The Berkshire Edge On-Air Wednesday March 18, 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. Not surprisingly, our top stories this week involve the coronavirus epidemic and the havoc it has introduced to life in the Berkshires.
We have created a rolling log of stories to which we add daily, sometimes hourly:
https://theberkshireedge.com/coronavirus-live-local-updates/
2. For instance, the Berkshire International Film Festival has postponed its schedule until September… we have not yet heard from Tanglewood, the theatre festivals, Jacob’s Pillow…https://theberkshireedge.com/15th-annual-berkshire-international-film-festival-moved-to-fall-of-2020/

3. One casualty of the closure of schools is that children who are eligible for breakfast and lunches are no longer receiving them. Berkshire Hills Regional School District has set up a program to deliver this nutritional supplement:
https://theberkshireedge.com/schools-support-families-with-proper-nutrition-during-unexpected-closures/

4. And before we leave the COVID19 beat, we should mention Sheela Clary’s dispatch about the epidemic from a friend in Seattle, an epidemic hot spot:https://theberkshireedge.com/coronavirus-dispatches-letter-from-washington-state/

5.  But enough about the pandemic apocalypse. There’s West Stockbridge, where folks continued to be in a turmoil over the firing of the fire chief:
https://theberkshireedge.com/after-selectman-is-blasted-for-role-in-ousting-fire-chief-west-stockbridge-looks-to-heal-itself/

6.  And on the lighter side, we have a review of a just published book by local author Barbara Bonner… the title: “Inspiring Forgiveness.” 
https://theberkshireedge.com/inspiring-forgiveness-an-auspicious-moment-for-local-authors-publishing-day/