The Berkshire Edge On-Air - Wednesday September 16, 2020

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.  As in other schools districts, in the Berkshires, in Massachusetts, in Connecticut, grappling with how to reopen schools in a pandemic, Berkshire Hills is grappling with the complexities of trying to sustain an educational program and keep their students and staff safe. Schools have tentatively  reopened — but not in classrooms.
https://theberkshireedge.com/as-berkshire-hills-reopens-school-officials-grapple-with-labor-athletics-issues/

2.  Build something new,  neighbors will object… and so two projects have been scotched, one at the airport for new hangars, the other  on a residential street where residents  complained about an affordable housing project. And in the same package, there is a complaint about the chairman of the Housing Authority, Jim Mercer, who also owns the controversial Housatonic Water Works:
https://theberkshireedge.com/town-hall-briefs-town-loses-manville-place-lawsuit-airport-hearing-continued-housing-authority-chairman-mercer-to-be-investigated/

3. On a more mellow note, a local organization is offering a program for teachers to deal with stress … and who isn’t in need of such a program these days:
https://theberkshireedge.com/berkshire-nonprofit-brings-free-peace-wellness-programs-to-teachers-the-community/

4.  What kind of education will children have if schools are closed due to the pandemic, but their parents are at work — they’ll be alone at home? Techer Sheela Clary (and one of our writers) has a plan. She wants to have the local community center, and other nonprofit centers, join together in an effort to provide education and child care:
https://theberkshireedge.com/an-immodest-grant-proposal/

5.  The Guthrie Center in Housatonic, located in the church building where free meals are distributed to the needy, needs help, and has embarked on a fundraising campaign. This is the church made famous by Arlo Guthrie where a community Thanksgiving dinner was held, all related in his ballad, "Alice’s Restaurant.”
https://theberkshireedge.com/the-guthrie-center-turns-to-the-public-to-survive/