The Berkshire Edge on Air - Wednesday June 16, 2021

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.  A tale of two cities… or rather, a town and a village. Great Barrington and Housatonic.Housatonic residents are peeved that the lawn of the Ramsdell Library doesn’t get mowed… and thereby hangs a tale:
https://theberkshireedge.com/selectboard-rebuts-claims-of-gb-favoritism-from-housatonic-residents/

2. It seems to be the season of small town disputes… take the feud between Trúc Orient Express restaurant and The Foundry, a sculpture park, over an access road:
https://theberkshireedge.com/solution-reached-in-west-stockbridge-road-dispute-long-term-fix-still-in-question/

3.  Despite the pandemic, it is town meeting season int he Berkshires, and Stockbridge held its annual Town Meeting in the school gymnasium as usual. The most contentious issue was the allocation of $40,000 for a consultant to advise on complex zoning issues and $70,000 for treatment of diseased trees in Ice Glen. Also approved was a request to the state Legislature for the return of Mohican Nation documents — that 200-year-old fight isn’t over yet:
https://theberkshireedge.com/budgets-consultant-funding-pass-at-marathon-stockbridge-annual-town-meeting/

4.  Our writer Hannah Van Sickle examines an alternative to traditional educational practices … “unschooling” — in order for students to develop critical thinking skills. It’s called the Berkshire Freedom Academy :
https://theberkshireedge.com/the-power-of-choice-unschooling-comes-to-pittsfield/

5. Now, let’s not forget we’re in the summer season in the Berkshires, and that means Tanglewood, and more specifically, the Boston Pops on July 4… and despite the pandemic, the show will go on — without James Taylor this year, alas:
https://theberkshireedge.com/boston-pops-at-tanglewood-july-4/

6.  Finally, on June 19 — Juneteenth — Multicultural BRIDGE will host a forum on “white privilege” — with a presentation in Tyringham by Dr. Peggy McIntosh of the Wellesley Centers for Women at Wellesley :
https://theberkshireedge.com/celebrating-juneteenth-with-a-conversation-on-white-privilege/