The Berkshire Edge On-Air - Wednesday May 22, 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:

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1.  Students at Monument Mountain Regional High School — serving Great Barrington, Stockbridge and West Stockbridge — are requesting to be involved in the design of a new school, should voters in the three towns approve it:
https://theberkshireedge.com/downtown-great-barrington-construction-moving-along-pretty-swiftly/

2.  The “Hospital on Main Street” in Stockbridge is Riggs — the Austen Riggs Center. And the mental health institution is celebrating 100 years through an exhibit at the Old Corner House. 
https://theberkshireedge.com/bits-chris-herren-at-the-mahaiwe-hancock-shaker-village-exhibits/

3. Meantime, Deconstructing Great Barrington, or rather, reconstructing it, is taking place over the next month, with the replacement of sidewalks and curbs throughout the downtown — to make the town a bit mor walkable and less stumble-prone:https://theberkshireedge.com/downtown-great-barrington-construction-moving-along-pretty-swiftly/

4.  In Lee, the $60 million Eagle Mill redevelopment project, converting a derelict mill complex into a retail and residential center has received millions of dollars in tax credits — which means the project is now ready to break ground:
https://theberkshireedge.com/eagle-mill-receives-crucial-federal-tax-credits-for-mixed-use-project-in-downtown-lee/

5.  NIMBYISM triumphs in Great Barrington. At the behest of neighbors, the Selectboard put the kibosh on a proposed hot air balloon festival at the Airport… too disruptive for the delicate sensibilities of neighbors —
https://theberkshireedge.com/selectmen-put-the-kibosh-on-plans-for-mini-woodstock/

6. We’ve been running an informative series, produced in collaboration with the Railroad Street Youth Project, entitled ’Talking with Teens about Substance Abuse” — we have 4 episodes so far … in a text and video format. It’s quite instructive. In the latest episode we caution parents to keep the conversation going with your son or daughter:
https://theberkshireedge.com/iv-talking-with-teens-about-substance-use-keep-the-conversation-going/

7.  And in this vein, tonight there is a forum on this very topic, at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington. Sponsored by the Railroad Street Youth Project and the South Berkshire Community Health Coalition:
https://theberkshireedge.com/good-science-for-good-parenting-reducing-risks-for-alcohol-substance-abuse/