The Berkshire Edge On-Air - Wednesday March 24, 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. Let’s start with the big issue on the minds of the Selectboard, namely, the reconstruction and installation of a good old-fashioned New England roundabout in front of the Police Station, at the intersection of Routes 7 and 23…. this ought to tie up traffic for a while.
https://theberkshireedge.com/preliminary-work-on-controversial-route-7-roundabout-to-start-soon/

2. In the meantime, the Community Development Corporation of South Berkshire has received $14 million to create an affordable housing complex on South Main Street (Route 7)… to help the town address a critical need for affordable housing…
https://theberkshireedge.com/with-14-million-in-hand-cdcsb-project-helps-town-meet-state-affordable-housing-goals/

3.  Of course, let us not forget that we are in the midst of a pandemic, severely restricting commercial activity and delaying the education of the county’s children. To illustrate — and in a  way commemorate this era … illustrator Marc Rosenthal has created a series of posters to create a spirit of unity in our fight against the virus — similar to the poster campaign during World War II:
https://theberkshireedge.com/great-barrington-illustrator-created-public-propaganda-posters-for-covid-19/

4.  Here’s a tale that is nearer your neck of the woods, so to speak… in the Ashley Falls neighborhood of Sheffield, neighbors of a proposed marijuana-growing complex convinced the Planning Board to reject a special permit for Wise Acre Farm whose pot farming would have grossed $5 to $9 million per year… (and think of the tax benefits to the town!)…
https://theberkshireedge.com/neighbors-convince-planning-board-to-nix-sheffield-pot-growing-proposal/

5. Celebrating Women’s History Month, Berkshire Grown is highlighting women in agriculture… and in the Berkshires there are a surprising number of farms operated by women — in fact, 70 percent.
https://theberkshireedge.com/women-in-agriculture-in-the-berkshires-and-beyond/

6. So on a positive note, Tanglewood has announced the Boston Symphony Orchestra will be offering in-person performances this summer… 
https://theberkshireedge.com/tanglewood-returns-to-in-person-performances-this-summer/