The Berkshire Edge On-Air - Wednesday September 1, 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. We’ve had several stories about the dispute in West Stockbridge between The Foundry and the owners of Truc Orient Express restaurant. The Foundry being an open air venue not far from the restaurant where concerts are held, leading to a glut of traffic and parked cars around the restaurant. We may finally get some resolution this week:
https://theberkshireedge.com/a-solution-may-be-near-as-marathon-foundry-hearing-set-to-resume-on-thursday/

2. Despite continued appeals from the public, and a history of accidents, the Mass DOT will not put a traffic light at the foot of the driveway to Monument Mountain Regional High School— instead, installing “safety measures”:https://theberkshireedge.com/massdot-agrees-to-place-safety-measures-at-monument-driveway-but-no-red-light/

3. Theory Wellness (sic), the pot dispensary (one of three in Great Barrington), has been forced by the attorney general Maura Healey to pay $300, 000 in unpaid wages and penalties:https://theberkshireedge.com/ag-maura-healey-theory-wellness-agrees-to-pay-300000-in-wages-and-penalties/

4. An engineering firm has assessed the value of the Housatonic Water Works — the privately owned water system in Housatonic — at a value of negative $25 million — due to repairs necessary to keep the system functioning. That leaves the question of what will the town do.https://theberkshireedge.com/engineer-housatonic-water-works-has-negative-value-of-25-2-million/

5. Book review: As if things on the national scene weren’t unhinged enough, here come’s Michael Wolff’s account of the last days of the Trump presidency. Mickey Friedman reviews and reminds us to count our lucky stars:
https://theberkshireedge.com/book-review-michael-wolffs-landslide-covers-the-last-days-of-trumps-presidency/

6. Then & Now: Local historian Gary Levieille digs into Berkshire history to recall the crash of trolley cars in Lee — at a time when a “street railways” network criss-crossed the Berkshires, and even provided a link to trolley lines in eastern New York:
https://theberkshireedge.com/then-now-trolley-car-number-30-crashes-twice-in-lee/