The Berkshire Edge On-Air - Wednesday October 23, 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.

1. We can’t get there from here! Great Barrington residents are fuming about the bridges that are under repair, forcing drivers and school buses to make long detours… but the fact is that, like the country the town has not kept up with its infrastructure maintenance:
https://theberkshireedge.com/great-barrington-residents-vent-about-speeding-scandalous-bridge-closures/
2. Since the Great Barrington Fairgrounds is on the cusp of receiving a permit to revive horse racing, we’ve had a clutch of letters opposing the sport on the grounds that it’s cruel to the horses:https://theberkshireedge.com/horse-racing-would-undermine-great-barringtons-character/
And State Sen. Adam Hinds has abandoned his support for legislation that would have permitted it:https://theberkshireedge.com/sen-hinds-renounces-support-for-bill-to-restore-horse-racing-to-fairgrounds/

3. Meanwhile, the meltdown of the Southern Berkshire Regional School District continues apace, with a staff member bringing forward a complaint of workplace retaliation for reporting the failures of the individual educational programs for students. It’s the second case of an employee bringing forth a complaint:
https://theberkshireedge.com/second-whistleblower-at-sbrsd-alleges-workplace-retaliation-for-for-reporting-unlawful-conduct/
4.  District Attorney Andrea Harrington has so far determined that there isn’t enough evidence to bring any charges concerning an alleged assault of a student at Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington:
https://theberkshireedge.com/das-office-evidence-lacking-in-alleged-attack-on-simons-rock-student/

5. This month the town of Great Barrington celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the W.E.B. Du Bois homestead, in honor of the founder of the N.A.A.C.P. who was born in Great Barrington:https://theberkshireedge.com/dedication-of-the-du-bois-homesite-a-50-year-anniversary-celebration/
And construction work is beginning to restore the Clinton A.M.E. Zion church in Great Barrington, a historic landmark that Du Bois is said to have attended as a boy:https://theberkshireedge.com/bits-kohelet-at-the-mahaiwe-creative-aging-on-beacon-hill-steam-challenge-night-red-cross-blood-drives/

6. And finally, we have been featuring author Susan Dworkin reading from her novel, ’The Garden Lady.” It’s a wonderful story, made all the more intriguing by having it read by the author:
https://theberkshireedge.com/susan-dworkin-reads-the-garden-lady-chapter-2/