The Berkshire Edge On-Air - Wednesday March 20, 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.

This week we talk about:

t’s been a week of tragedies in South Berkshire County and Northwest Connecticut. A tragic fire that killed five, including three children in Sheffield; and the death of an outstanding young woman, Samya Rose Stumo, a resident of Sheffield and the niece of Ralph Nader, killed in the crash of Ethiopian Flight 302.

 1. A memorial gathering of friends and family will be held this Saturday in remembrance of Samya Stumo. A graduate of Mt. Everett Regional High School, she was working for ThinkWell, a nonprofit organization developing healthcare networks for underdeveloped countries:
https://theberkshireedge.com/samya-stumo-memorial-reception/
2. Then a ghastly murder suicide took the lives of five in Sheffield a week ago, March 13 — a two adults and three childrern. An investigation by District Attorney Andrea Harrington determined that Luke Karpinski killed his wife and three children, then took his own life as a fire he had set consumed their Home Road house.
https://theberkshireedge.com/district-attorney-confirms-that-accelerant-used-in-fatal-sheffield-fire-in-which-5-people-died-father-likely-killed-wife-and-children/

And as if that weren’t enough, three died in a fire in Pittsfield:
https://theberkshireedge.com/update-on-fatal-fire-in-pittsfield-no-evidence-of-criminal-activity/

And the home of a local veterinarian and her husband, burned to the ground in Southfield:
https://theberkshireedge.com/fire-destroys-home-in-southfield-but-former-church-next-door-is-saved/

3. Meanwhile, back in Great Barrington, the Selectboard will interview three candidates to replace outgoing Town Manager Jennifer Tabakin. One hte ocandidates, Mark Pruhenski, is a Great Barrington native who had served the town as health inspector:
https://theberkshireedge.com/finalists-named-in-great-barrington-town-manager-search/
4. And next door in Egremont two candidates — both women — are vying for an open seat on the three-member Board of Selectmen (sic). Which means that after town elections are held in May Egremont could have the distinction of having a Selectboard with a majority of women as members, unique among Berkshire County towns.On Saturday at the Egremont Barn the candidates introduced themselves to a sizeable crowd of town voters: 
https://theberkshireedge.com/egremont-candidates-forum-draws-sizeable-crowd/

5.  And because this day is the vernal equinox, it’s time to think summer — and what’s coming up at Tanglewood. Our reviewer David Edwards takes a look at a few of the popular artists bookings on tap for this season:
https://theberkshireedge.com/preview-the-latest-popular-artist-bookings-at-tanglewood/

6. But we do have a heartwarming account from Michelle Joyner about her return to the Berkshires after she had left as a young woman to pursue a career as an actor, film director and producer in Los Angeles:
https://theberkshireedge.com/you-can-go-home-again/