Berkshire County — From the election of a state representative for the 3rd Berkshire District to the Butternut Fire; from the battles between Housatonic Water Works and its customers to battles in the courtroom involving the “Gender Queer” controversy in the Berkshire Hills Regional School District; from all of the various cultural events in Berkshire County to municipal meetings, The Berkshire Edge was there for all of it in 2024.
This is the first in a series of articles recapping the people and events that made up 2024.
January
At an Alford Select Board meeting on January 8, it was confirmed that the controversial Berkshire Communists “People’s Gym,” formerly located at 274 East Street, had shut down. The “People’s Gym” operated on property owned by James “Fergie” Chambers, founder of the Berkshire Communists.
At their meeting on January 8, the Great Barrington Selectboard approved a special permit for a cannabis-manufacturing facility for 920 South Main Street, at Gathered Waters Farm, which was started in 2022 by husband and wife Joe and Mickey Maki. The property is located in one of the town’s industrial zones.
On January 10, the Great Barrington Library Board of Trustees named Dawn Jardine as its new library director, seven months after Samara Klein, the previous director, resigned after serving for nine months.
The fallout from the Great Barrington Police Department’s warrantless investigation into a W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School teacher possessing a copy of the graphic novel “Gender Queer” in a classroom continued at a Berkshire Hills Regional School District Committee meeting on January 11. “This is all not about one book,” Berkshire Hills Regional School District Committee Chair Stephen Bannon said during the meeting. “The book is just a symptom of a problem that we need to address.”
Ski Butternut celebrated its 60th anniversary with an event on January 20. While the opening of the Ski Butternut ski area dates back to Christmas Eve of 1963, its overall history dates back to 1936 and 1937.
Other anniversaries celebrated in January included the first anniversary of Queer Men of the Berkshires, and the Berkshire Center for Justice Inc. celebrated its 17th anniversary.
Also on January 20, the NAACP Berkshires held its Freedom Fund Awards. The purpose of the annual event, which was held in person for the first time in three years, was to raise money for the organization’s Freedom Fund, which awards stipends for Black and immigrant high school graduates in Berkshire County who will attend college or vocational school.
At its meeting on January 25, the Berkshire Hills Regional School District School Committee approved a resolution concerning school district-police relations. The committee also sent a letter of concern to the Great Barrington Police Department over the investigation of a teacher possessing the graphic novel “Gender Queer” at Du Bois Middle School.
In late January, real estate development and management company The Goldman Group announced a condominium complex to be opened in July at 148 Maple Avenue, a complex that operated for many years as the Kindred Nursing and Rehabilitation facility.
February
On February 6, 22 years after first being elected to the State House of Representatives, State Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli (D) announced via social media that he would not seek re-election for his 3rd Berkshire District seat.
In response, on February 9 Stockbridge Select Board member Patrick White announced that he would run to take Pignatelli’s place.
On February 16, Great Barrington Selectboard Vice Chair announced that she also would be running for Pignatelli’s seat.
On February 17, the second annual Berkshire Pond Hockey Classic was held at Beartown State Forest.
On February 23, Great Barrington held its seventh annual W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Celebration at the First Congregational Church.
March
Community Access to the Arts (CATA) opened its “Wild Findings” art show at the Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Leonhardt Galleries on March 1. The Great Barrington-based organization was founded in 1993, and its mission is to nurture and celebrate the creativity of people with disabilities through the arts.
On March 5, the Lee Library held its first-ever Drag Story Hour. Before the event took place, Berkshire Pride Executive Director Cass Santos-China said that the library received calls stating there would be people protesting against the event. In response to the threats of protest, Berkshire Pride, along with Multicultural BRIDGE, organized a counterprotest in support of the event, with more than 30 Berkshire County residents attending.
Also on March 5, Lenox Select Board member Marybeth Mitts threw her hat into the ring in the race for the 3rd Berkshire District seat in the State House of Representatives.
A few days later on March 9, Stockbridge Select Board member Jamie Minacci announced her candidacy for the 3rd Berkshire District seat.
On March 11, after three years of serving Muddy Brook Elementary School, Principal Kate Retzel announced she would be stepping down by the end of the school year. Retzel previously worked as a teacher in the Pittsfield school district for 13 years and at St. Mark and Notre Dame middle schools in Pittsfield. Before becoming the principal of Muddy Brook, Retzel was the principal of Lee Elementary School for 11 years.
On March 13, Sheffield resident Nadia Milleron launched her campaign for Congress, opposing incumbent Congressman Richard Neal (D). Milleron was born in California and moved to Massachusetts in 1982 to attend Smith College in Northampton. In 1999, she moved with her husband Michael Stumo to farmland in Sheffield.
On March 14, Theory Wellness, Rebelle Dispensary owners Community Growth Partners, and Farnsworth Fine Cannabis all filed a lawsuit in Middlesex Superior Court against the Town of Great Barrington over previously signed Host Community Agreements.
April
On April 5, Egremont Select Board Chair George McGurn unexpectedly passed away.
At its regular meeting on April 9, the two remaining members of the Select Board memorialized McGurn. At the meeting, Lucinda Fenn-Vermeulen, who previously served as vice chair for the board, became the chair after being nominated by Mary Brazie, the only other remaining member of the Select Board. “George was known not only for his unwavering commitment to our town, our town’s development, and genuine concern for its residents, but also for his wit in meetings and elsewhere,” Chair Fenn-Vermeulen said. “He infused even complex discussions with laughter, reminding us of the joy in public service. His contributions were marked by vision, dedication, and a keen sense of duty helped to shape our community’s future. Under his guidance, Egremont navigated many complex issues benefiting from his wisdom, foresight, and compassionate leadership.”
Berkshire United Way celebrated its 100th anniversary on April 10 with an event at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield. The charity, which was originally organized as the Pittsfield Community Fund, has continued to survive and thrive through the support of residents and businesses in the local Berkshire County community.
Also on April 10, Monument Mountain Regional High School Principal Kristi Farina announced she was retiring from the school. Farina started with the school district in August 1990 as a mathematics teacher. She became the school district’s director of learning and teaching in July 2017, where she served for two years before becoming the principal of Monument Mountain.
Extra Special Teas celebrated its eighth anniversary with an event on April 20. Husband and wife Cherri and Scott Sanes, whose son Jache was born with autism, started the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in April 2016 at its original location at 2 Elm Street in Great Barrington, with a second location opening in Housatonic in January 2022.
On April 24, Berkshire Hills Regional School District announced that W.E.B. Du Bois Middle School Principal Miles Wheat would be leaving the district. Wheat, who was announced to be the new principal of Chatham High School in New York, was previously named as W.E.B. Du Bois Middle School Principal in June 2023. He was the third principal to resign from the Berkshire Hills Regional School District in 2024.
On April 29, Berkshire Hills Regional School District Superintendent Peter Dillon announced that Cynthia Carey will serve as the new principal for Muddy Brook Regional Elementary School starting on July 1. Carey previously worked as Muddy Brook’s assistant principal and as an assessment coordinator, math coach, and teacher in the Pittsfield School District.
