Berkshire County — As the temperatures dropped and the days got shorter, Berkshire County did not shy away: residents once again joined nationwide protests against the President Donald Trump, approved plans to construct a new Monument Mountain Regional High School, and banded together to celebrate the holidays.
Here is a recap of the last few months of 2025, as covered by The Berkshire Edge.
October
On October 1, at Berkshire County Superior Court in Pittsfield, a jury found Michael Rose, 45, guilty of murder in the second degree and possession of a firearm without a Firearm Identification card.
On October 2, 20-year-old Wyeth Curtis was killed after he collided with a moose on Route 7 near Monument Mountain Regional High School. According to Police Chief Paul Storti, Curtis was traveling southbound on Route 7 just south of the high school and struck a moose that was crossing from the west of Route 7.
On October 6, The Berkshire Edge reported on local Girl Scout Troop 64834, who were awarded the Silver Award for establishing a composting program at Lenox Memorial Middle and High School. According to the Girl Scouts website, the Silver Award is one of the highest awards a cadette can earn.
Also on October 6, the Great Barrington Selectboard unanimously voted to start contract negotiations with Bourne, Mass., Assistant Town Manager Liz Hartsgrove to become the new permanent town manager. The town was without a permanent manager since January after then-Town Manager Mark Pruhenski left to take on that position for the town of Middlebury, Vt. Town Planner Chris Rembold was serving as the interim town manager since Pruhenski’s departure. The town officially hired Hartsgrove on October 14.
On October 7, at their meeting the Great Barrington Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously rejected plans for a farm-to-table restaurant on farmland property at 87 Alford Road.
On October 9, The Berkshire Edge reported that Housatonic Water Works filed an application with the Department of Public Utilities requesting approval for two loans that the company deemed necessary in order to finance the completion of a manganese filtration plant.
On October 18, millions of people nationwide, and thousands in Berkshire County, attended the “No Kings” protests against President Donald J. Trump.
Also on October 18, local organization Literacy Network (LitNet) held its annual fundraising event at Drifters Bar and Restaurant at Bousquet Mountain. The event honored the Masiero family of Guido’s Fresh Marketplace.
On October 22, The Berkshire Edge reported that two years after the Great Barrington Police Department investigated now-former eighth grade W.E.B. Du Bois Middle School ELA teacher Arantzazú Zuzene Galdós-Shapiro after the department received an anonymous complaint that she had a copy of the graphic novel “Gender Queer” in her classroom, United States District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni ruled that Galdós-Shapiro’s lawsuits against the town of Great Barrington, Police Chief Paul Storti, and Police Officer Joseph O’Brien could move forward. However, Judge Mastroianni dismissed Galdós-Shapiro’s lawsuit against Superintendent Dillon.
November
At their regular meeting on November 3, the Selectboard reviewed a list of priorities for the town with new Town Manager Liz Hartsgrove, who had stepped into that position earlier that day.
On November 4, The Berkshire Edge reported on how Great Barrington-based organization The People’s Pantry was dealing with cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) after the Trump administration withheld benefits during the federal government shutdown. On November 6, The Berkshire Edge published a second story on the effects of the cuts, including an interview with Berkshire Bounty Executive Director Morgan Ovitsky. Full SNAP benefits were restored to state residents on November 8.
Also on November 4, voters in Great Barrington, Stockbridge, and West Stockbridge approved by an overwhelming majority the Berkshire Hills Regional School District’s plans to go forward with constructing a new high school building. The total cost to construct the new Monument Mountain Regional High School building is estimated at $152 million.
On November 6, State Rep. Leigh Davis (D – 3rd Berkshire District) received funds from the state’s Community One Stop for Growth program. According to the state’s website, the program is “the main vehicle for public economic development investment in the Commonwealth” and intends to boost local housing, economic development, and infrastructure programs.
Also on November 6, The Berkshire Edge reported that The Brien Center will shut down its Great Barrington office at 60 Cottage Street on January 30, 2026. According to the organization’s website, The Brien Center is Berkshire County’s largest provider of health and addiction services, employing 500 people who work at 25 locations in the county, including locations in Great Barrington, Pittsfield, and North Adams.
On November 10, State Police announced that they had arrested 56 people across 38 communities as part of a child porn sting called Operation Firewall. Several suspects from the Berkshire County area were arrested as part of the operation.
On November 11, an event titled “Saying Their Names: Berkshire County’s Black Patriots and the Legacy of Samuel Harrison and the 54th Massachusetts Regiment” celebrated the legacy of Black veterans on Tuesday, November 11. The event—co-sponsored by the Sheffield Historical Society, the Samuel Harrison Society, and Housatonic Heritage—was held at the Old Parish Church on Veterans Day, a federal holiday observed on November 11 to honor military veterans.
On November 21, Great Barrington Town Manager Liz Hartsgrove announced in a press release that the town made a formal offer to purchase long-troubled utility company Housatonic Water Works. Hartsgrove did not list specific details in her press release, including a purchase price the town is offering owners Frederick Mercer and James Mercer or any terms and conditions in the offer itself.
On November 22, the new season of the Winter Farmers’ Market started at the Housatonic Community Center, aka The Housy Dome. The market is organized by local nonprofit Berkshire Grown, an organization dedicated to supporting and promoting local farms throughout Berkshire County.
On November 29, the holiday season started with local nonprofit Berkshire Bach Society’s community singalong of George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” at the First Congregational Church in Great Barrington. James Bagwell conducted the sing-along, which saw more than 100 attendees.
December
On December 2, The Berkshire Edge reported that the state’s Department of Transportation (MassDOT) intends to replace the Brown Bridge in Great Barrington, which crosses the Housatonic River and links North Main Street and State Road at the intersection of routes 23, 7, and 41.
On December 8, The Berkshire Edge reported on the opening of Feel Good Haus at 38 Railroad Street in Great Barrington. The store sells natural self-care products along with goods made by local Berkshire County and western Massachusetts artisans.
On December 11, over nine years after founding the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, Executive Director Liana Toscanini announced her plans to retire this spring.
On December 13, holiday cheer abounded as hundreds of people attended the 16th annual Holiday Shop, Sip, and Stroll in Great Barrington, organized by the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce. There were plenty of family activities throughout the downtown area, including games and activities for children; sales at Main Street stores; music performances; vendor fairs; a Menorah, Kinara, and Christmas tree lighting; and the jolly old elf himself, Santa Claus, making a visit to Great Barrington.
On December 18, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced $33.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) awards at an event at the Housatonic Community Center. The event featured Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus, and state and local leaders, including Great Barrington Town Manager Liz Hartsgrove, State Rep. Leigh Davis (D – 3rd Berkshire District), State Sen. Paul Mark (D – Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Hampshire District), and Great Barrington Assistant Town Manager and Town Planner Chris Rembold.
On December 22, The Berkshire Edge reported on the opening of ilse’s new café at 47 Railroad Street, the former location of Marjoram + Roux, which closed in August after five years of business.
