The Berkshire Edge On-Air - Wednesday July 17, 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.   Writer Sheela Clary, the mother of  young daughters, is outraged at the sexual abuse of young girls by Friend of Trump Jeffrey Epstein, and she contrasts the role models for young women presented by Epstein and Trump, with that of the attitude of Megan Rapinoe, of the world champion U.S. Women’s Soccer Team: She calls it the Lolita Express vs. the Team USA Express:
https://theberkshireedge.com/the-lolita-express-vs-team-usa-express/

2.  Each summer Music in Common brings together students from the around the globe to celebrate their common humanity through music … a program in memory of Danny Pearl, who lived in the Berkshires as a reporter for the Eagle, and was slain in Pakistan by Muslim terrorists in 2002 while on assignment for the Wall Street Journal:
https://theberkshireedge.com/students-celebrate-differences-find-common-bonds-through-music/

3.  In a major demonstration hundreds of Berkshire residents turned out to Park Square in Pittsfield to protest the Trump administration's immigrant concentration camps on the border with Mexico:
https://theberkshireedge.com/protesters-shine-lights-for-liberty-on-trump-immigration-policies/
4. Great Barrington is the beneficiary of a windfall from marijuana sales at the one pot store yet to open — three more are in the works. So far, the town has taken in $1 million since Theory Wellness opened in January. Second quarter sales alone at Theory Wellness were $10.3 million. Selectmen are figuring out how to apply the revenues:
https://theberkshireedge.com/the-numbers-are-in-great-barrington-snags-almost-1-million-from-pot-sales/
5. We’ve had a vigorous reaction to our latest Carole Owens column, in which she wonders whether the Berkshires is prepared for population growth as envisioned in the state Senate bill “Western Massachusetts remove worker relocation incentive program,” based on a similar Vermont initiative. Some readers have stated, in no uncertain terms, they don’t want any more people here:
https://theberkshireedge.com/connections-44/

6. Shakespeare and Company in Lenox is dedicating its season to its co-founder, Dennis Krausnick, who died in December. We profile his influence on the company:
https://theberkshireedge.com/shakespeare-co-dedicates-season-to-one-of-its-founders-dennis-krausnick-actor-playwright-director-teacher-poet/

7.  Finally, we’d like to call attention to Carolyn Newberger’s series, Illuminating the Hidden Forest, in which she explores the land around her home in Lenox. She’s a terrific illustrator and painter, and her observations are, well, illuminating:
https://theberkshireedge.com/illuminating-the-hidden-forest-chapter-4-embrace/