cabaret; and Peter Bergman is our Man about the Theatre, often paired with reviews by Dan Dwyer … it’s been a treat to run reviews of the same plays from two perspectives. Here’s an example of the Newbergers coverage of Jacob’s Pillow, complete with illustrations and videos:https://theberkshireedge.com/from-slavery-to-rhapsody-urban-bush-women-walk-with-coltrane-at-jacobs-pillow/
7. Finally, we should mention the Star Wars Stormtrooper who appeared on the streets of Great Barrington the other day. We suspect he’s security for one of the pot shops.https://theberkshireedge.com/the-empire-strikes-great-barrington/